Monday, September 26, 2011

A New Game!

Today I made a new practice game for those of you in Book 1!

I have been using Alfred Publishing's Mozart Mouse and Beethoven Bear materials, so I included them in this game.  This game can be played in multiple ways and with many goals in mind.  Here are a few of the games you could play with this board:

   1.  Music Note Trail is good for general practice time.  Roll the die and move your piece after you complete something from your practice list.  Parents, you can play too!

   2.  Practice Spot Time is a tool for a small spot which needs repetition.  Follow the triangles to the very top to finish!

   3.  Review!  We always need to play the songs we already know.  How many can you play from this list?

AND MORE!  Who wants to borrow the game first?


Monday, September 19, 2011

Why Attending Lessons Matters

Note to students: If you're looking for the listening activity, look at last week's post.

   (The information below comes from Helping Parents Practice by Edmund Sprunger)

The Suzuki method makes it clear that parents must attend and participate in lessons.  You may wonder how you are helping your child by sitting there and taking notes.  Here are some of the benefits:

1. You will be able to develop an idea of what your child does (and does not) need to practice.
            The teacher's assignments are intended to help your child grow.
            Good notes ensure that the fine details of assignments don't get lost between the lesson and home.

2. You will learn, over time, how to practice.
            Frequently, the function of lessons is to learn new ways of practicing the things you already know.

3.  It protects your child from the unfair burden of inappropriate parental expectations.
             Children are relieved from the burden of communicating to their parents what the teacher said in the lesson, and can then focus entirely on being present in the lesson.

4.  It gives you an opportunity to grow along with your child.
              You can enjoy watching your child learn, and learn a lot about your child and yourself.

  Mr. Sprunger says: "There is much more to practicing than getting the music down.  It also involves learning about your child and how to work with him or her.  Sure, practicing is about developing musical skills, but it's also about developing the parent-child relationship - the soil in which those skills grow."

What have you observed about how your child learns or about your relationship with your child through Suzuki lessons?

Monday, September 12, 2011

Listening: Canon in D

Johann Pachelbel was a composer in Germany during the late 1600s (the Baroque period).  One of his most famous songs is "Canon in D".  Actually this piece was lost for a while and only published in 1919!1
   A canon is like a round.  The 1st voice is the leader and everyone who comes after him imitates the same melody or creates a variation.
   In Pachelbel's "Canon in D", the cello plays a part underneath the melody that repeats over and over again.  The notes aren't hard to play, and a cellist can get bored if he has to play it a lot!  
   A string quartet, called Pagagnini, decided to make a joke about the cello part.  Watch this video of them playing the Canon.
 Pagagnini: Canon in D
(To skip the introduction, go to the 30 second mark.)

Questions to answer for your next lesson:
What instruments make up a string quartet?
How many variations of the Canon did you hear?
Bonus Question: What is it called when string players pluck the strings with their fingers?


Pagagnini's Official Website: Click Here


1Source: Wikipedia

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Practice Games

Dr. Suzuki said, "An unlimited amount of ability can develop when parent and child are having fun together...happiness develops ability."1


    Here are a few ideas to add some fun to your practice routine:

  • 101 Ways to Practice One Note, One Measure, One Line
        Repetition, repetition, repetition.... with fun!
  • Use a Practice Chart
       Charts can be great motivators in and of themselves for those who like to check things off a list.   They are also great for giving your child some control over what they practice while still ensuring that they will cover what the teacher asked.  Create a practice chart from your lesson notes that includes all the key practice points and review pieces.  You may choose to give your child a reward for completing one day, or one week of practice.
       Ask me for examples of practice charts!
  • Use or Create a Gameboard
        For young children use a game like Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders.  You may roll the dice or pull a card to move after completing a practice spot or song.  Parents should play along.  Allow your child to pick the practice spot for you to play!  Who will finish the game first?  (Could be played over several days.)
        OR create your own game!  I have several available in my studio to borrow.
  • "Lucky Dip" Box
         This was Dr. Suzuki's idea.  Write each review song, practice spot, technique assignment, etc on a piece of paper.  Place them in a box or bowl.  Have your child take a "Lucky Dip" to decide what comes next!
       You could also use this only for review pieces.  Each day assign your child a certain number of songs to pick from the box at random.

    What games have you and your child enjoyed during practice time?  Please share it in the comments section!

    1Ability Development from Age Zero  

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Practice Advice from Suzuki Association

For some great basic practice advice, check out this article from the Suzuki Association:
http://suzukiassociation.org/news/i-love-to-practice/  

Welcome back!

Welcome back to all my students!  I am very excited to begin this piano teaching year in my new home.  I want to use this space to share tips and activities about the Suzuki method, piano lessons, and music in general.


  Back to lessons means scheduling regular practice times into your family's schedule.  Have you looked closely at your new Fall schedule?  Where will you add practice time?  After school?  Be sure your child has time to eat a snack and regroup so that they can concentrate on a new learning activity.
   In the morning before school? After supper?  If you are planning an evening practice time, be sure that your child will have the energy necessary to concentrate at that time and that it will not be interrupted by other activities such as sports or church events.  I do not recommend evening for young children since they are winding down from a long day at that point.  You may find you have more conflict and less concentration if your child is tired.


   Dr. Suzuki said, "Ability equals knowledge plus 10,000 times."  All of your children have the ability to learn and we are refining the abilities necessary to play the piano.  A friend of mine was talking to me recently about the book "Outliers: The Story of Success" by Malcolm Gladwell.  Gladwell researched highly successful groups of people and came up with the "10,000 hour rule".  According to Gladwell, the key to a high level of success for any skill is a matter of practicing that task or skill for around 10,000 hours.  He also highlights the importance of the community which gives him or her the opportunities necessary to hone their skill.


   I am intrigued by the similarities between Gladwell's research and Dr. Suzuki who also insisted that placing a child in an environment of knowledge and encouragement is crucial in developing ability.  The Suzuki triangle of parent-teacher-student is so important.  Let's work together to create an environment where your child can develop their ability to the next level in playing the piano!  You can start by scheduling regular practice times and by playing the Suzuki recordings daily in their hearing.  Include other types of music recordings as well, in a variety of genres, so that they develop more depth to their musical ear.  I hope to offer links to recordings and artists I recommend in the future.


  In my next post I will give you practical and fun ideas for practicing.