Category: Podcast Episodes

Reflections – Ability Breeds Ability

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This episode is part of the “Reflections” series of podcast episodes, which are short, minutes long reflections about a quote or other thought from Dr. Shinichi Suzuki’s philosophy or writing. The purpose of these reflections is to give parents and teachers a chance to spend a few minutes thinking about how great the impact might be on the world and our children with merely a slight moment of reflection about a behavior, thought, or attitude.

This episode discusses Dr. Suzuki’s explanation for how ability breeds ability.

If you have a comment or suggestion, you can leave me a voice message on my voicemail line at 512-537-6356 or send me an email at paula@teachsuzuki.com.

If you need some suggestions about setting up a review program for your students or children, check out my new YouTube channel and a video about the importance of a regular and consistent review program. Click here to watch that video. And be sure to hit the “like” button, leave a comment, and subscribe to the channel!

For more information and articles, visit

http://teachsuzuki.blogspot.com.

Until next time,

Happy Practicing!

—– Paula —–

045 TSP How to Plan a Group Class

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This episode of the Teach Suzuki podcast discusses the components and focused activities that might comprise a group class.

I discussed many helpful materials in this episode. Here are links to those items:

Shel Silverstein Books

Where the Sidewalk Ends

A Light in the Attic Special Edition

Falling Up

My Favorite Dr. Seuss Books

Go, Dog Go! (Do you like my hat?)

Oh, The Places You’ll Go! (and be sure to read the book while listening to John Lithgow read it! (click here for the video)

Dr. Seuss’s Beginner Book Collection

Dr. Seuss’s Second Beginner Book Collection

Other Books and Recordings

Richard Scarry’s The Gingerbread Man

Story of the Orchestra by Robert Levine

Carnival of the Animals (Camille Saint-Saens music/Ogden Nash verses)

Pictures at an Exhibition (Mussorgsky)

Peter and the Wolf (Prokofiev/Gielgud narration)

The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra (Britten)

My Favorite Group Class Teaching Books and items

Group Lessons for Suzuki Violin and Viola by Carolyn McCall

I Know a Fox with Dirty Socks by William Starr

Plastic Halloween Eyeballs (balance these on the hair and the bow stick)

Rhythm Activity Sticks

Links to other videos, podcast episodes, and blog articles

Episode 15: Asking the Right Questions (the power of the “what” and “how” questions)

Music Listening Resource List Article (building your child’s home listening library)

How to Teach a Suzuki Group Class (blog article)

Recipe for Suzuki Review (YouTube) (how to build a consistent and regular Suzuki review program)

The above links are affiliate links, which means that if you click on them, the podcast and blog may receive a small benefit. You are never under any obligation to purchase anything, but if do choose to purchase something and use these links, I greatly appreciate it and your support.

I you would like to visit my previous article about group classes on my blog, click here.

If you are interested in my simple group class planning form, click here for my Group Class Planning Template.

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: http://teachsuzuki.blogspot.com.

Until next time,

Happy Practicing!

—– Paula —–

© 2017 by Paula E. Bird

Reflections – Repeatedly Aim for Better Things

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This episode is part of the “Reflections” series of podcast episodes, which are short, minutes long reflections about a quote or other thought from Dr. Shinichi Suzuki’s philosophy or writing. The purpose of these reflections is to give parents and teachers a chance to spend a few minutes thinking about how great the impact might be on the world and our children with merely a slight moment of reflection about a behavior, thought, or attitude.

This episode discusses the importance of perfect repetition in order to build good habits and avoid the unwelcome process of unlearning incorrect habits.

If you have a comment or suggestion, you can leave me a voice message on my voicemail line at 512-537-6356 or send me an email at paula@teachsuzuki.com.

If you need some suggestions about setting up a review program for your students or children, check out my new YouTube channel and a video about the importance of a regular and consistent review program. Click here to watch that video. And be sure to hit the “like” button, leave a comment, and subscribe to the channel!

For more information and articles, visit

http://teachsuzuki.blogspot.com.

Until next time,

Happy Practicing!

—– Paula —–

044 TSP Why Group Classes?

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This episode of the Teach Suzuki podcast discusses the importance of group classes and visits the various components and skills that children and parents develop when they participate regularly in a group class program. The episode also encourages teachers to include group classes as part of the regular teaching program in the studio.

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: http://teachsuzuki.blogspot.com.

Until next time,

Happy Practicing!

—– Paula —–

© 2017 by Paula E. Bird

Reflections — Happy Practices

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This episode is part of the “Reflections” series of podcast episodes, which are short, minutes long reflections about a quote or other thought from Dr. Shinichi Suzuki’s philosophy or writing. The purpose of these reflections is to give parents and teachers a chance to spend a few minutes thinking about how great the impact might be on the world and our children with merely a slight moment of reflection about a behavior, thought, or attitude.

