Mrs. Suzanne Brimhall Barraclough

Hello there, my name is Suzanne. I started studying Suzuki Violin at age 5 in 1968. My mother, Cleo Brimhall, is a Suzuki Piano Teacher Trainer. She created the Intermountain Suzuki Institute in Utah, where teachers, students, and parents meet to learn. Through the years, we went to many institutes together. We also attended the Suzuki Association of the Americas Teacher Conferences.

I began helping younger students at the age of 14. I started my official Suzuki teacher training at 18. At 17, I received a full scholarship to USU (also to U of U and BYU). I graduated from USU and received my degree in violin performance at the age of 21. I then traveled to Matsumoto, Japan, where I studied for two years with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki (the founder of the Suzuki Movement). After receiving my degree from his school, I began to teach in Huddersfield, Jackson, Mesa, Indianapolis, L.A., Livermore, Freemont, and other cities. I also began to play with the California Symphony, Germantown Symphony, Jackson Symphony, Lexington Philharmonic, Utah Symphony, Ballet West Orchestra, and others.

I have students who have attended or now attend very prestigious music schools. Others play in well-known orchestras and symphonies. However, these achievements were never my main aspiration for them as their teacher. I follow Dr. Suzuki’s method. The most important points to him were helping students learn to be sensitive, kind, give service, be creative, have fun, have a fine character, and have a beautiful heart, etc. Each student learns in their own way. In order to help students to achieve these goals and learn to play the violin very well, students, parents, and teachers all work together. These goals go hand in hand, such as “beautiful tone” and “beautiful heart.” They are all lifetime skills.

Parental involvement and attendance at each lesson is a must. We have a small orientation for parents prior to beginning lessons. Assigned Home Listening to classical music, in addition to watching certain YouTube videos of beautiful violin performances, is vital to the student’s musical growth and development. Also we begin prereading games from the very beginning (Michiko Yurko). At around age 12, students begin to attend one of the outstanding youth orchestras here in the valley. It is a great way to learn to read music.

I teach in my home. We have a dog named Saydie. She is sweet, but she barks. Allergies can be a problem. I live near 7th and 21st. My students usually play for Federation, Graduation, Recitals, and various group-class events. And we absolutely insist on having fun.