[email protected]

> Does anyone have any opinions on Suzuki music lessons. My 4.5 yod has
> expressed an interest in learning the violin.


This is merely anecdotal, but you might find it of interest.....

My son has a friend whose parents are from Hong Kong. A while ago we were
invited to a Christmas party at their house. Most of the other guests were
Asian-Americans. At a certain point in the evening, various stringed
instruments were brought out. Our host picked up a mini-cello or something,
held it like a violin under his chin and gave a spirited rendition of Jingle
Bells. This, after apparently not playing for a long time. Later, almost all
the children spent ages playing on the intruments.

The children were of mixed ages and sex, but several were about ten or
eleven. Some had not been learning to play for very long. They played without
music, obviously. Sometimes they played together, sometimes they all did
their own thing (And yes, at times it WAS somewhat deafening!) To everyone
but me, they were apparently doing nothing particularly unusual. Odd parents
occasionally watched, or commented; but mostly they were leaving the children
to their own devices and simply socialising. The children were playing
purely for the love and fun of it, and they were having a wonderful
time.........

They were learning with the Suzuki method. I checked. I don't know whether
Suzuki produces concert violinists. But if you want your children to play for
the love of it, then my experience at that Christmas party certainly made ME
a Suzuki enthusiast!


Mattie

Tracy Oldfield

Would it be a viola? Larger than the violin, slgihty deeper sound?
Bit tricky to get a cello under one's chin, the spike gets in the way
<g> I used to play Double Bass, great fun (had an individualist
streak at the age of 8, even) Now I have a Bass Guitar sitting in
the garage next to the amp, never being used. Very sad. But my
life is full of other stuff right now, and my favourite instrument
(for performing, not listening <g>) is my voice.

Tracy

On 5 Jul 2000, at 19:37, mrsmattie@... wrote:

Our host picked up a mini-cello or something, 
held it like a violin under his chin and gave a
spirited rendition of Jingle 
Bells. This, after apparently not playing for a long
time. Later, almost all 
the children spent ages playing on the intruments.

Tracy Oldfield

My kids like playing my 'Christmas music' album all the time! It's
mostly old-time crooner-type stuff, Perry Como, with a little more
modern stuff thrown in, one of those compilation things...

Tracy

On 5 Jul 2000, at 19:58, Amy wrote:

what a beautiful story. sent chills up my spine and
longings for christmas
(my favorite time of year).
amy (now anxiously awaiting october so i can start
playing my john denever
and the muppets christmas album)

D Klement

Peters wrote:
>
> Does anyone have any opinions on Suzuki music lessons. My 4.5 yod has
> expressed an interest in learning the violin, so I'm considering Suzuki,
> although the closest school is about a 45 min. drive away and she would
> need to go twice/week. Any input would be appreciated.
>
> Maureen
Suzuki traditionally doesn't teach reading music because most kids in
Japan learn how to read music in school. A lot of Japanese students in
the Suzuki method already know how to read a little music before they
start.
I found this out from posts by hs'ing Suzuki instructors on the Canadian
home schooling e-mail list.
Apparently a lot of the N.A. instructors don't realize this and think
that they are not supposed to introduce reading music.

Buzz
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Klement Family "Education is what survives when
Darryl, Debbie, what has been learned has been
Kathleen, Nathan & forgotten"
Samantha B.F. Skinner in "New Scientist".
e-mail- klement@...
Canadian homeschool page: http:\\www.flora.org/homeschool-ca/
Ont. Federation of Teaching Parents: http:\\www.flora.org/oftp/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amy

what a beautiful story. sent chills up my spine and longings for christmas
(my favorite time of year).
amy (now anxiously awaiting october so i can start playing my john denever
and the muppets christmas album)
----- Original Message -----
From: <mrsmattie@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2000 4:37 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] suzuki music lessons


> > Does anyone have any opinions on Suzuki music lessons. My 4.5 yod has
> > expressed an interest in learning the violin.
>
>
> This is merely anecdotal, but you might find it of interest.....
>
> My son has a friend whose parents are from Hong Kong. A while ago we were
> invited to a Christmas party at their house. Most of the other guests were
> Asian-Americans. At a certain point in the evening, various stringed
> instruments were brought out. Our host picked up a mini-cello or
something,
> held it like a violin under his chin and gave a spirited rendition of
Jingle
> Bells. This, after apparently not playing for a long time. Later, almost
all
> the children spent ages playing on the intruments.
>
> The children were of mixed ages and sex, but several were about ten or
> eleven. Some had not been learning to play for very long. They played
without
> music, obviously. Sometimes they played together, sometimes they all did
> their own thing (And yes, at times it WAS somewhat deafening!) To
everyone
> but me, they were apparently doing nothing particularly unusual. Odd
parents
> occasionally watched, or commented; but mostly they were leaving the
children
> to their own devices and simply socialising. The children were playing
> purely for the love and fun of it, and they were having a wonderful
> time.........
>
> They were learning with the Suzuki method. I checked. I don't know
whether
> Suzuki produces concert violinists. But if you want your children to play
for
> the love of it, then my experience at that Christmas party certainly made
ME
> a Suzuki enthusiast!
>
>
> Mattie
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Who invented Gatorade -- and what part did it play in
> winning the1967 Orange Bowl? Find out the true facts at
> http://click.egroups.com/1/6212/14/_/448294/_/962840258/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> Addresses:
> Post message: [email protected]
> Unsubscribe: [email protected]
> List owner: [email protected]
> List settings page: http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
>

Trisha Sides

> >amy (now anxiously awaiting october so i can start playing my john
>denever
>and the muppets christmas album)


Why wait girl, bring it out, haven't you ever heard of Christmas in July?:0)
:0) :0)
Trisha who's right there with you, and wishing for snow in
this heat!

________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

Sonia Ulan

Hi Maureen;

We, my 7 year old daughter and I, had a limited experience with Suzuki
violin last summer. We attended violin camp. I can tell you it was a
very positive experience for us both. The Suzuki program seems to be
the perfect option for homeschoolers as Suzuki encourages parental
involvement. As a matter of fact, they demand it. The only reason we
have not continued for the moment is financing...

I would recommend Suzuki, and anyone can attest to the success of the
program in terms of giving your child a musical background.



Peters wrote:
>
> Does anyone have any opinions on Suzuki music lessons. My 4.5 yod has
> expressed an interest in learning the violin, so I'm considering Suzuki,
> although the closest school is about a 45 min. drive away and she would
> need to go twice/week. Any input would be appreciated.
>
> Maureen
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Who invented Gatorade -- and what part did it play in
> winning the1967 Orange Bowl? Find out the true facts at
> http://click.egroups.com/1/6212/14/_/448294/_/962834789/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> Addresses:
> Post message: [email protected]
> Unsubscribe: [email protected]
> List owner: [email protected]
> List settings page: http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom