Lessons
Photo Credit: Scott Mayo
“Rachel has the right balance between having high expectations and teaching with precision, yet is always patient and encouraging to the children.”
As a student, I benefitted from both Suzuki and traditional instruction. I strongly recommend that young beginners begin with the Suzuki approach, but also know a more traditional beginning may be a better fit for older beginners.
What is Suzuki? A method of learning the violin based on how we learn language - naturally!
What Makes it Unique? The method is based on the belief that all children can learn - talent is nurtured, not born. The Suzuki method:
moves at the pace of the child
get kids playing quickly
combines private lessons and ensemble playing
trains the whole body - ears, eyes, and hands
include parents - family learning opportunity!
When is a Traditional Approach Better?
Kindergarten and elementary-age children typically love the early Suzuki pieces, but adolescent beginners may prefer to start with a different curriculum
Students who are already quite advanced may benefit from supplemental technical studies, or may wish to study standard works not included in the Suzuki curriculum
In either method, however, my core philosophy remains the same: talent is nurtured, and teaching is always tailored to the individual