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!

General Music

  DSO Kids 

This is a great website presented by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

• Games 
• Instructions how to build your own instruments
• Practice tips
• Staff paper to print off 
• Theory 
• Listen to music by composer
• Listen to music by instrument

Check it out! 

B.I.N.G.O

A few weeks ago, my husband and I went to his work party where we played BINGO and I won this lovely prize. I don't have room for it so... If anyone wants it, I'll be happy to bring it to your next lesson or mail it to you! 

I thought that this might be a fun way to practice - and sure enough, the student that I have that practices a few days each week came back and had practiced 5 days that week - 5 days in a row!!! I was TOTALLY blown away. Yeahooooo! I am still floating because I'm so very happy!  

Instead of BINGO, you could use letters and numbers.

To make it more challenging, you can make letters - like the letter "H" or a "L." You could also say, only diagonals, the number 3 row, etc.  

I put the game pieces in a ziplock bag and stored them in a plastic sheet protector along with the board game. I used pencil to fill in the boxes so I can mix things up or switch the practice session around with new activities. 

Hard to Start

For me, the hardest part of practicing is getting started. Once I get going, I'm fine and I love it. But those first initial steps are definitely the hardest! Growing up my mom had these awesome hooks that hung in our practice room where we could put our violins. This way we didn't have to get them in and out of the case each time we practiced and they kept the violins safe from all the little hands that wanted to play with them. These "fancy" hooks are actually curtain hooks and tassels! I think this is a DIY project Pintrest would totally eat up ;)

These are great cello boxes that were purchased from the wonderful  Charles Liu.

I know I could have cleaned up these piles of music and moved the bass guitar to make this look like we live in a perfect little world and our house is always spotless. The thing is, I have lots of faults, and  when I wait for the last possible minute to take these pictures as I'm running out the door to catch my flight, this is what you get and you get to know the real me. Maybe next time I go home, I'll clean up the area and take pictures in the day with better lighting. Then, you'll be able to see what my house would look like if we lived in a perfect little world.