Suzuki, Viola, Teaching, Learning, Loving
We used to have a downstairs neighbor who was a very nice, polite guy who worked in sales and, as far as we knew, had no music background. My husband told me one evening that he had run into our neighbor in the garage. "It's nice really nice hearing Eliana practice, but it seems like... Continue Reading →
One of the most common technical hangups with string players is excess tension in the left hand. In the beginning, many students don’t yet have the finger strength to be tense, but as soon as they do, it can seem like they are holding the violin or viola like a vice! This can be a... Continue Reading →
Today In the United States, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a national holiday focused on community service and social justice. It’s also a day off of teaching for me, and I’ve gotten to thinking about how music teachers can continue Dr. King’s dream of providing opportunities for every child. Just a quick glance... Continue Reading →
Here in St. Louis, we are currently under an Ice Storm Warning and my regular Suzuki Saturday classes have been cancelled, so even though it is a Saturday, it feels like a Snow Day. Having moved here from upstate New York, I tend to laugh at the hysteria that takes hold of Missourians when there... Continue Reading →
In any given year, I will have a few students in my studio who struggle to play with a big, rich, projecting tone. Sometimes this is due to shyness or insecurity, or perhaps the student lacks the technical skills to play with a big tone. Often it is a combination of both. If left... Continue Reading →
When I was a new teacher, I experienced a particular dread that I can still recall quite vividly: that of not remembering which song one of my students was working on. The student would come in, perhaps after I had already been teaching for 5 hours straight, and my mind would suddenly go blank as... Continue Reading →
