The Doctor is In: The Psychology of Suzuki Teaching

This course will be a deep dive into the psychology of teaching, taught by clinical psychologist and former Suzuki teacher Dr. Mariam Gregorian. It will explore aspects of teaching that occur frequently but are rarely talked about including:

-Mental health struggles in young people (including depression, anxiety)

-Suicide prevention

-Neurodivergence (including ADHD, autism, different learning styles)

-Abusive home environments

-Teacher burnout

-Difficult conversations

It will also lean into common challenges that every Suzuki teacher faces including:

-Motivation

-Fostering collaboration over competition

-Encouraging healthy parental engagement

-Promoting healthy performance psychology

-Growing assertiveness

Each class will include an interactive opportunity for teachers to share about challenges in their home studios. It will also include didactic presentations focused on some of the above topics.

Dr. Mariam Gregorian holds a Ph.D. from The Catholic University of America in Clinical Psychology, where she spent seven years working in the Suicide Prevention Lab. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in Maryland and Virginia, where she maintains a private practice. Dr. Gregorian also works as a consultant for CAMS-Care (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality), one of the most promising evidence based approaches to combating suicidal ideation. Prior to this she was a Suzuki Violin teacher who received her BM from the Hartt School and MM from the University of Maryland in violin performance with a Suzuki Pedagogy Specialization. She has registered training in Units 1-10 and Practicum, and has been in demand as a clinician at workshops and Institutes throughout the country. Dr Gregorian lives in Bethesda, MD with her husband, Suzuki Teacher Trainer David Strom, their daughter Juliet, cat Kenny, and dog Chili.

This course will meet on the following Wednesdays from 12-2 pm EST:

Wed Nov 6
Wed Dec 4
Wed Jan 8
Wed Feb 5
Wed March 5