Suzuki Program

FAQs for Program Families

Any tips on helpful books to read?

About the Suzuki Method or Dr. Suzuki

The Suzuki Violinist -William Starr. ( 1983)

To Learn with Love - William & Constance Starr

Shinichi Suzuki: The Man and His Philosophy - Evelyn Hermann. (1981)

Suzuki Changed My Life - Massaki Honda, MD.

Parenting Books

Self-Esteem: A Family Affair - Jean Illsley Clarke

Traits of a Healthy Family - Dolores Curran

How to Talk so Kids can Listen & Listen so Kids Will Talk. - Faber & Mazlish

Siblings Without Rivalry - Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish

Stress and the Healthy Family - Dolores Curran

The Measure of Our Success - Marian Wright Edelman

The Parent's Handbook (Step: Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) - Dinkmeyer &McKay

Pick up your socks …and other skills growing children need! - Elizabeth Crary & Illustrate by Pati Casebolt

Life Types - Sandra Hirsh & Jean Kummcrow

Parents as Teacher

They're Rarely too Young and Never too Old "to Twinkle!" - Kay Collier Slone. (1982)

Preschool in the Suzuki Spirit - Susan Grilli. (1987)

In the Suzuki Style - Elizabeth Mills & Suzuki Parents. (1974)

Journey Down the Kreisler Highway - Craig Timmerman (1987)

Stories of Composers for Young Musicians. - Kay Kendall

The Inner Game of Tennis - W. Timothy Gallwey

Mommy, Can We Practice Now? - Marie Parkinson

How to Get Your Child to Practice…Without Resorting to Violence!! - Cynthia V. Richards & illustrated by Jane Dalley

Helping Parents Practice by Ed Sprunger

Can I sign up for private lessons, but not group lessons?

We only offer the combination of private and group lessons for all of our students. We have adults participating in many of our classes, and we feel strongly that group classes are very important. Group lessons are built in to the cost of lessons in our program, and the majority of the cost of lessons is for private lessons.

Saturday Group Lessons

READING CLASS uses a sequence of graded materials, or materials of the teachers' choice, from beginner books to orchestra materials. The ensembles of ESE and EYO are open to the public for a fee. See Our Ensembles for information.

We also offer Kindermusik!

Where can I learn about instrument care and maintenance, as well as how to sell our violin that's too small now?

Our About my instrument page has many links and answers.

How long should my child practice?

Set up a routine to practice every day at the same time, and practice at LEAST 5-10 minutes, and for beginners, 30-40 minutes is fine. A good Rule of Thumb is to practice every day - to last as long as your private lesson.

For older kids, have a set series of things to do-notes from lessons or a practice chart can help, so kids see an end in sight. Establishing a routine of scales, exercises for 3-5 minutes at the beginning of practice, review, etc. then get to the new literature.