Dangerous Wonder - Violin Lessons...Suzuki, traditional....other?

Dangerous Wonder

May. 18, 2007

Violin Lessons...Suzuki, traditional....other?

My big question at the moment is about violin lessons and what would be the best case scenario for everyone involved in our family!

My kids are 4,6 and 8 and could start violin with the suzuki method at a suzuki school. However, we would be out of the house 2 days a week just for that! 30 minute private lesson (per kid) and then group lesson 30 minutes away (each direction...sometimes 45-hour depending on traffic).

I know that most traditional teachers won't take kids until they are older, but I would like to start mine now. So I am gathering information trying to figure out how we can do this without the huge time commitment outside the house. I also play violin, but I wasn't trained with the suzuki method when I was young. I started when I was 10 or 11. I am contemplating teaching my kids myself....but I don't know if I am competent enough ! I am sensing from the Lord that this is the direction I need to go in with them, but am really nervous about doing things correctly! I have done a lot of reasearch online about the concept behind the suzuki method and really like how it works. I also took my whole family (including my hubby) to the school some of my other friends take their kids to yesterday. It was a good feel for what suzuki training looks like. I also have put a hold on some books written by Suzuki at the library that I will be reading the next few weeks.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or comments about what has worked for you and your kids. I can't imagine that every homeschool family with violin playing kids started out in a suzuki school!?! Your input would be greatly appreciated!

Hope you all have a funny day!!!

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Comments

May. 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by EEEEMommy

Sorry! I don't have any input for you! But I love listening to people play the violin! :)

Thanks for your comment on my blog! I think you're right! I've felt the same way about not wanting to do Anne as a read aloud because I want my girls to enjoy discovering her themselves. My girls are very much like the March girls; playacting all day long. For some reason they get shy when I start watching though, so I have to secretly spy on them. I think we'll do crafts, I don't do enough of them and I know they'd enjoy that!
Thanks again!

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May. 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by drewsfamilytx

I'm not really sure what you should do with your children regarding violin. I used to play the flute in our city's youth orchestra in my high school days. I noticed that there were some very talented players that started with the Suzuki method.

Maybe you can try it for a few months and then resort to a traditional teacher if it doesn't work out? Maybe a traditional teacher would also be less apprehensive of teaching very young children if they already know the basics. Maybe even YOU would be less apprehensive to the task?

Marsha

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May. 22, 2007 - Hmmm..

Posted by FaithfulGrace

I'd love to have my 6 year old learn the violin, too.
But my husband is very strict about our committments that we are not able. After reading through your posts, I remember why he is strict.

But, Christa(CTDittmar) ordered something over the internet that she is using to teach her children the violin. Barb(HarmonyArtMom) strongly recommends Suzuki, but it is very time intensive.

I finally did the tag. Sorry it took so long.

Wishing you a great day,
Linda

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May. 26, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by DanielleW

I love the violin. My husband bought me one and some lessons for Christmas one year. I picked up fairly easy but couldn't keep up with the lessons. I wish I had started young

Hope you are able to decide and figure out what is best for you and your family.

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Jun. 24, 2007 - Hi there!

Posted by dawilli

Here's what we did- I read music and play several instruments, but up until a few years ago I had never picked up a violin. After seeing some kids play their little violins at church I decided I wanted to start my oldest on the violin, but I didn't know how to play it. We took suzuki lessons- only for a few months- and I watched intently. We both learned the basics and were on our way. From that point on I could work with him on some music reading and starting with some theory and technique books (All for Strings or Strictly Strings).
The beauty of the suzuki method is that they are playing real songs right away- before they even learn how to read any of the music.
After a couple of months, the time and financial commitment got to be too much. So we stopped the lessons and I just kept going with him. A year later we took another few weeks of lessons, just to improve technique a little and try out a new teacher- it didn't work out (scheduling conflicts) but we just let it go and kept playing at home.
As my next oldest two got a little older they were ready to give it a try last summer and we enrolled in the schmitt music summer orchestra program- it was only 6 weeks and they got to get a few lessons from somebody who wasn't their mom! When fall rolled around we enrolled my oldest two in the homeschool orchestra and they loved it.
I don't know that we'll be able to handle the time and financial commitment every year, in fact I doubt it, but it was a good experience to stick it out all year last year.
They do have an Edina location as well as a Brooklyn Center location and I think they were/are looking for people to start up a chanhassan and/or bloomington location(s) this next fall.
The director/teacher uses a kind of dual approach- mixing suzuki with some note reading and theory...
Anyway, there are some videos out there if you need to just tackle it at home.
Oh, and I read one of Suzuki's books, can't remember the title- but I LOVED it! I got it from the library and am very seriously considering buying it as I was tempted to highlight so many insightful things he had said... he knew how to draw out talent from just about ANY child, and he was just so positive- so much of it would/could apply to our parenting and homeschooling as well as teaching music!
Well, enjoy them,
ali

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