American Suzuki Journal 39.1

Cover picture by Darren Shore

Published December 2010

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American Suzuki Journal 39.1

Features

Play Your Music Like You Live Your Life

We’ve witnessed it hundreds of times over and over and never cease to marvel at the wonder. Within three notes introduced by the piano, forty children from four to eight years old fall into three perfect lines, rest position, eyes on the leader. Read more ▶


ASJ 39.1, page 30

Chopin Part 3 Love  Sorrow in the Years of Plenty

Chopin Part 3: Love & Sorrow in the Years of Plenty

Toward SelfRegulated Learning Scaffolding Deep Practice Habits in Suzuki Violin Students

My interest in getting students to practice effectively was born in 2006 when I was an undergraduate and new studio teacher. Read more ▶

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ASJ 39.1, page 46

Columns

Chairs Column

Practice Less Progress More Practice Tactics for Efficient Effective Practice

One of the problems facing all of us—students, parents, and teachers alike—as we struggle to learn a musical instrument is how to practice efficiently. Read more ▶


ASJ 39.1, page 17

Begin Reading Skills at the Beginning

A few years ago, I reflected on my program at the end of the spring semester and I decided that my students needed more reading development. As a result, I began to incorporate weekly reading activities in all of my… Read more ▶


ASJ 39.1, page 25

Note Values

Sometimes everything just seems to coming together beautifully. In a master class this summer at Colorado Suzuki Institute, Cassie was working on phrasing by focusing on how she managed her air. At age ten, she was working on the Woodall… Read more ▶


ASJ 39.1, page 29

Teaching & Learning

Preparing the Bow for Book 4

Students in Book 4 of the Suzuki Violin School usually rely on the printed music to master the techniques of the Seitz, Vivaldi and Bach concertos. Read more ▶

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ASJ 39.1, page 52

Sparking the Creative Impulse

When I was ten years old, I really didn’t like playing the violin. Practice was drudgery. I threatened to quit almost daily. Despite this, I always loved music. Read more ▶


ASJ 39.1, page 56

Suzuki Infusion

My day starts with practice club at 6:30 a.m. Between five and twenty-five students, some of whom have been waiting for me since 6:00, greet me at the door and follow me up four flights of stairs to the music room. Welcome to KIPP Academy, a charter middle school, in the heart of the South Bronx. Read more ▶


ASJ 39.1, page 58

My Students Dont Review  And what I am finally trying to do about it

Four years ago, I started my first full-time Suzuki teaching job. I inherited a studio of children who did not review regularly and whose parents did not understand the value of review. That was as good an excuse as any not to do review with them. “Of course,” I said to myself, “I’d do review with the students I started.” (Wishful thinking.) I kept hoping to get up the nerve to do something about it. Read more ▶

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ASJ 39.1, page 60

Introducing Suzuki Students to Modern Composition

Always on the look out for new experiences for my students that will broaden their musical horizons, this year I organized a Contemporary Music Series, two solo concerts for students of all ages. Read more ▶

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ASJ 39.1, page 63

Viewpoints

How To Remind Your Child Without a Fight

No one likes to constantly be reminded of how to fix something! If reminders or comments are constantly repeated, the person (child and adult alike) will eventually “tune out.” However, our job as practice parent and teacher is to remind the child to do many things on their instrument. Read more ▶


ASJ 39.1, page 64

Competition Helpful or Hurtful

As a child musician, I must admit that I was often very motivated to achieve through competition. Not only did I intensely want to improve my playing, I was determined to become better than the kids around me. Read more ▶


ASJ 39.1, page 66

Music or Sports

I live in a suburb of Milwaukee, WI and have been a mom for 14 years, Suzuki violin mom for 8 years and a swim mom for 6 years. As the mom, I’m grateful for the other parents in both programs for their support and laughter! Read more ▶


ASJ 39.1, page 68

From Piano to Violin

When I began violin lessons, I had already been playing the piano for nearly 40 years and teaching for over 20 years. Read more ▶

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ASJ 39.1, page 70

Latin America

Latin American Update News from Peru

X National Workshop, Iquitos May 10-15 Iquitos is a city in the Amazon jungle. It is accessible only by plane or by river. This was the first Suzuki event ever held in the jungle region of Peru. Everything began in July 2009… Read more ▶

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ASJ 39.1, page 73

News From Here & There

Annual Fund Drive 2010

Stories, Poems & Tributes

A Tribute to Nellie Novak