Suzuki Membership Mishap

So I was looking for a few notes I had taken at my teacher training yesterday and came across my Suzuki Association of the Americas card.  Much to my surprise (and dismay) I had accidentally let my membership expire… two months ago!  At first I was a bit sad and began scolding myself for being blissfully unaware, not caring enough to keep track, etc. What if parents had been searching for teachers in this vicinity and my name didn’t pop up? It did seem rather unprofessional of me, after all.

But then I decided to stop chiding myself about it and do something to fix it.  So I logged into my account at suzukiassociation.org and lo and behold, there awaited a renewal notice. I paid my fee and noted that my membership expires every year in May, so I can be sure to be on top of it going forward.  Lesson learned!

A New Student and a Strong Start

So exciting! I have a new student!!  I am particularly thrilled about this as his mom contacted me after another of my student’s parents referred her to me. They are in the same class at school and had been chatting about violin lessons, and the other parent said how pleased she had been with her daughter’s lessons with me. I never want to outright assume they are happy just because they are still coming to lessons so it’s nice to have a confirmation once in a while. Oh happy day!!

He is seven years old, and I know going into it that little boys are generally a bit more of a challenge for me than little girls.  Other people say this also, so I feel okay concurring with their opinions, and that I’m not the only one!  I had a few more boys than girls when I taught in Sitka, and it was then I started noticing a pattern in the differences between both attention span and physical activeness.  Those kiddos definitely sharpened my skills at directing focus, giving clear expectations, and keeping it a balance of interesting, educational, and fun.

He has already taken a few months of lessons before, which sometimes is great and other times maybe not as great. I can usually tell at the first lesson after I hear the first few measures of whatever he chooses to play for me. The Suzuki Method is very particular and does a wonderful job of setting the student up for success; the foundation is solid for whatever avenue of music he decides to pursue as he grows older.  At the beginning stages I look for a lot of things relating to posture and technique.  I make a mental list of strengths and good habits, and a list of things I perceive as needing attention.  (Afterwards I’ll write these things down, but I try not to have my teaching binder out during a lesson since it can often seem intimidating or distracting with me jotting notes as it’s happening.)  That first lesson is so important in setting the tone for the student-teacher-parent triangle, I do my very best to connect with both the student and parent so we can start building trust in our relationships.  We do a lot of chatting – mostly about why we are here and what we’ll be doing – and I hand out a welcome letter and a few articles they may find interesting.  Then we do some bow races and get straight to work! 

Speaking of Stickers

Who doesn’t love some fun stickers?! As an effective reward in motivating young minds in their studies, I have come to have a greater appreciation for them in recent years. What am I saying?  I’ve always loved stickers, they are super fun to stick on things! Things like practice charts, books, foot charts, beginner box violins and the like.  The research is clear; loving encouragement, appropriate praise, and small, sustainable and reasonable rewards tied to achievement and specific standards are  all effective and positive ways to reinforce learning and develop internal motivation.  Though it sounds rather innocuous, I thought I might share a few things I’ve discovered about using stickers in a music teaching environment.

Not all stickers are great for sticking on music books.

Stickers come in a thousand varieties and with all those choices come a few constraints.  Some are puffy, have layers, or are crystals that come with adhesive backs (see above).  3D stickers are awesome, of course, but not practical for sticking to the top of every page in a book.  Pretty soon it’s an inch thick in some places and all that space makes room for pages to get crumpled or torn. It is also a strain on the book binding, even if it’s just a few staples.  Another thing I’ve learned – kids love BIG stickers. When presented with the option of which sticker to choose of a bunch more often than not the student will pick the biggest one. This is not atypical, and who wouldn’t want more sticker for their parents’ dollar?  But not all incredibly large stickers will fit into that quite small space between the side of the song title and the top of the page.  So choose stickers that are flat and not too large to fit in the given space without covering up anything printed.

