Whenever a few people discuss music teachers they’ve had or watched, they discuss whether they’re a “tough” teacher or a “nice” teacher. The conversation continues as if there were only two options; a tough teacher that gets things done with well set-up, nice sounding students, or a nice teacher that lets things go to maintain […]
Book Club
Plucky Violin Teacher Book Club Review: Simplicity Parenting
Every discussion about a parenting book should probably start with a disclaimer: This book works for me. It works for my kids. I do not know you. I do not know your kids. Consider it and use it or throw it in the garbage. Amen. I first read Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of […]
To Learn With Love: Plucky Violin Teacher Book Club Reflection
I spent my few quiet moments in February curled up with my baby reading To Learn with Love: A Companion for Suzuki Parents by William and Constance Starr. Here are a few moments from the book that stood out to me, as a Suzuki teacher and parent, and why. “ALL CHILDREN MATURE AT DIFFERENT RATES,” […]
Plucky Violin Teacher Book Club Review: How Children Succeed
I really enjoyed reading How Children Succeed by Paul Tough. I had my highlighter and marked up the whole book. There were so many interesting ideas and I was struck by the connections I found to the Suzuki philosophy and writings of Dr. Suzuki. “What matters most in a child’s development, they say, is not […]
2018-2019 Plucky Violin Teacher Book Club Schedule…
Hello my friends. I’ve largely been absent from the blog for the last year. I never intended to neglect the blog so long, and I’m so excited to be re-committing to writing and learning more about teaching. If you’re interested, over the last year, I… began teaching Suzuki Early Childhood Education classes became totally overwhelmed […]
September Book Club Review: The Practicing Mind
The Practicing Mind by Thomas Sterner is an excellent book, and a quick read. I listened to it on audible last fall and loved it. The main thesis of the book is that, “Real peace and contentment in our lives come from realizing that life is a process to engage in, a journey down a […]
Book Club: Teaching with an Open Heart Review
Teaching with An Open Heart: A Guide to Developing Conscious Musicianship for Suzuki Parents, Teachers, and Students… This book does not disappoint! I loved Teaching from the Balance Point, and Teaching with an Open Heart was the perfect follow-up. In the beginning of the book, Mr. Kreitman outlines reasons that parents give for wanting their […]
2017 Plucky Violin Teacher Book Club Schedule
I can’t believe it is already 2017! I really enjoyed the books we read in 2016, and can’t wait to continue to improve myself and my teaching by reading more great books. It was incredibly difficult to narrow down the selection to just one per month, so if you have other suggestions please include them in […]
Is Your Mindset Sabotaging Your Music Students?
The Growth Mindset and Suzuki Philosophy… June’s book club pick was Mindset by Carol Dweck, so yes, I am incredibly behind! I always expect summer to move at a slower pace than the rest of the year, but then it moves faster? Does that happen to you? Ok, back to Mindset. I have read so […]
“Teaching From The Balance Point” Book Review
The Plucky Violin Teacher Book Club May 2016… For some reason, I thought I had already read Teaching from the Balance Point by Edward Kreitman. It was one of the books I had inherited from my Mom’s stash of Suzuki paraphernalia, and it has been on my shelf for probably six years. Soon after beginning […]