American Suzuki Journal 39.1

by Cecilia McDonnell

We’ve witnessed it hundreds of times over and over and never cease to marvel at the wonder. Within three notes introduced by the piano, forty children from four to eight years old fall into three perfect lines, rest position, eyes on the leader. Read more ▶

Local Programs
ASJ 39.1, page 30

by Malgosia Lis

Historical
ASJ 39.1, page 34

by Lisa Toner

My interest in getting students to practice effectively was born in 2006 when I was an undergraduate and new studio teacher. Read more ▶

Practicing, Students, Violin
ASJ 39.1, page 46

by Teri Einfeldt

Chairs Message, Suzuki Philosophy
ASJ 39.1, page 2

by Joseph Kaminsky

One of the problems facing all of us—students, parents, and teachers alike—as we struggle to learn a musical instrument is how to practice efficiently. Read more ▶

Practicing
ASJ 39.1, page 17

by David Madsen

A few years ago, I reflected on my program at the end of the spring semester and I decided that my students needed more reading development. As a result, I began to incorporate weekly reading activities in all of my… Read more ▶

Reading
ASJ 39.1, page 25

by Kelly Williamson

Sometimes everything just seems to coming together beautifully. In a master class this summer at Colorado Suzuki Institute, Cassie was working on phrasing by focusing on how she managed her air. At age ten, she was working on the Woodall… Read more ▶

Suzuki Philosophy
ASJ 39.1, page 29

by William Dick, Laurie Scott

Students in Book 4 of the Suzuki Violin School usually rely on the printed music to master the techniques of the Seitz, Vivaldi and Bach concertos. Read more ▶

Book 4, Books, Bow, Pedagogy, Violin
ASJ 39.1, page 52

by Mariam Gregorian

When I was ten years old, I really didn’t like playing the violin. Practice was drudgery. I threatened to quit almost daily. Despite this, I always loved music. Read more ▶

Pedagogy
ASJ 39.1, page 56

by Annie Barley Givler

My day starts with practice club at 6:30 a.m. Between five and twenty-five students, some of whom have been waiting for me since 6:00, greet me at the door and follow me up four flights of stairs to the music room. Welcome to KIPP Academy, a charter middle school, in the heart of the South Bronx. Read more ▶

Teacher Perspectives
ASJ 39.1, page 58

by Ruth Marie Ballance

Four years ago, I started my first full-time Suzuki teaching job. I inherited a studio of children who did not review regularly and whose parents did not understand the value of review. That was as good an excuse as any not to do review with them. “Of course,” I said to myself, “I’d do review with the students I started.” (Wishful thinking.) I kept hoping to get up the nerve to do something about it. Read more ▶

Pedagogy, Review, Students
ASJ 39.1, page 60

by Melanie Grenier

Always on the look out for new experiences for my students that will broaden their musical horizons, this year I organized a Contemporary Music Series, two solo concerts for students of all ages. Read more ▶

Composition, Pedagogy, Students
ASJ 39.1, page 63

by Katherine D'Angelo

No one likes to constantly be reminded of how to fix something! If reminders or comments are constantly repeated, the person (child and adult alike) will eventually “tune out.” However, our job as practice parent and teacher is to remind the child to do many things on their instrument. Read more ▶

Parents
ASJ 39.1, page 64

by Shelley Beard Santore

As a child musician, I must admit that I was often very motivated to achieve through competition. Not only did I intensely want to improve my playing, I was determined to become better than the kids around me. Read more ▶

Teacher Perspectives
ASJ 39.1, page 66

by Karen Rhyner

I live in a suburb of Milwaukee, WI and have been a mom for 14 years, Suzuki violin mom for 8 years and a swim mom for 6 years. As the mom, I’m grateful for the other parents in both programs for their support and laughter! Read more ▶

Parent Perspectives
ASJ 39.1, page 68

by Merry Bing Pruitt

When I began violin lessons, I had already been playing the piano for nearly 40 years and teaching for over 20 years. Read more ▶

Piano, Teacher Perspectives, Violin
ASJ 39.1, page 70

by Caroline Fraser

X National Workshop, Iquitos May 10-15 Iquitos is a city in the Amazon jungle. It is accessible only by plane or by river. This was the first Suzuki event ever held in the jungle region of Peru. Everything began in July 2009… Read more ▶

Latin America, Peru
ASJ 39.1, page 73

by William Preucil

Fundraising
ASJ 39.1, page 8

by Gilda Barston

Memorial
ASJ 39.1, page 74