Have a nice selection of gender neutral or obvious “boy” stickers

I don’t want to encourage or promote traditional gender biases, but I will say that not all boys get stoked about cupcakes and kitty cats. I myself was raised frolicking in the forest so I have no problem with girls being into bugs, getting dirty, slimy animals or monster trucks or whatever. It’s simply a matter of personal taste. So to be accommodating to the male students I have a few sheets of what *some* would consider to be more boy-oriented sticker fare.  Stars and spaceships have been popular around here lately.

Be aware of the affect stickers have on your budget.

Some can be quite expensive. The fancier sheets used for crafting and scrap booking can be several dollars for only several stickers.  This is not cost effective for any teacher, music or otherwise.  And if you teach in the public school system – forget about it!  The remedy for this is to shop the sales, be aware of how many per sheet and how many sheets are included in a pack, and shop online.  There are a myriad of teaching resources that offer adorable stickers in substantial quantities at very reasonable prices.  Some would be Music Motion, Teacher Created, and Hobby Lobby.

So get silly with stickers and bring some sparkle and whimsy into your teaching!

Teaching & Temping

What would be considered the range of capacity for a full-time studio?  It varies so greatly depending on circumstances; the contributing factors seem endless.  Seeing as I am far from having 8 or so students to teach daily I would say I am giving lessons on a very part time basis. Of course I would love to see my studio grow from strength to strength as I mature in my abilities and build my network and reputation.  

I’ve been waffling for a bit about what to do about it and here’s why: I don’t necessarily want to take a full-time job that will prevent me from being available during after school hours and early evenings. It’s no surprise that’s when it is convenient for many parents to come around, right after getting picked up and on their way home. At the same time everybody has a life to live and I feel it should be possible to do both as long as I get the timing right or shift things around until teaching picks up. So I just started working through a temp agency and have been at my first assignment the last week or so.  I don’t mind the work – it’s just clerical and office duties helping an accounts payable department catch up on a few things.  I feel fortunate to have been placed there so quickly but can feel my days closing in on me by the time I get home at 5:30.  I’m from quite the small town and hate the half hour commute already.  I’ve done it before but am not eager to do it again – spending all that time and fossil fuel on transport just seems wasteful. Makes me wish I could do something about efficiency and pollution and a lot of other things, and maybe I can, someday.

In any case, time will tell how long this assignment lasts and the rate at which I acquire new students.  What I need to do is get into the homeschool/unschool market since they have all day to schedule activities and already have a predilection for intellectual stimulation beyond the traditional classroom style.  Already less work for me to get parents on board. Until then, I’m teaching & temping. 

My Studio Wish List

Here are a few things I’ve been eyeing for the studio room, which also serves as space for my love’s graphic design projects and a hobby room for our crafti-ness.  It’s a bit eclectic but the general color scheme features lots of sea greens with mustard, navy, and woodsy brown accents.  Some of these things I actually need (loosely defined, of course), and a few are just for fun.  The fun ones won’t be happening any time soon… it takes quite a bit of teaching to warrant purchases specifically for the studio, even more so if they aren’t necessary.  But I like to dream and plan for the future, so here I go!

1.  Nurtured by Love by Sinichi Suzuki – I had a copy of this when I took my Every Child Can class at the Ottawa Suzuki Institute, but I can’t seem to find it anywhere.  Definitely not helpful, I need to revamp my storage and organization so I quit misplacing things. It’s probably time I gave it another read to refresh my insights, and I would like to have a copy to lend to parents so they can really grasp what the Suzuki Method is all about.  I know they’d love a light reading assignment.. ha! Suzukiassociation.org, $12

2.  Berlioz the Bear by Jan Brett – A curious sound distracts this band of bears as they make their way to town to play for the gala ball.  What will happen when their donkey stubbornly decides to take a seat? And when an unexpected guest makes a welcome appearance? Will they make it there in time??  Beautiful, intricate illustrations and an entertaining story line keep children and adults enraptured while introducing members of the chamber orchestra. JanBrett.com, Barnes & Noble, or any fine local bookstore, $15

