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Today’s episode sets out a simple three-step plan that leads to success on the Suzuki music journey. These three steps are simple to remember and follow: P-L-S.
P – Practice
L – Listen
S – Support
Monthly Focus: CLARITY
Today’s episode introduces a new feature on the podcast: the monthly focus or theme and a weekly mission with some suggested questions to guide listeners.
January’s monthly focus is: Clarity. The episode talks about the importance of clear space, which I believe will lead to clarity of thinking regarding creative ideas and effective tools, whether we are teachers or parents. Since “clarity” can mean different things to many people, I will offer weekly missions to help listeners discover how clarity can fit into my listeners’ lives.
Weekly Mission: Calendar
This week’s mission is to seek clarity about your calendar. Here are some questions to help you find this clarity:
Do you have your dates set for the semester?
Do you have your studio recital or other calendar events and dates set up and scheduled?
What are your plans for the summer break? Have you registered for music camp or Suzuki institute?
Do you have any instrument maintenance chores to take care of, like getting a different instrument size, rehairing the bow, replacing supplies, or getting new strings?
What I am Reading
I am currently reading two books:
The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future by Ryder Carroll, who developed the method of bullet 
The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More and Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier. As a teacher, I am always reading books and material that will provide me with useful tools to improve my role as a teacher. This book offers some useful tips about asking questions, which will ultimately lead to success.
The episode mentioned other episodes that touched on similar topics:
Episode 4: Top 10 Things a Suzuki Parent Should Know
Episode 80: Parent Chronicles — Sunny Mother & Powerful Child
How to Add More Listening to Your Day (blog article)
Studio Focus: More Listening! (blog article)
Listening Magic (blog article)
Music Listening Resource List (blog article)
How to Encourage the Teach Suzuki Blog and Podcast
Contact Me
I really enjoy hearing from my readers and listeners. If you have a question, a comment, a suggestion, or an idea for future articles and podcast episodes, please consider contacting me. You can find me by email (paula@teachsuzuki,com) or find me on Facebook (Teach Suzuki).
Leave a Review
Many listeners ask how they can support the podcast. If you are a fan of the podcast, you can help to support it by leaving a rating and review. Here is how to review the podcast:
- Launch Apple’s Podcast app.
- Tap the “search” tab, enter “Teach Suzuki,” tap the blue Search button, and you will pull up the podcast.
- Tap on the album art for the podcast.
- Scroll down to the “write a review” link, and leave a rating and a review.
- That is how easy it is!
Buy The Twinkle Project
You can also support the blog and podcast by making a purchase of The Twinkle Project, which is my book to help teachers and parents of young violin beginners. This book takes teachers and parents through all of the steps to teach a complete violin beginner all the way through the “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” variations and begin the next steps to learn “Lightly Row.” Included in the book are many forms and checklists to guide teachers and parents through the progression of steps to learn this important initial stage to play the violin.
Episode 54, The Twinkle Project
If you have questions or answers or you would like to comment or leave me a voice mail, you can do so at (512) 537-6356. If you would like to send me an email, you may do so at paula@teachsuzuki.com. I welcome comments and questions about this episode and am interested in hearing about the perspective of other parents and teachers.
You may find more information and useful articles on my blog at: Teach Suzuki Blog.
Until next time,
Happy Practicing!
—– Paula —–
© 2019 by Paula E. Bird
Join the Teach Suzuki Community!
If you would like to make a donation to support the Teach Suzuki Podcast and the blog, click here to donate.
Thanks Paula.
Best wishes .
Enciuraging, and nice to feel a connection withb others like you , willing to reach out and share what has helped in their life and music joyrneying.
Music : best of all hunan languages
It gives expression to a depth of human experience that words do not reach.
Worth striving to share with all the skill you have the capacity to musrer.
I am ancient and at thecend of teaching , with no dulling of gratitude ior enthusiasm- simply the hinesty of knowing its tume to stop teaching .
Warm hug and best wishes.
Patricia TAYLOR
Thank you, Patricia!