How many hours a day should 

I be practicing? 

This article talks about the difference between mindless practicing and deliberate practicing. It is hard to make the switch over and trust that it is the better way, but in the long run it is well worth it! This mindset is something that I'm working really hard on in my studio right now. More often than not,I'll get a sigh or eyes rolled if I tell the student he/she gets to do one of the repetition games I have. After we do a few repetitions of deliberate practice, they hear the difference and are satisfied with the work they have done.

The Wiggle Game

I often wonder where kids get all of their energy and I wish that I could have some of it!

 Wiggle Time isn't just for when these folks are on! You can make wiggle time during practice time to help release some energy so your student isn't bouncing all over the place while you're trying to do the 10x spot your teacher assigned. It's pretty easy - put some music on and let your kid wiggle while he/she is standing in play position. When you pause the music, they have to stop wiggling. Play the music at different intervals of time. You'll be able to see when your child starts getting tired, because they will stop wiggling before you stop the music - encourage them to keep moving so they get all of their sillies out (but shh!!! don't tell them that!).
Now you can get to work. Happy Practicing!

You can read more about the Wiggle Game in Ed Sprungers Book Building Violin Skills on page 170.

12.12.12

You may or may not know, but I am slightly obsessed with numbers. When a special day like today comes around, I have to do something fun or exciting or something worth remembering. Today was no different. When each student came in, I asked if they knew what day it was - some of them said "Wednesday" some said "the 12th" but most just looked at me like I was crazy. I told them that it was 12.12.12. and that's when I started to get A LOT of eyes rolling at me. I did have some students that were cute and played along - and even thought it was pretty cool themselves! I told them we were going to celebrate by playing their practice spots 12x!!! How fun is that?!!

My husband and I went out to eat to chinese food today to celebrate this special day and the fortune he got was "everyday has something special worth celebrating." I thought this ended our $12.00 dinner perfectly!

The Task is Complete!

Are you aware that the "dollar" isle at Target is now the "under $3.00" isle?! I should have taken a picture of the big sign that was above my favorite corner, but I'm a little upset if you want to know the truth! Nevertheless, I found some really cute practice ideas there today while I was in the "big city."

I found these 4 wood cookies that came on a wood cookie sheet - they were adorable.  

They also had cupcakes that came in a pack of 6, but for the idea I had, I would need to get 2 packs and I didn't want to spend $6.00 in the DOLLAR ISLE for 2 items!!! For those of you feeling less frugal than I am, I'll tell you what I was thinking... I was thinking that you could get 2 packs and then fill up a muffin sheet from your kitchen! How fun would that be?!!! 

Since I tend to spend the most money from the DOLLAR ISLE and there were some other items I really wanted to get today, I narrowed it down to this cute $3.00 item so I could have the best of both worlds. 

This little cake is perfect for repetitions for so many reasons! 

My husband was actually the one that helped me narrow it down to the cake. 

These are his reasons... 

• It's just so stinkin' cute! 
• Imagine me saying that, now imagine my husband imitating me saying that - of course he does it to make me laugh and to assure me that it is as cute as I think it is ;)
• It's unique - it's totally different than any other repetition counter I have
• The students would be able to complete something.

I really liked all of these reasons, but he sold me on "the student gets to complete something." It's true that they get to get complete many things - like putting all of the pennies in the jar. The differnce

 for this game is that they can see a complete circle - they can see that all of the pieces need to fit together to make a whole.  They can see that the task is complete. I can't wait to give this new game a try in lessons on Monday! 

Walk the Line

Alright folks!
It's time to...
 Walk the Line 

This is game has worked so well for my students.

These are the rules for the game
( I spread out the numbers so they actually take a step)

• Choose a practice spot (measure 12) or a technique (making bow holds)
• The student starts on zero
• If the practice spot is done correctly, the student takes a step towards the positive numbers. If it is wrong, he has to take a step towards the negative numbers. 

