Month: September 2019

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How do we recognize a setback in our practice routines or our learning progression? How can we address these setbacks? What are the dangers of unrealistic, uninformed, or nonexistent expectations? Today’s episode will discuss all these topics and suggest some possibilities for addressing setbacks and managing our expectations.

Other Resources

Draw Them In: Build Concentration and Focus (podcast)

Reflections — Concentration Modeling (podcast)

Depression: Signs and Symptoms (article)

How to Encourage the Teach Suzuki Blog and Podcast

Buy The Twinkle Project

You can 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.

The following video explains why I wrote this book.

This video discusses what the book is about.

Episode 54, The Twinkle Project (this podcast episode examines the book in more depth)

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:

1. Launch Apple’s Podcast app.
2. Tap the “search” tab, enter “Teach Suzuki,” tap the blue Search button, and you will pull up the podcast.
3. Tap on the album art for the podcast.
4. Scroll down to the “write a review” link, and leave a rating and a review.
5. That is how easy it is!

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! Watch how you practice, and practice accurately!

—– 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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

What can we do if a student refuses to participate in lessons? How do we handle the reluctant student — the student who does not seem to be engaged with lessons or learning?

How to Encourage the Teach Suzuki Blog and Podcast

Buy The Twinkle Project

You can 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.

The following video explains why I wrote this book.

This video discusses what the book is about.

Episode 54, The Twinkle Project (this podcast episode examines the book in more depth)

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:

1. Launch Apple’s Podcast app.
2. Tap the “search” tab, enter “Teach Suzuki,” tap the blue Search button, and you will pull up the podcast.
3. Tap on the album art for the podcast.
4. Scroll down to the “write a review” link, and leave a rating and a review.
5. That is how easy it is!

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! Watch how you practice, and practice accurately!

—– 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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Dr. Suzuki told us that teaching music was not his main purpose. He wanted to make good citizens. He said, “If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.” How do we teach our children and students about good citizenship — what good citizenship means and how to become a good citizen in our communities and studios?

Other Resources

Mrs. Sanchez’s class

Elyssa from WhollyART: 20 Ways You Can Be a Good Citizen Now!

meritbadge.org (scouting program)

How to Encourage the Teach Suzuki Blog and Podcast

Buy The Twinkle Project

You can 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.

The following video explains why I wrote this book.

This video discusses what the book is about.

Episode 54, The Twinkle Project (this podcast episode examines the book in more depth)

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:

1. Launch Apple’s Podcast app.
2. Tap the “search” tab, enter “Teach Suzuki,” tap the blue Search button, and you will pull up the podcast.
3. Tap on the album art for the podcast.
4. Scroll down to the “write a review” link, and leave a rating and a review.
5. That is how easy it is!

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! Watch how you practice, and practice accurately!

—– 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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We do a lot of different things in a day. What if there were a way to speed up our daily, weekly, and monthly tasks so that we could squeeze a few minutes free, or better yet, make our tasks easier to perform so that we didn’t have to work so hard at them? How about the power of the checklists?

How to Encourage the Teach Suzuki Blog and Podcast

Buy The Twinkle Project

You can 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.

The following video explains why I wrote this book.

This video discusses what the book is about.

Episode 54, The Twinkle Project (this podcast episode examines the book in more depth)

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:

1. Launch Apple’s Podcast app.
2. Tap the “search” tab, enter “Teach Suzuki,” tap the blue Search button, and you will pull up the podcast.
3. Tap on the album art for the podcast.
4. Scroll down to the “write a review” link, and leave a rating and a review.
5. That is how easy it is!

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! Watch how you practice, and practice accurately!

—– 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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

I live on a ranch with chickens, dogs, alpacas, and several donkeys, along with the occasional horse. My rural ranch life has provided me with many colorful examples of activities and techniques about how to be an effective parent or teacher. This episode shares some of those rural lessons as I relate them to the teaching studio.

My book, The Twinkle Project, is discounted 20% through September 2, 2019. Last week’s episode shared a large number of resources for new parents or for teachers beginning a new student. One of those resources is my book about teaching violin, which I wrote expressly for this purpose. In this book, I lay out conversations that I have with new parents regarding the Suzuki philosophy, the basic features of the Suzuki program, the important components that will lead to successful practices and consistent progress, as well as many activities and instructions for proper posture and setup. One of my most useful items in the book is my checklist of activities, which lists all the activities I use to start a new student and progress through the beginning stages to the Twinkle Variations — in the progression order that I use with my students.

I am currently offering my digital book at a special 20% discount through September 2 (Labor Day). In order to claim the discount, on the final page of checkout enter the code fall2019 to receive the 20% discount. Be sure to enter “fall2019” at checkout to get the 20% discount. If you would like to hear the podcast episode that discusses how to start a new student and parent, click here.

I wrote The Twinkle Project, 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.

The following video explains why I wrote this book.

This video discusses what the book is about.

Episode 54, The Twinkle Project (this podcast episode examines the book in more depth)

I am currently offering my digital book at a special 20% discount through September 2 (Labor Day). In order to claim the discount, on the final page of checkout enter the code fall2019 to receive the 20% discount. Be sure to enter “fall2019” at checkout to get the 20% discount.

Other Resources

Asking the Right Questions

These are the Halloween plastic eyeballs that I talked about in this episode. My students love these, and I make sure that I have one for everyone in the fall to prepare for Halloween.

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:

1. Launch Apple’s Podcast app.
2. Tap the “search” tab, enter “Teach Suzuki,” tap the blue Search button, and you will pull up the podcast.
3. Tap on the album art for the podcast.
4. Scroll down to the “write a review” link, and leave a rating and a review.
5. That is how easy it is!

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).

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: Teach Suzuki Blog.

Until next time,

Happy Practicing! Watch how you practice, and practice accurately!

—– 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.