Frequently Asked Questions

• Do you sell or make string instruments?
• When should I rent or buy an instrument?
• Where can I find a qualified Suzuki Violin teacher?
• When can my son or daughter start taking lessons?
• I and no one else in my family have any musical “talent."  Can my child thrive in music?
• What is “Suzuki?"
• What size instrument does my child need?
• How do I tune the instrument?
• I tried playing my child’s violin and it doesn’t “work!” What’s wrong with it?
• How much do lessons cost?
• Do Suzuki students read music?
• When will my child use the book?
• What other instruments are offered using the Suzuki approach?
• Can I observe the studio before enrolling?

1. Do you sell or make string instruments? No; however, please read the section on Selecting a String Shop to determine what to look for and questions to ask when shopping for an instrument.

    

2. When should I rent or buy an instrument?  Please visit the section on Renting or Buying on stringpresence.com.

    

3. Where can I find a qualified Suzuki Violin teacher?  If you are in the Hampton Roads area, please contact me at ms.megan@stringpresence.com.  If you aren’t in the Hampton Roads area, teachers in any state with available studio space can be found at the site for the Suzuki Association of the Americas

    

4. When can my son or daughter start taking lessons?  Through Suzuki training a boy can generally start at 4 years old, and a girl can begin formal lessons at 3.  However, it is never too early to begin introducing music to a child.  Dr. Suzuki recommends familiarizing an infant with one piece and as they grow, gradually increase the listening so that music is part of the environment, and the child will automatically develop sensitivity for it.  If you’re looking to start brining music into your home much earlier (even while the child is a newborn) and would like the most comprehensive program available, visit the Kindermusik site.

    

5. I and no one else in my family have any musical “talent”.  Can my child thrive in music? Absolutely!  It is a common belief and misconception, especially in the United States, that children are born with inbred or genetic talent.  This is not the case.  All children are born as infants with no premise of ability at all.  We are to assume that this infant is not limited in capabilities, and it is the responsibility of the parents or caregivers to provide the necessary environment that will guide the way and open doors to fuel development of that potential.[1]  As the child begins to age, we start noticing qualities and abilities at age 1, 2, 3 and further.  However, what we fail to notice is that those 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd latter years are filled with environmental influences that have begun to shape and mold the child already!  Therefore, Dr. Suzuki has developed a system of learning in any field that proves that talent or ability is a product of environment.  This system of learning is called the Mother Tongue Approach where every child can learn to perform music, just as he or she has learned to speak because the same teaching approach to learning language is used.[2]

    

6. What is “Suzuki”? Suzuki is the surname of the person who developed the Mother Tongue Method and created the Talent Education Movement in Japan and all over the world.  Dr. Suzuki’s approach to learning music has been adapted successfully internationally and continues to be the learning approach of choice for teaching instrumental music to very young children.  To learn more about Dr. Suzuki, click here.

    

7. What size instrument does my child need?  You should take your son or daughter to any string shop or music store that carries string instruments, and they should be able to measure your child to determine what size instrument is needed.  If you already have an instrument for them, and you want to know if it’s too small or too big, click here to learn how to measure them with the instrument you already have.

    

8. How do I tune the instrument? Please visit the tuning section on stringpresence.com

    

9. I tried playing my child’s violin and it doesn’t work! What’s wrong with it? More than likely, there may be two possible reasons why the violin is not “working”: 1) The bow doesn’t have any tension and 2) there’s no rosin on the bow.  Before the bow is stored it the case it is common practice to release the tension from the stick and the bow hairs by gently turning the screw counterclockwise until the hairs look loose (do not touch the bow hair with fingers to determine if the tension is correct.  This contaminates the bow hairs).  Releasing the tension preserves the life of the stick and tension mechanisms in the bow.  When you take the bow out to play, you should tighten the hairs by turning the screw clockwise until there is a distance of approximately 5-6 mm from the middle of the stick and the tense hair.  A slight concave curve should remain in the stick.  Again, you should not check the tension of the hair by touching the hair with your fingers, which is a good segue into reason number two.  Before you attempt to play with the bow (especially if it is new), after it has been tightened, you should apply liberally, and vigorously a solid yet sticky substance that is usually included in the case with your violin in one of the inside compartments.  It may be a little cardboard box, or a little plastic covered square.  This item that you may find is called rosin.  Rosin comes in different sizes, shapes, colors, densities and qualities; however, they all serve the same purpose: they make the bow hairs sticky to encourage friction between the bow and the strings, which will ultimately produce a tone.  Since the powder or “dust” that is produced by rosin is sticky, again, it is not a good idea to touch the bow hair with the fingers.  The rosin mixes with the oil or perspiration from the skin and causes the bow hair to get dirty.  If the bow isn’t new and the hairs look yellowish, old or really dirty, it’s time to get the bow hairs replaced.  This should be done by a professional luthier, and is relatively inexpensive.  For more information about instrument care, click here.
   
   
   
10. How much do lessons cost?  Please contact us to receive a policy sheet listing the prices for lessons through String Presence Academy.  Depending on the teacher, location and services offered, many prices will vary.  Generally speaking, teachers charge by increments of time such as 30 minutes, 45, 60, etc. weekly.  Oftentimes money is collect on a month to month basis, or treated as a monthly, flat, all-inclusive rate.  Some studios charge tuition by the semester.

     

11.  Do Suzuki students read music?  Yes, Suzuki students do learn how to read music.  However, the reading process is delayed until the child has achieved enough mastery over the instrument to be able to concentrate on reading.  Dr. Suzuki’s Mother Tongue Approach encourages learning at first by mimicking and repetition just as if a child was learning how to speak.  Once the child can speak, or in this case, play their instrument comfortably, then the child learns how to read.  Keep in mind that a lot of Suzuki students start their formal instrumental instruction very early (ages 3 & 4).  Most children at this age aren’t really reading yet.  Some children may be learning how to spell and sound out simple “a” words like bat, cat, mat, etc. But they can hold a solid conversation with you.  The same is true with this method of learning music.  Once the student can “communicate” comfortably with their instrument, they will learn how to read and write music.

     

12.  When will my child use the book?  If you’re still in book 1 for violin, some teachers at their discretion may start introduction of pattern recognition and pitch differentiation on the staff to students who are 6 or older once they have learned the Twinkle Variations through Allegro.  By this time, they should be pretty comfortable on the instrument.  However, and most of the time if they are younger, or if the ear needs more development, they will start learning how to read once they have completed Book 1 and have auditioned for Book 2.  Book 1 would then be a tool for the parent to guide at home practice.

     

13.  What other instruments are offered using the Suzuki approach? Piano, violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, flute and recorder.  To find a registered teacher, check the SAA.

     

14. Can I observe the studio before enrolling?  Sure!  Any Suzuki teacher should be willing and should encourage observation of their studio.  Some studios even have an observation period as long as 6 months before a child can enroll!  To observe String Presence Academy classes or lessons, please contact us to request a schedule of available times.

     




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[1] Suzuki, S. , Ability Development from Age Zero

[2] ibid., Nurtured by Love