The student knows the goal. He knows what he has to do to get there.  In my experience, it takes some kids a while to process the idea that if they just buckle down and do it, then they can be more efficient and productive in a shorter amount of time.

I have 2 success stories with this game that I want to share...

• A girl that I teach that is very emotional. I'm always nervous I'm going to say "let's do this spot 5x in a row" at just the wrong time and then the rest of the lesson we have tiers. Yesterday was a new story. I told her she was going to get on the number line and her goal was to get to #3 ( I started with a small number so that I wouldn't overwhelm her). She started out just fine and did the spot correctly 2 times, then... it went down hill. The lowest number she got was to was -1 and then started her come back to the positive numbers, but she got stuck going back and forth from zero to 1. I braced myself for what was to come next - those big alligator tiers. To my surprise, she didn't have any tiers. Only laughter! Crisis averted! 

• Teenagers are hard to read, but I have one that is so unpredictable. She will come to the classroom I'm in and talk to me one day like we're best friends, and the next day when she comes for her lesson I'll be her worst enemy. It's rough. I never know what to expect or how to plan for her lessons. This was the 2nd week in a row I had her do the number line. Last week it didn't go over to well - it was too elementary. This week I was going to give it another shot because I KNOW this activity will help her see HOW she needs to practice. She is one of those who needs to be held accountable and needs a "babysitter" to do things. It's not that she isn't capable, it's just that she's a teenager and knows how to do everything and is always "right." Her lesson this week was THE BEST. I didn't have to be the big, bad, mean teacher that has the student practice the spot once they get it right. 

 The reason I LOVE this game is because I'm not the one that is saying that the task needs to be done again. The students can see for themselves that when they do it correct, they are improving and when they stop thinking about the task at hand, they have a lot more work ahead of them to get to where they want to be.

Most Important

Take a moment to think about what is of most value in helping your child this learn to play an instrument...

"I need to remember that the number of songs Carrie learns, or the speed at which she learns them, isn't the most important part of what we are trying to accomplish together. The process itself is the most important: the day-to-day discipline, the day-to-day attention to detail, the day-to-day awareness of beauty in the world."

A Suzuki Parent's Diary or How I survived my first 10,000 Twinkles - By Carroll Morris

Videos of Dr. Suzuki

I was looking for information that my AMAZING mentor, Pat D'Ercole suggested I look at and I came across videos of Dr. Suzuki when he was at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point!

I never got to meet him, but I love the man. I remember the day that he died. I was in 8th grade just leaving my locker to go 2nd period. My friend Anne (who was/is also a violinist), asked me if I had heard that he had died. My heart sank. What a legend. Definitely one of the most influential people to mankind.

Dr. Suzuki at Stevens Point 1964

Words to Book 1

Are you and your child 

LISTENING 

to your recording?!!!

I was talking to my grandma, who is also a Suzuki violin teacher, about how hard it is to get families to listen to the recordings. I was thinking, why is it so hard? What could make it easier? I tried a little experiment in my studio... and it's been working!!! Here are the words almost all of the pieces in Book 1. I can't take credit for any of them, other than collecting them over the years and putting them together all in one spot.  Suzuki teachers around the world are so amazing and creative! My hat goes off to them! All of these words I remember from growing up, received them from teacher trainers, or have found them on other Suzuki blogs or websites.  The words below are my favorites, but check out some of these sites to find more fun words to sing!

Amarillo College Suzuki String Program

SoundStrings 

and of course... 

Suzuki Association of the Americas 

Twinkle Variation A 

Little Doggy, stop, stop! 

Climbing up the hill top

Higher, higher, stop, stop! 

Come back down here, stop, stop! 

I smell skunk up top-top. 

You'll be smelly, stop, stop! 

Lower, lower, stop, stop! 

At the bottom, stop, stop!

Dirty Doggy, scrub, scrub

Put him in a tub-tub

Rub-a-dub-a-dub-dub

Dirty Doggy, scrub, scrub

Dirty Doggy, scrub, scrub

Put him in a tub-tub

Rub-a-dub-a-dub-dub

Dirty Doggy, scrub, scrub

Little Doggy, stop, stop! 