This episode discusses the how to create desire in the to learn how to play a musical instrument and how to create a happy practice situation.

If you have a comment or suggestion, you can leave me a voice message on my voicemail line at 512-537-6356 or send me an email at paula@teachsuzuki.com. And be sure to check out my new YouTube channel and a video about the importance of a regular and consistent review program. Click here to watch that video. And be sure to hit the “like” button, leave a comment, and subscribe to the channel!

For more information and articles, visit

http://teachsuzuki.blogspot.com.

Until next time,

Happy Practicing!

—– Paula —–

043 TSP Recital Preparation

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This episode of the Teach Suzuki podcast discusses recitals and recital preparation and suggests several useful tools and guidelines for parents and teachers. Here is a link to the article I wrote that includes some suggestions for building a recital preparation checklist: http://bit.ly/2jry3Do.

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. Teachers and parents can suggest many ways to travel the recital path with ease.

You may find more information and useful articles on my blog at: http://teachsuzuki.blogspot.com.

Until next time,

Happy Practicing!

—– Paula —–

© 2016 by Paula E. Bird

Reflections — Reverence

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This episode is part of the “Reflections” series of podcast episodes, which are short, minutes long reflections about a quote or other thought from Dr. Shinichi Suzuki’s philosophy or writing. The purpose of these reflections is to give parents and teachers a chance to spend a few minutes thinking about how great the impact might be on the world and our children with merely a slight moment of reflection about a behavior, thought, or attitude.

This episode discusses the importance showing an attitude of reverence toward children.

If you have a comment or suggestion, you can leave me a voice message on my voicemail line at 512-537-6356 or send me an email at paula@teachsuzuki.com. And be sure to check out my new YouTube channel and a video about the importance of a regular and consistent review program. Click here to watch that video. And be sure to hit the “like” button, leave a comment, and subscribe to the channel!

For more information and articles, visit

http://teachsuzuki.blogspot.com.

Until next time,

Happy Practicing!

—– Paula —–

042 TSP The Bullet Journal and Other Tools

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This episode of the Teach Suzuki podcast talks about the bullet journal and how to use this as part of many other useful tools for both parents and teachers.

If you are interested in trying out the bullet journal yourself, click the affiliate link below. As always, you are never under any obligation to purchase anything. If you use the link provided, there will be no additional cost to you, but your use of the link may provide a small benefit to me to help support the cost of producing the podcast and writing the blog articles.

These journals come in many lovely colors. Check back frequently as the prices cover a wide range and change often. When I find the price I like for a particular color, I purchase it. I have a few journals on hand in many different colors and ready to go when I need a new one.

And I must recommend my favorite erasable color pens! These pens are terrific and have brought me such joy! What fun to use color and to be able to erase mistakes in seconds!

My blog will include pictures of various spreads that I use in my personal bullet journal, if you would like to visit tomorrow at TeachSuzuki.blogspot.com.

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.

You may find more information and useful articles on my blog at: Teach Suzuki Blog.

Until next time,

Happy Practicing!

—– Paula —–

© 2017 by Paula E. Bird

Reflections – A Plan for the Year

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This episode is part of the “Reflections” series of podcast episodes, which are short, minutes long reflections about a quote or other thought from Dr. Shinichi Suzuki’s philosophy or writing. The purpose of these reflections is to give parents and teachers a chance to spend a few minutes thinking about how great the impact might be on the world and our children with merely a slight moment of reflection about a behavior, thought, or attitude.

This episode discusses the importance of having a plan.

If you have a comment or suggestion, you can leave me a voice message on my voicemail line at 512-537-6356 or send me an email at paulabirdviolin@gmail.com.

For more information and articles, visit

http://teachsuzuki.blogspot.com.

Until next time,

Happy Practicing!

—– Paula —–

041 TSP The Kon Mari Experience

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This episode of the Teach Suzuki podcast relates my experience with the Kon Mari Method of tidying. I tell my story of the experience with my clothes, and I relate the entire experience of releasing old things in order to make room for joy in my life as it pertains to my teaching life. Listen and see if you can also join me in this amazing experience of removing stagnant clutter and renewing creative energy.

If you are interested in reading Marie Kondo’s book, click the affiliate link below. As always, you are never under any obligation to purchase anything. If you use the link provided, there will be no additional cost to you, but your use of the link may provide a small benefit to me to help support the cost of producing the podcast and writing the blog articles.

If you would like more information about the amazing and entertaining methods of folding clothing and storing items, click on the book below:

If you are interested in seeing photos and videos of my Kon Mari experience, visit my blog tomorrow at teachsuzuki.blogspot.com.

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 paulabirdviolin@gmail.com. I welcome comments and questions about this episode.

You may find more information and useful articles on my blog at: Teach Suzuki Blog.

Until next time,

Happy Practicing!

—– Paula —–

© 2017 by Paula E. Bird