Articles for Parents

December 19, 2018 by Karen Kubin

This might seem like a stretch, the claim in this title. I mean, your teacher is fabulous, of course: friendly, knowledgeable, skilled—but a superhero? Not exactly! What you do not realize is that she is deep undercover, like Bob Parr… Read more ▶

August 11, 2017 by Holly Blackwelder Carpenter

From the Video Series Parents As Partners Online 2015 A few weeks ago I received a text message from my brother (Suzuki parent with 3 children) It read “I know every child can, but I am not sure that this parent… Read more ▶

August 11, 2017 by Jennifer Burton

From the Video Series, Parents As Partners Online 2015 Hi, I am Jenny Burton and I am going to talk about listening today. The name of my talk is “Play it Again Sam: How to Implement Listening in Home Practice.” There… Read more ▶

August 11, 2017 by Alexander Revoal

From the Video Series, Parents As Partners Online 2017 Consider the following scenario. You’ve been working on a research project at work for a while now and you present your findings to the department, including your supervisor, before you have to… Read more ▶

August 11, 2017 by Susan Baer

From the Video Series, Parents as Partners Online 2011 Hi, my name is Sue Baer. Thank you for joining me today on this session, addressing The Value of Repetition. I believe that every child is capable of playing their instrument at… Read more ▶

August 11, 2017 by Barbara Balatero

From the Video Series, Parents as Parnters Online 2016 When I have a new cello student, one of the first big assignments I give them is to make 1,000 good bow holds. I don’t allow my students to place the bow… Read more ▶

August 11, 2017 by Lucy Shaw

From the video series Parents as Partners Online 2013. Welcome to the 2013 edition of PPO online. I am Lucy Shaw, and I run a private Suzuki studio just outside of Seattle in the state of Washington. My talk today is… Read more ▶

August 11, 2017 by Susan Baer

From the video series Parents As Partners Online 2016 When we embark on a project as important as preparing our children for the role that music will play in their lives, it’s only natural that we concern ourselves with a host… Read more ▶

August 11, 2017 by Jennifer Burton

From the video collection Parents As Partners Online 2012. Hi! My name is Jennifer Burton, and it’s my pleasure today to talk with you about the importance of Group Classes. I think there are about six things that I really… Read more ▶

August 11, 2017 by Rafael Videira

From Parents as Partners Online 2016. Hello, my name is Rafael Videira, and I am a Suzuki viola and violin teacher. Today I would like to talk about ways to make reviewing the repertoire fun and effective. The activities I… Read more ▶

August 11, 2017 by Jennifer Burton

Olá, meu nome é Jenny Burton e hoje eu vou falar sobre a escuta. O título do meu discurso é “Toca De Novo, Sam: Como Fazer o Aluno Ouvir as Gravações no Estudo Diário”. Eu tenho observado que existem dois tipos… Read more ▶

August 11, 2017 by Susan Baer

Olá, meu nome é Sue Baer. Obrigada por estar aqui hoje nessa sessão sobre a importância da repetição. Eu acredito que toda criança é capaz de tocar seu instrumento num nível bem alto. Se você conhece o método Suzuki, eu… Read more ▶

March 21, 2012 by Michael Montgomery

Having only recently come into the Suzuki circle of teaching and learning, many of the tenets of the method are still somewhat new to me. Curious (and sometimes perhaps even a little skeptical) about various aspects of this approach, I… Read more ▶

August 10, 2017 by Brittany Gardner

From the video series, Parents as Partners Online 2015 Hi my name is Brittany Gardner, and I’m a cello teacher in Salt Lake City. I’m excited to be participating in Parents as Partners, and I hope that what I have to… Read more ▶

May 1, 2017 by Karen Kubin

The only guarantee we have as parents is that our children’s stories are usually far more complicated than the straight-arrow plots we come up with in our heads. Read more ▶

September 3, 2015 by Merlin Thompson

Thank you, Suzuki parents. You do an amazing job. We teachers cannot even begin to express how deeply we value who you are—your vision, your commitment, your love for your child and music. Read more ▶