Climbing up the hill top

Higher, higher, stop, stop! 

Come back down here, stop, stop! 

I smell skunk up top-top. 

You'll be smelly, stop, stop! 

Lower, lower, stop, stop! 

At the bottom, stop, stop!

Twinkle Variation B

Doctor Suzuki says

Never be lazy but

Practice and practice un-

til you go crazy! For

You know and I know that

Playing’s not easy, but

Practice, more practice makes

Hard spots seem easy, so

Doctor Suzuki says

Never be lazy but

Practice and practice un-

til you go crazy! (ah!)

French Folk Song 

Bow this way, s'il vous plait, down, up, down, slow, tres slow. 

Beautiful ringing tone, down, up, down, hear the bow. 

Notes go up, bow goes up, one more time, un, doux, trios. 

Higher still, going up, down, up, down, slow, tres slow. 

Descendre, tombe down, Re, Do, Re, Do. 

Lightly Row 

Hey there mouse in your house

Better stay in-side your house

Hey there mous-ie in your hous-ie

Someone’s waiting just for you

Pretty kitty loves you so

Thinks you’re just so tasty, Oh!

Hey there mous-ie in your hous-ie

Someone’s waiting just for you

Song of the Wind

I climbed up a mango tree to

See what I could see.

Mangos fell on me.

First 3 mangos,

Then 2 mangos,

Then 1 mango,

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

First 3 mangos,

Then 2 mangos,

Then 1 mango,

Ouch!

Go Tell Aunt Rhody

Go tell Aunt Rhody, John is very sick,

Go tell Aunt Rhody John is sick in bed.

He ate some popcorn, and some jellybeans,

He ate some candy, and some gum.

Go tell Aunt Rhody John is very sick,

Go tell Aunt Rhody, John is sick in bed.

O Come Little Children

O come, little children, o come one and all

To Bethlehem haste to the manger so small

God’s Son for a gift, has been sent you this night

To be your redeemer, your joy and delight

He's born in a stable for you and for me
Draw near by the bright gleaming starlight to see
In swaddling clothes lying so meek and so mild
And purer than angels the heavenly Child

May Song

Spring is here, the birds are so near!

Listen to them singing!

Black bird, orange bird, yellow and blue,

sing their pretty songs just for you!

Spring is here, the birds are so near!

Listen to them singing!

Long, Long Ago

Long, long ago, there were great dinosaurs, great dinosaurs, great dinosaurs.

Long, long ago, there were great dinosaurs, great dinosaurs, with big paws.

And on those paws, they had gigantic claws. And on those paws, they had gigantic claws.

Long, long ago, there were great dinosaurs, great dinosaurs, with big paws.

Allegro

 Popcorn, popcorn, popping in the popper, oops, there goes a kernel on the floor!

Popcorn, popcorn, popping in the popper, oops, there goes a kernel on the floor!

Melting butter, melting butter, add some salt and it’s just right…

Popcorn, popcorn, popping in the popper, oops, there goes a kernel on the floor!

Perpetual Motion

Have you seen an alligator

Riding up an escalator?

Have you seen an alligator

Riding down and elevator?

Once I saw a bear go riding

In an airplane he was gliding.

Once I saw a bear go riding

Down a hill his sled was riding

Did you see that armadillo

Carried high upon a pillow?

Did you see that armadillo

Wave at us from on his pillow?

Have you seen an  alligator,

Riding up an escalator?

Have you seen an alligator

Riding down an elevator?

Allegretto

If you don’t brush your teeth before going to bed,

Then your teeth will turn green and rot out of your head!

If you don’t brush your teeth before going to bed,

Then your teeth will rot out of your head! (retake bow)

Yes they will, no they won’t! Yes they will, no they won’t!

Yes, they will, yes, they will, yes they will, NO THEY WON’T!

