String Presence Academy Parent Corner

"A Voice Not Limited To Melodies and Harmonies Shouting Unity and Peace in the Community."

It is the mission of String Presence to use the universal language of music to touch, heal and nurture humanity. The belief that the environment shapes the being insists that constants of love, compassion, patience, respect, consideration and giving are a must for a life full of purpose, enrichment and abundance. This mission is not only aligned with the philosophy of Shinichi Suzuki, but the Creator and Most High. String Presence is committed to perpetuating these values in the community through two primary avenues: Education and nurturing of the whole family through the Suzuki Violin School using Dr. Suzuki’s Mother Tongue approach, and through service by providing music that touches the spirit during any occasion, event, or function where humanity can all be on common ground.

"I've never met a musician who regretted being one. Whatever obstacles life may
bring, music itself will not let you down."

-Virgil Thompson
An American Composer

One of the parents had a wonderful idea to have some form of communication between other parents whose child needed another size violin. I'm looking into some options for this. For now, I have created a chat room where parents can meet online to discuss any issue. However, this is can be a starting place for instrument exchange. I may be able to find some type of free forum software, but that will require some time. To access the link to enter the chat room, click here.

Here's a place where I have decided to share some of the wonderful practice ideas that parents have either suggested to me or I have come across in my experience and research. A wonderful resource to get wonderful practice tips is from the Suzuki Journal.

This first tip that I'm including on this page is the wonderful practice game. This game was borrowed from the Fall 2004 printing of the American Suzuki Journal. The title of the article is "I am a Suzuki Mom." writtien by Robin Singer. This game is amazing because it grows with the student. A board is created, like the picture below and in the blank spaces, different activities can be inserted depending on the child's level of ability or what they're working on at that moment. There can be all kinds of fun stuff on this board such as "5 jumping jacks" or "take turns with mom playing the squeaky game" or "clap mississippi hot dog 6 times" or "play your current piece one time", etc....the list is endless! This is a wonderful game for all ages, especially the really young ones but as they get older, they will no longer need the game and will be motivated by their ability and other creative elements behind music making.

To download a ready to use board for your practice time, click on the picture below:

Practice Chart:

One of my students gave me a good idea around updating the practice charts that I use in some students lessons. I would like to include this chart with all of the Suzuki students especially along with the notebooks. It's very important for student's practice goals to be kept in front of them. So, I've recreated the form and you can download copies of it here . I was ALWAYS running out of forms and having to make more copies. I would always forget to do this, so weeks would go by before I could create more forms. Since it's in an electronic format now, each week, you, the parent, can print off one or two forms to bring to your child's lesson each week. Make sure to bring one EVERY week. I'll try to have a few on me also. So, for everyone, please remember this as part of your materials to bring to class.