March 21, 2012 by Teri Einfeldt

Dr. Suzuki always said “character first, ability second.” The Suzuki experience is about your child first, playing the instrument second. Watch how your child learns, nurturing your child’s spirit and building her self confidence, yet instilling a sense of achieving excellence… Read more ▶

May 25, 2011 by Isabelle Aboaf, McCall Andersen, Sally Gross, Leah Keane, Deborah Moench

I attended as a first violinist in SYOA 2 this past year, the fourteenth biennial conference. SYOA was the best experience I have had throughout my musical education. Read more ▶

October 13, 2008

The Parents as Partners sessions from the 2008 Conference are available below as audio files. You can listen to them right from this page, or download the files to listen to later. Supporting Your Teacher Diane Schroeder, Board Chair and former parent… Read more ▶

June 1, 2008 by Rebecca Moore

Memorizing forty digits of pi? No problem. I’ve already memorized Toccata by Khachaturian when I was eleven and Concerto No. 1 by Bach last year. Choreographing counts of eight for my gymnastics floor routine? I already know how to count beats… Read more ▶

June 1, 2008 by Alvaro Soltero

On my fifth birthday my sister came home with a violin. That was how it all started. This is how I came to know Martin Goldman. This is how I came to know the violin. At first, I hated it.… Read more ▶

June 1, 2006 by Lamar Blum

Our recent Recital Week gave all who attended a glimpse of music students in action. Pieces had been polished and rehearsed. Students dressed up. Parents provided tempting treats. The excitement of wanting to hear each student play buzzed through the… Read more ▶

June 1, 2004 by Tammy Linn Dawe

The Suzuki parent is a powerful mentor. Well, that’s a rather obvious fact, but perhaps one worth pondering for a moment. Our actions often reach farther than we realize. First of all, the parent is a mentor to his/her child. As… Read more ▶

June 1, 2004 by Janice Peters

Our lives are all so busy so it is easy fall prey to the temptation of skipping daily listening or daily practice or both. So think of what happens when we skip? Why do we need to be faithful to… Read more ▶

June 1, 2003 by Sue Evans

Play it your age. Tape it. Pick an UNO Card. Throw the dice or die. Wear a funny hat. Wear funny glasses. Left foot in the air. Right foot in the air. Eyes on the ceiling. Eyes closed. With toothbrush in mouth. With gloves on. With Kleenex on keys. Write a story to… Read more ▶

June 1, 2001 by Heidi Ehle

Continuity is a crucial part of learning an instrument, and the link that provides continuity between lessons and practice is your precious notes! Having been a Suzuki parent, I know that in a busy day sometimes you sink into the… Read more ▶

June 1, 2000 by Joanne Bath

“I love to practice!” That’s what we all want our children to say. Here are some ideas for how parents can get there without resorting to things they wish they hadn’t! These suggestions can keep you motivated so that you… Read more ▶

June 1, 2000 by Ramona Stirling

Is your child frustrated when playing in orchestra at a Suzuki Institute? The note reading skills of some Suzuki students do not match their wonderful playing skills. Since students have different ways of learning, some will learn to read music… Read more ▶

June 1, 1998 by Joanne Bath, Pamela Bath Kelly

With the proper attitude and preparation, an institute can be, a powerful investment in your child’s musical process, and can be a pivotal point in your family’s musical year. Just as important as your musical preparation is your approach to… Read more ▶

June 1, 1997 by Jacqueline Maurer

Arrival Arrive early with time for unpacking and tuning and time to catch your breath! Help the class to start on time! Behaviors Loving, courteous and respectful behaviors are cultivated. We try to respect each other and others’ feelings. Community People working on common goals… Read more ▶

June 1, 1994 by Pam Kemp

Discipline, related to the word “disciple,” implies learning from a master teacher. Like it or not, we parents are our children’s primary master teachers. Read more ▶