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I have had so many requests this past year for additional music instruction. Even though I specialize in teaching Suzuki Violin, it is definitely not where my interest in music ends.
Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, students will have the option of adding 15-30 minutes of additional instruction to their registered violin lesson time and choose a secondary focus. This secondary focus could be one or a combination of the following:
Fiddle, Step Dance, Piano, Cello or Music Theory
Students must commit to their add-on time in order to secure their spot in my schedule for the year. However, students have the flexibility to change their focus during the year. For example, a student can decide to spend 15 minutes at each lesson for the first few months learning about Music Theory and then switch to Step Dance and then finish the year with Fiddle. It is completely up to the student. I recommend staying with one focus for at least 3 months before switching.
Here is a bit more information on why I have chosen these areas of study.
FIDDLE
Many of my students are already studying fiddle in their private violin lesson. Fiddle music has many benefits that aid in the study of classical music in terms of developing memory, sight reading, technique and theory skills. It's also just really fun to play and has so many creative aspects to it. Students involved in Group Classes already have so much prep to do in their private lesson time that even if there is an interest in fiddle, there isn't always time in a 30 minute lesson to get to fiddle consistently. A student who really wants to invest in learning more fiddle now has the option of adding 15-30 minutes to their lesson time to spend more time on this topic if they choose.
I have been playing fiddle music for almost as long as classical music. Celtic/traditional music is truly what I enjoy playing and listening to more than any other kind of music.
STEP DANCE
Step dance is an integral part of Fiddle Music as dancing is what fiddle music was made for. What I really liked about Step Dance is that it is also a form of percussion and is so rhythm based. I started Step Dancing when I was around 10 and listening to a lot of Natalie MacMaster and Leahy. I studied with Jenn Stacey as a child and have learned more over the years through online training and summer workshops with Julie and Kerry Fitzgerald.
Step dance is also just a great form of exercise while also getting to dance to fiddle music and learn a lot of cool moves and rhythms.
PIANO
Violin students already have a step in the right direction in learning to play piano because they work on their ear training each time they pick up the violin. Having an ear for music makes it that much easier to sit down at a piano and figure out pieces, with or without sheet music. Learning to play the piano alongside the violin opens up so many more opportunities as a musician and an artist. We will dive into learning about bass clef along with strengthening our treble clef reading. Students will be able to see the correlation between the Suzuki Violin and Suzuki Piano repertoire through Books 1-3 and have the opportunity to learn any other songs they want on the instrument (as is always an option with violin).
CELLO
It is interesting as a string player to discover other string instruments. There is so much you can transfer from one to the next and lots of things that need to be adjusted. The discovery has been part of the enjoyment for me. My older brother played cello growing up so cello music was always a part of our household, but I never had the desire to learn it myself until after university. As with piano, students will be able to see the correlation between the Suzuki Violin and Suzuki Cello repertoire through Books 1-3 and have the opportunity to learn any other songs they want on the instrument.
MUSIC THEORY
Similar to including Fiddle into the private lesson, as much as I try to include Music Theory as part of the private lesson, there isn't always time in a 30 minute lesson to get to theory consistently. A student that wants to dive a bit deeper into the understanding of music can choose to dedicate some time solely to this study. There are many ways to go about learning. We can go straight into work sheets and books or we can take a more active approach by composing and discovering through playing as well as discussing more about what is happening in the pieces we are learning.
Still unclear on how much lesson time to schedule? Here is a quick guide to determine a students approximate violin lesson. Students can then decide what extra time they would like to add on:
Violin Book 1 & 2 = 30 minute lesson
Violin Book 3 + up = 45 minute lesson
Violin Book 6 + up = 60 minute lesson
Please remember that this is just a guide. Lesson length will also vary depending on age, not just level. Please reach out and discuss with me if you are unsure as to what lesson length to register for.
TO CONCLUDE
As with all of these topics, I have a base of instruction that I will use and take from, but the idea behind offering other areas of study in this format is that the student has a desire, a direction or a goal they are trying to reach. I want to help each student discover more about music and themselves and use their time in music lessons to learn what they want to learn.
Specifically with Piano & Cello, I am not comfortable training a musician into advanced repertoire. I can take any student and give them the skills they need to get through Suzuki Books 1-3 and any pop/traditional music they want to learn. A student who wants to progress further with either of these instruments will then need to continue with a teacher who specializes in the advanced training of that instrument.
I think Suzuki Violin lessons set an incredible foundation and develop many building blocks for any musician. However, there is so much more to explore in music beyond the Suzuki Repertoire and even the violin.
Don't hesitate to reach out and talk to me about what I can do to help you reach your music goals!
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