If you don’t brush your teeth before going to bed,

 Then your teeth will rot out of your head!

Andantino 

Little pig, little pig, let me come in! (wolf)

Not by the hair of my chinny, chin, chin. (pig #1)

Little pig, little pig, let me come in! (wolf)

Not by the hair of my chinny, chin, chin. (pig #2)

Big bad wolf is blowing our house,

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! (all 3 pigs)

Little pig, little pig, let me come in! (wolf)

Not by the hair of my chinny, chin, chin. (pig #3)

Etude

Henrietta Popeletta had a special friend whose name was

Wilhemina Window cleaner, and she brought along her football.

Henrietta Popeletta picked it up and threw it right to

Wilhelmina Window cleaner, and it went right through the window!

Mother came right down the stairs and called to Father.

Father came right down the stairs and quickly picked up

Henrietta Popeletta – picked her up and scolded her and sent her off to bed!

Minuet #1

See dancers all in a row, moving so gently

Dance to the music, dance to the music,

Bow your head low.

See dancers all in a row, moving so gently

Dance to the music, dance to the music,

Bow your head low.

Partners stand in a row, moving so gently as they go.

Dance to the music, dance to the music,

Bow your head low.

Feet gliding so gently along

Dance, turn around.

Dance to the music, dance to the music,

bow down your head low.

Minuet #2

I like strawberries and blueberries

I like strawberries and blueberries

Mangoes and papayas and bananas are yummy too!

I like strawberries and blueberries

I like strawberries and blueberries

Once in a while I like to eat some

strawberry ice cream pie!

(repeat)

Fruit is good but I like ice cream too

I like lots of flavored ice cream too

Lots of different flavored ice cream like

Chocolate ice cream pie with a spoon!

I love to eat it, you love to eat it

We love to eat ice cream in a cone,

cookie dough, rocky road,

but to be healthier…

I like strawberries and blueberries

I like strawberries and blueberries

Once in a while I like to eat some

strawberry ice cream pie!

(repeat)

Minuet #3

          

Oh, birdie in the nest, Peep, peep.

Where did your mama go?  Peep, peep.

She'll come to see you soon,

She'll bring you a worm.

She'll come back I know.

Oh, birdie in the nest, Peep, peep.

Where did your mama go?  Peep, peep.

She'll come to see you soon,

She'll bring you a worm.

You'll grow big and strong.

Soon you'll take off and fly with your friends up high

Swooping through the sky, gracefully.

Soon you'll sing your cheerful song, You'll bring joy to our hearts.

So, little bird, grow, little bird. Eat all your bugs and worms and seeds.

Every morning you will greet us with your sweet melody.

The Happy Farmer

 Mary Margaret Haraden 

The happy farmer goes out to his fields,

He hoes the weeds and sows the seeds

And stomps the bug.

The happy farmer goes out to his fields,

He hoes the weeds and sows the seeds

And stomps the bug.

No time to rest, or take a little nap.

The happy farmer goes out to his fields,

He hoes the weeds and sows the seeds

And picks the fruit.

No time to rest, or take a little nap.

The happy farmer goes out to his fields,

He hoes the weeds and sows the seeds

And picks the fruit.

Gossec Gavotte 

I can play this long gavotte the whole way through.

I can play this long gavotte as well as you.

I can play this long gavotte just like you too.

Doctor Suzuki would like that too.

Can you play the second section just as well?

I can play the second section, can't you tell?

I can play the second section quite as well.

Let's all play the second section, ding dong bell.

Let us take it all in turns to play.

I'll play first, then fingers very quickly down the scale come jumping.

I'll play it next and now altogether,

teeter, totter, then running up and down.

I'm playing very fast and jump about.

I'm playing very fast and I'm not out.

I'm playing very fast, and I'm playing at the last,

so let's play it altogether, roundabout.

                              

If you want a word copy of these songs to print off with cute pictures, shoot me an email and I'll get them to you!

Happy Halloween Practicing!