From one Suzuki parent to another
In part 3 of a series on deliberate practice, we look at the work of Suzuki parents as a form of deliberate practice and how thinking about it in this way can lead to more mindful high-quality practice sessions.
In Part I of our series on deliberate practice, we introduced the concept. In Part II we began to apply the idea of mental representations as a key component of expert performance and one of the goals of deliberate practice.
Isn't there an easier way?
Spoiler alert: there’s no trick. It’s just showing up and doing the work.
A dose of patience can calm frayed nerves in the practice room and mean the difference between successful session and all-out war.
Of all the virtues that a Suzuki parent can bring to the practice room, patience may be the most important because without patience, it’s hard to have a creative, fun, productive practice session. Impatience leads to tension, frustration, and unhappiness. And it casts an unhappy shadow on what should be an enjoyable process. Personally, I struggle mightily against impatience.
A dose of patience can calm frayed nerves in the practice room and mean the difference between successful session and all-out war.
Of all the virtues that a Suzuki parent can bring to the practice room, patience may be the most important because without patience, it’s hard to have a creative, fun, productive practice session. Impatience leads to tension, frustration, and unhappiness. And it casts an unhappy shadow on what should be an enjoyable process. Personally, I struggle mightily against impatience.
How to practice in a way that kids will listen.
One of my favorite blogs, Plucky Violin Teacher, is hosting a book club for teachers. I’m not a teacher, but I don’t mind eavesdropping a bit for some tips for home practice.
Learning how to harness the power of empathic connection in practice.
After reading the review of Faber and Mazlish’s book on parent-child communication, I wondered if one of the hidden keys to strengthening our side of the Suzuki triangle is the misunderstood act of empathy.
It's indisputable that the road of progress is paved with good consistent practice. But why worry about making practice more enjoyable? Much of Suzuki pedagogical technique is about making practice fun. But why? After all, at young age, we can simply impose our will and make practice happen..
Let’s take a look at how to make practice more enjoyable.
The Suzuki Experience is a weblog focused on helping parents practice more effectively and joyfully with their children. It traces the progress of our experience from beginner to budding young artist.