3.  M is for Melody by Kathy-Jo Wargin and Katherine Larson – I have never read this book but am eager to have it around, as any book that teaches important stuff to know in a musical way is a-ok with me.  Also Amazon thinks I will like it based on past purchases, which I believe to be an accurate assessment.  Bravo for targeted marketing, reading my mind.  It introduces instruments, musical terms, styles, and composers.  Amazon.com, $7

4.  Classical composers poster – Grouped by era, this would be an excellent way to start the introduction to some of the major players at the helm of our great classical tradition.  I would like to have this on the wall to reference when students are learning a new song to talk about when they lived, where they lived, and what type of music they wrote.  Perhaps I would include notable physical characteristics; even the familiarity of the faces would help make the connection between what they are playing and the person who breathed it into being.  Musicmotion.com, $17

5.  Wooden table –  For parents to set their coffee, keys, whatever. But also a place for me to set up some cute trinkets (see next) and underneath storage for more books – my magazine rack is full! AmishDirectFurniture.com, no price listed but I’m pretty sure I could find something similar at a flea market.

6.  Violin playing bronze figurines – These are adorable. And expensive. To be honest I could probably whittle these out of wood (I don’t know how to whittle)  faster than I could work enough to pay for these. And by that time I’d like something else better, or have found more useful employment for my hard-earned cash.  But they are pretty cute, so I’ll let them stay on the list.  Scullyandscully.com, cat and fox, $450.

7.  Wooden clock – I need to put a clock on the wall so I can easily peek at it periodically.  I haven’t been so good at keeping track of time and tend to give people quite a bit extra during lessons.  It isn’t usually a problem and I prefer to finish my train of teaching thought instead of cutting it short, but sometimes it is a bit of problem if mom needs to pick up another kid from ballet, or someone else is waiting their turn.  I have some very courteous parents and sometimes they’ll sit in the car.  So I’ve gotten in the habit of glancing at my phone towards the end and it just feels rude.  The simplest solution would be a clock on the wall.  I thought this one was just lovely.  BobbyBerkHome.com, $84

8.  Paper cutout star lanterns – Every time I’m in the Seattle airport I see rows of these hanging in the window of this really awesome gift shop called Fireworks.  They are so bright, colorful, and cheery and I’ve always wanted to pick one up.  One problem is selection – there are so many beautiful & intricate designs – and I’m incredibly indecisive about silly, trivial things like what burger to order or what accent color I might like best.  But the main problem is that I’m inevitably overloaded with my violin, carry on bag, and all the electronics I’m too scared to put in my suitcase.  So I’ve never had an extra hand or space to shove even one. more. box.  Fireworks, lantern and hanging light bulb fixture, $35

9. Voluspa small jar candle in crane flower – Aromatic with decadent packaging, there’s a lot to love about this little luxury.  If I can overcome the guilt that accompanies such an extravagant standard of living, every now and again it’s fun to treat yo’ self! Anthropologie, $10.

Why We Love Suzuki Method for Music Education

Why We Love Suzuki Method for Music Education

As a Suzuki teacher, I was very pleased to see this pop up on Penelope Trunk’s blog recently – link in above title – as I have developed a considerable amount of admiration for her since I’ve been following her the past few months.  She covers a gamut of topics; giving amazing advice on everything from careers and entrepreneurship to homeschooling, productivity, blogging, and now, music education.  It’s well worth the few minutes to read, hitting on the major points of what Dr. Suzuki intended – to teach foundational life skills applicable to any area of study.  Learning to play music is a goal, but it’s not the only goal, of the program.  Some others include preparation, focus, listening skills, goal setting, respect, perseverance, time management, and the joy of accomplishment. This is exactly what I talk about with my new parents as they prepare to dive into the immersive experience that is being a Suzuki parent.  It’s not just about the music, though what a beautiful result. It’s about building expertise in one area, one small step at a time, to develop confidence and self-esteem.  I was thrilled to have that sentiment echoed by someone whose opinion I respect and who has the platform to tell millions of people how wonderful Suzuki is. So even if I was already convinced that this is the best method to teach a child – music or anything for that matter – now I want to convince everybody!

