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Helpful hints for parents on the basic teachings
of the Suzuki principles

 

If you really want to understand the Suzuki Method then you’ll want to read some of the wonderful books that are out there regarding this method and its approach to learning successfully and how to create desire to learn.

“Nurtured By Love” by Dr. Suzuki
           This book is a bio of Dr. Suzuki’s life and how he came up with his approach to teaching music called the “Mother Tongue” approach. It will provide you with great understanding of this method.

 “Helping Parents Practice”
Ideas for Making it Easier by Edmund Sprunger

This book has been so helpful to me and I know it will be for you. It’s written by a Suzuki teacher with many years of experience.

 “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk”

By Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish
This book is great for parents to learn to listen to their child so they can really be able to be there for them.

 

The Purpose of Suzuki training is to help every child find the joy that comes through the making of music. Through the mother-tongue approach, children develop confidence, self-esteem, self-discipline, concentration, and the determination to try difficult things.

Parent and child bond together in a unique and rewarding manner through their experience of sharing and mutual learning.

The Teacher’s Job 
  1. The teacher must teach the mother (parent, guardian) to be a good at home teacher. “Six days of poor, misguided practice at home can cancel out the best teaching in the private lessons, “says Dr. Suzuki .
  2. The teacher will give “Pre-Practices” and they must be followed to the letter. If the parent doesn’t understand what their child is asked to practice then the teacher will work with the parent and child until they both understand the lesson. If this is not done correctly then the child will not be successful during at home practices.
  3. The teacher will instruct the parent on proper at home practices.
  4. Instructing parents on how to have a pleasant at home practice. The teacher will give suggestions and tell you what books have helped other parents in their success.
 The Mother’s Job 

The mother must actively participate in their child’s learning. If you want your child’s lesson to be effective then, please don’t take any phone calls, business or otherwise, while your child is having their lesson. This is counter productive to your child’s learning.
 Please keep in mind that the child needs only one teacher at the lesson. Please refrain from talking to your child during the lesson.

EXAMPLE:
You may find that the teacher is quietly waiting for your child to listen to the teacher. The teacher will wait for your child to respond and sit quietly until the child realizes that the teacher is no longer talking and the child will return their attention back to the teacher. Some parents want to speak to the child, in an effort of being a good parent, to tell the child the teacher is talking to them. Please don’t do that, because the waiting is how the teacher will regain your child’s attention in a loving way. They always come around. If the parent should react it may create a negative response and we only want to come from a loving place when speaking to children. This is teaching your child how to pay attention in a loving way. Two people telling them what to do may become overwhelming for the child.

 

All parents need to take notes at the lesson in order to have “quality at home practices.” You are the teacher at home. The teacher will help make this clear at the lesson to your child. Please save any questions until the end of the lesson as much as possible. Please sit with your child and study along with them. Please make sure that there are no distractions present before you start practicing with your child. You can not make dinner, talk on the phone, or do anything other than sit and make sure your child practices 100% correctly to the best of your ability. There will come a time that your child no longer needs your help.

 

The parent must find ways to make practices at home fun and enjoyable. It’s the parents duty to joyfully get the child to practice. Children need adults to make decisions for them when they are young. They need your gentle coaxing. I was reminding one of my parents at a lesson not to forget that their child needed gentle coaxing and the child replied, “I love gentle coaxing.” It was so cute we had to laugh.

 

If you’re upset because your child is not doing a good job practicing at home then you may be creating an unpleasant environment for your child. The parent must always come from a joyful place in their heart. If you’re frustrated, then you’re child will become frustrated. Arguing with your child about the lesson is futile and you’re better off not practicing. Learn how to inspire your child. If you’re child doesn’t eat his/her vegetables then how do you handle that? Ask yourself what do I use to get my child to do other things that are important. How am I successful and use that to practice at home with your child. Use “gentle coaxing.” Gentle coaxing is used by saying to the child: “You know I love it when you play the violin (piano, guitar, etc.) You always do a good job.” Please don’t lie, but you know you can always find something good in everything your child does. If you do this, your child will respond in a positive way.

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  HOME PRACTICES

The conflict between parent and child during a practice is a good indicator as to whether your child is really practicing well or not. If the child doesn’t understand what to do then the child will get frustrated. The parent needs to make it seem easy and fun The parent needs to decide whether real work is getting done or that some changes to practicing need to be made.  Frustration from your child doesn’t mean that you’re a bad parent, but that you may need a newer approach in order to make your child’s practices more positive. This will help so that your child doesn’t end up overwhelmed with conflict. Too much conflict can ruin any good attempts at practicing.

 Some Suggestions for Positive Practice
  1. You can use the reward system. However, beware that your child might say I don’t want a lollypop (or whatever your choose). It can become negative so use is sparingly. On the other hand, some children are highly motivated by the reward system. Of course there are those children who are on to you and they may feel tricked and nothing not even the best reward will do.
  2. This suggestion is for the very young child. When your child doesn’t want to practice then you can say to your child “that’s ok you don’t have to practice if you don’t want to.” The reason: You want your child to feel they are really doing something they really want to do and no one is making them. When your child doesn’t want to practice you say to them “that’s ok I love the violin and I’m going to practice.” Go to the instrument and practice it with a smile on your face, make happy statements about how much you love playing the violin and you will see your child come running to you. They will say, “that’s my instrument I want to play.”
  

 
 
 
 
Thompson's Music
Parent Training
 
 
 

How to Maximize Your Child’s Learning

How to create desire to practice

Student's currently enrolled in lessons will benefit greatly by observing other student's lessons. I have an open door policy to students currently enrolled.
I highly recommend that you come with your child to observe as many lessons as you can.


Did you realize that your child receives only 50% of his/her learning from the teacher at their own lesson?

The other 50% comes from observing other students being taught by the teacher. From the observers chair the child receives specific points of technique as well as musical knowledge and motivation to practice to reach the next level.
This is an invitation to you and your child to come to my studio to learn from me five days a week, or as often as you can. Students get the most out of observing lessons taught on the piece just ahead, or in some cases, burning motivation, by observing advanced students.
I will be happy to tell you specific pieces students are studying for you to choose the best lessons to observe. Always bring your Suzuki book for your child to learn to follow the notes as they listen!

Group Lessons

Why are group lessons so important to your child? The group lesson provides an atmosphere of fun in learning to do new tasks. Being with other students helps each child learn better from observation. The more a child sees success the more the child is successful. Students who come to group lessons make musical friends. They can find their muse amongst students who can play better than they do. Students will learn good concentration skills, self-discipline to complete a task, determination, perseverance and ability.

If you’re having problems getting your child to practice then please make sure your child attends group lessons. Students will also learn to use their sixth sense, which means they will be able to play the violin without even thinking about it. Music will come to them as if they were born with it.

Make a practice date with other students and you’ll see your child loving to practice. When children have musical friends they have something in common. I have made a priority of keeping all the group lessons in my schedule, when possible, so that I can teach your child more often. Please put it as a priority in your busy schedule of sports events and birthday parties. Let’s do all we can to maximize the time your child spends learning music.


Thank you,

Mrs. Thompson

PS Any questions?

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

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