I spent my first few years as a Suzuki violin teacher wishing and wishing for younger students. I wanted to be a real Suzuki teacher and real Suzuki teachers had really young beginners. I was actually disappointed when I got a beginning student that was 11 or older because I thought they were taking space […]
Suzuki Planet Podcast Episode 3: Kerissa, violinist from Ohio
Brecklyn talks to Kerissa about learning to read music, reviewing every day, and the thrill of learning something new. Tip of the week: put your number one practice goal on a big sheet of paper. Listening suggestion of the week: I‘m Not Perfect by Laurie Berkner. Thank you to Neil and Rachel of Chili Dog Strings for […]
Suzuki Planet Podcast Episode 2: Aliya, Cellist from Utah
Brecklyn talks to Aliya about playing in a quartet, taking cello lessons from her mom, and the power of a checklist. She also recommends two books: Bliss and Percy Jackson Tip of the week- Use a timer Listening suggestion of the week- Korngold Violin Concerto in D Major Thank you to Neil and Rachel of Chili […]
Suzuki Planet Podcast Episode 1: Lacee, 11 year old Suzuki violinist from Texas
Avoid burnout by joining orchestra! Brecklyn interviews the amazing Lacee, an 11 year old violinist from Texas. She talks about what she loves about her teacher, what talent really is, and the magic of reserving practice time for pop songs. Tip of the Week- always get some practicing done in the morning. Listening Suggestion of […]
Suzuki Planet Trailer
Happy launch day! Listen to hear more about our new podcast, created for music loving kids!
Restarting Your Practice Routine After a Break
Holidays can be rough on our goals to practice consistently with our kids. All the regular routines have gone out the window. Sometimes we’re traveling, or hosting relatives. And, for me where I live, it is winter. And that’s the worst. The dark days and gloomy weather just makes me want to hide in bed […]
A Music Teacher Like Mr. Rogers
As a child, I loved Mr. Rogers and my childhood violin teacher for the same two reasons. 1) They were consistently kind. 2) They treated me with respect. As a child, I was constantly annoyed with adults who seemed to treat me with less respect and attention than they would other adults. To my childhood […]
The Power of Suzuki Early Childhood Education
I have heard about the magic of Suzuki Early Childhood Education (SECE) classes for years, but I really saw it when I started attending SECE with my two year old. Before we started, I read that SECE would help my son with patience, vocabulary, and rhythm, and it has. But more importantly, it has given […]
How to Listen to Classical Music with Your Kids..
I listen to a lot of classical music with my two kids, and not because of the Mozart Effect. I have no expectations that my children’s IQ will shoot up by listening to classical music. Mostly, I listen to classical music because I love it. Like parents everywhere, I share my passions with my kids. […]
Leveling Up: Adding Layers of Ability
I took a few creative writing classes in college just for fun. When we would read each other’s assignments, I noticed that there was a huge range in the quality of writing. There were the creative writing majors (whose writing was gripping, raw, and artistic) and the non-majors who were trying it out (me.) The […]