Youngest Beginners Class, ages 3-6
Youngest Beginners are designed for children ages 3 to 6 who demonstrate instrument readiness skills. Families are admitted to these classes by interview with the teacher. The class is limited to four children with parents. The class is held in three 11-week sessions and provides a basic understanding of the violin as well as ear training. The class will be broken into three sections: a group lesson, a parent lesson, and the private lessons.
Students and parents work as a group on rhythm, pitch, posture, care of the instrument, finger dexterity, and familiarity with the Suzuki repertoire through creative activities. In order to assess each student’s progress, they will each receive a brief individual lesson which will focus more attention on the instrument. Parents will also learn an understanding of the instrument while developing a basic knowledge of the Suzuki philosophy. Once a student has graduated from Youngest Beginners, they will receive separate individual and group lessons.
Private Lessons
Individual lessons are 30-75 minutes, determined by age and repertoire. Students continue work on such techniques as refining posture, understanding tone production and a sense of intonation, learning basic expressive skills, and developing ease in playing through review and listening to Suzuki repertoire. The parent/practice partner is coached on practice techniques along with the child. The home practice partner and child will establish a consistent practice routine including posture, singing, rhythm, and listening.
Group Classes are an important part of your child's musical study. They provide the opportunities to learn the ensemble skills that will be necessary for making music with other musicians, for children get to know others who play, and for parents provide motivation for each other. They can also be a wonderful source of fun games to play in your home practice. The group class includes theory classes based on Music Mind GamesTM.
Performances
The goal of any musical performance is to allow one's heart to be touched by the music. It is the same goal for the performer and the audience. In addition to learning to become dynamic performers, it is important that students learn to become attentive and open audience members. In other words, they should practice receiving as well as giving. It is required that students attend the entirety of any performance they take part in.
Advancing Students
Advancing students have further opportunities. Group classes (studio classes) are customized to the needs of these older, more advanced students with chamber music, music arranging, sight-reading, independent practice skills, and more. These students also have opportunities to participate in our joint-studio tour group activities.
Parent Lessons
Parents of students within the studio may enroll in weekly, bi-weekly, or occasional lessons, time permitting. Parents are invited to participate in group classes, and are strongly encouraged to participate in theory classes and the annual Family and Ensemble Concert.
Parent Support
Parent-teacher communication throughout the year is a vital part of the Suzuki Triangle and in the musical development of each child. Studio-wide parent education will be offered during each school year. A parent/teacher check-in will take the place of one lesson per year, and may take the form of a parent/teacher conference, a practice-in-lesson observation, a parent-only lesson, or a discussion of practice habits.
Youngest Beginners are designed for children ages 3 to 6 who demonstrate instrument readiness skills. Families are admitted to these classes by interview with the teacher. The class is limited to four children with parents. The class is held in three 11-week sessions and provides a basic understanding of the violin as well as ear training. The class will be broken into three sections: a group lesson, a parent lesson, and the private lessons.
Students and parents work as a group on rhythm, pitch, posture, care of the instrument, finger dexterity, and familiarity with the Suzuki repertoire through creative activities. In order to assess each student’s progress, they will each receive a brief individual lesson which will focus more attention on the instrument. Parents will also learn an understanding of the instrument while developing a basic knowledge of the Suzuki philosophy. Once a student has graduated from Youngest Beginners, they will receive separate individual and group lessons.
Private Lessons
Individual lessons are 30-75 minutes, determined by age and repertoire. Students continue work on such techniques as refining posture, understanding tone production and a sense of intonation, learning basic expressive skills, and developing ease in playing through review and listening to Suzuki repertoire. The parent/practice partner is coached on practice techniques along with the child. The home practice partner and child will establish a consistent practice routine including posture, singing, rhythm, and listening.
- Students must be accompanied by the adult who helps them practice until they are able to practice independently and the teacher recommends that the student attends lessons individually. For most children this happens between the ages of 11-14.
- Please bring all of the materials we are working on, the instrument, a pencil, and a notebook (or 2) to each lesson.
- Please turn off all electronic devices, ESPECIALLY CELL PHONES!!! It is very distracting when they ring, and it sends the message that something else is more important than the lesson. The children deserve our undivided attention. The only appropriate use for cell phones in lessons is to take videos of new material to aid in home practice.
Group Classes are an important part of your child's musical study. They provide the opportunities to learn the ensemble skills that will be necessary for making music with other musicians, for children get to know others who play, and for parents provide motivation for each other. They can also be a wonderful source of fun games to play in your home practice. The group class includes theory classes based on Music Mind GamesTM.
- If you still practice with your child, please bring the violin notebook to take notes on the material and skills covered and incorporate them into the home practice.
- Arrive 10 minutes before class starts so we can tune and be ready to start on time.
- Students in Book 3 and higher should bring a music stand and pencil.
- Please turn off all electric devices during group class, and demonstrate to your child that this class is valuable by being attentive, and keeping the noise level down.
- Discuss the material covered in the group lesson on the way home. This will help your child to internalize the material covered.
Performances
The goal of any musical performance is to allow one's heart to be touched by the music. It is the same goal for the performer and the audience. In addition to learning to become dynamic performers, it is important that students learn to become attentive and open audience members. In other words, they should practice receiving as well as giving. It is required that students attend the entirety of any performance they take part in.
- At Solo Recitals students play solo pieces accompanied by piano. Each student will be involved in two recital events during the school year; an informal recital, solo day in group class, or master class, and a formal recital (with dress rehearsal).
- At Group Concerts students play the common repertoire together, and also perform harmonies and special projects with multiple parts. There are 2 group concerts per year.
- Students must attend the dress rehearsal in order to take part in the corresponding concert.
- Community performances not only provide opportunities for these young musicians to share their music, but connect a wider community. Our studio participates in at least two of these concerts per year; a nursing home concert and the New Sussex Symphony Family Concert.
- Seeking out other opportunities for performance is highly encouraged. Some good ideas are: parties to celebrate the completion of a book; performance for family members, and performances at nursing homes, churches, temples and other community sites.
Advancing Students
Advancing students have further opportunities. Group classes (studio classes) are customized to the needs of these older, more advanced students with chamber music, music arranging, sight-reading, independent practice skills, and more. These students also have opportunities to participate in our joint-studio tour group activities.
Parent Lessons
Parents of students within the studio may enroll in weekly, bi-weekly, or occasional lessons, time permitting. Parents are invited to participate in group classes, and are strongly encouraged to participate in theory classes and the annual Family and Ensemble Concert.
Parent Support
Parent-teacher communication throughout the year is a vital part of the Suzuki Triangle and in the musical development of each child. Studio-wide parent education will be offered during each school year. A parent/teacher check-in will take the place of one lesson per year, and may take the form of a parent/teacher conference, a practice-in-lesson observation, a parent-only lesson, or a discussion of practice habits.