I used to think teaching ideas were always organized in sequences. A student starts to learn vibrato in Book 2 and, in order to do so, they go through step A, B, C, etc.

Then I learned another great method, from Charles Krigbaum and Daina Volodka Staggs, where teaching ideas are organized by the calendar. For everybody in the whole studio, no matter which piece you are working on, we work on skill A in September, skill B in October, skill C in November, etc.

Another example is to have a process ready in order to prepare for Youth Orchestra auditions. You always use the piece you performed at studio recitals the prior semester. We schedule a mock audition on this day. We use this much of your lesson for these many weeks leading up to the audtion.

Using patterns, routines, and rituals like these drastically reduce the load of mental complexity for students. They help you get to everything with every student, even when travel, sickness and other unexpected events get in the way.

One that I now lean on heavily is the New Violin Bootcamp.

Every time a student of mine comes into the lesson with a larger violin I go through the following process with them.

WEEK 1

1. Set the violin high on the shoulder X however old they are. For example, an 8 year old would set their violin 8 times.
2. Keep the violin in play position for 60s while they listen to their favorite song. They only hold the violin with their head, no hands supporting the violin.
3. 10 X Red Pattern. Play up and down a “Red” finger pattern ( 1 23 4) with focus on soft, spread hand and accurate intonation
4. 10 X Butterflies. Carry the bow in the air and gently land on all tapes. Frog, 1/4 tape, 1/2 tape, 3/4 tape, tip, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, and then frog counts as one lap. They do 10.

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Over the last 5 years I have taught at least 250 hour-long group classes in our school. I want to get down the main ideas that now guide every group class I teach.

These fundamentals are heavily informed by Ed Kreitman and the WSSTE group class approach, the NTSTE Community Day group class presentation in spring of 2024, and what I’ve learned from teacher trainers including especially Carrie Reuning-Hummel.

Do It

Just teach group. Just do it!

Group classes have been a non-negotiable part of our school for decades. Students pay a monthly tuition which includes individual lessons, group lessons, recitals, concerts, and community events.

I feel that once students are in groups, and I’m following the fundamentals I propose below, the value of group is evident.

Purpose and Goal

It was helpful to me (and parents and students) to explicitly name the purpose and goal of group class. I would argue that the purpose and goal of group does not change, no matter how advanced the group gets.

PURPOSE: To inspire participation and build community.

GOAL: To play like one violin.

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On Saturday, April 20th we had our second annual studio recital. 

I teach as one faculty member of a large Suzuki school, Ithaca Talent Education. Our school hosts monthly solo recitals for students to perform their polished pieces. 

Last year, for the first time, I gathered all of the students from my own studio together for a studio recital. It was an extraordinary feeling to have all of the students I teach and families I work with in the same room at the same time.

I knew that I wanted to do the same thing this year. 

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The theme of the event was the 5 senses. I wanted students and parents to engage with the felt experience of music making. You’ll see below that I wove this theme through a few elements of the event.

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