A Drop in the Decor Bucket

Here is the start of what I hope will be an inspiring gallery wall in the music room. The wall is currently painted a sea green, which I love, and have no plans to change it anytime soon. It runs the length of the room and so far has managed to make it by without a single thing to dress it up save a window, which hardly qualifies. Though it did get a floral curtain recently so I suppose that can be the window’s “dress.” Everybody likes to get fancy from time to time. Even a window.

Of course my goal is to curate a lovely collection of diy and art prints, quotes from brilliant musical minds, odes to favorite composers, and maybe a photo here or there. I am sure that with a bit of planning I can come up with a smattering of such pieces, and a balance between what I want to see and what parents and students are uplifted and motivated by may be achieved. An inspiring workspace is well-known to boost creativity and productivity, two things anybody shouldn’t skip out on if they can help it.. I am deliberately avoiding putting up a bunch of generic theory or practice posters just to fill the space because I know that’s really not what I want to be looking at. At least not most of the ones I’ve seen online or in music stores. Kind of blah and not much to my taste. I want to bring a bit of whimsy to the wall and add some insight. Jazz it up a bit while giving the kids something interesting to think on as they walk out the door. For myself as well… They’re only here once a week and I’m the one who has to look at it every day after all!

No time like Now to learn something New

My first adult student has reached his first big Suzuki milestone – playing through all the Twinkle variations! Quite the arduous task for any new player, with everything being so, well… new. These 5 rhythmic variations on the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star theme are the foundation on which so many basic concepts are layered and often take many months to learn and play even decently. We are progressing nicely into Book 1 and while that isn’t the only goal, I am pleased. And inspired! He has wanted to learn for many years now and is ready to put in the time he knows it will take to become at least a proficient player. So it’s been just the slightest bit of a struggle as he’s been eager to move along as quickly as possible and I have been making him take his time to learn things quite properly the first time around. We talked at the start of lessons and decided this is obviously the best way to do things rather than finding the need for some things to be fixed later on when they become inhibitors to his playing. And surely they would. Maybe not tomorrow or even in a few years, but inevitably as the repertoire got more technical any cracks in his foundation would start to show. Rome wasn’t built in a day by cutting corners. I’m pretty sure that’s how the old adage goes.

Bearing all that in mind, there are SO many things to remember when first learning any new activity and I have found it to be particularly true with those that require any small amount of physical coordination, i.e. sports, dance, acting, music etc. Not only are arms moving about in different directions performing different functions, but there’s posture and bow hold, angles and contact points, then tone and tuning and timing just to rattle off a few. Playing the violin requires considerable hand-eye coordination, muscle memory and control, digital dexterity and relaxation, surprisingly. The point is to make beautiful music after all.

And that doesn’t just come naturally, you know. It takes a lot of work. Hard work like active listening and intentional practicing, dedication and persistence. All things that adults have to do a lot of already at work and at home so sometimes it’s difficult to get us to do them again during our leisure time. But how rewarding it can be, whatever the activity, not just music. To tackle a long-awaited project or dust off a familiar hobby is a fresh kind of excitement, and the childlike wonder can often get us through the tough times.

In this season of goal-setting, resolutions, and re-aligned priorities, I would encourage us (if anybody, ever, is to see this and make it an “us” ) to look into ourselves and find something that will bring a significant amount of personal satisfaction and pleasure. Something to stimulate intellectually, socially, physically, and emotionally; something that can really be enjoyed for years to come that can’t be taken away from us. I’m very proud of my new student; for taking the first steps, meeting the first mile marker, and walking down a winding path to eventually realize a dream. Nothing can be quite so invigorating as setting a personal, meaningful goal and then going about the slow steady work it takes to achieve it. It doesn’t have to be musically-minded of course.. though that does seem to fit the bill!

Happy music making!