Encouragement

If you’re looking for the perfect stocking stuffer for your musical child, I highly recommend checking out my Holiday Gift Guides from years past. These are great lists (if I do say so myself). 2020 Gift Guide 2019 Gift Guide This year’s guide is for children: What gifts can kids GIVE this year? In some ways, it’s hard being a […]
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By Andra Prewett May is here! For us in the South, this means that it’s summertime already! As our students transition to their summer schedules, here are some tips to help keep practices happy and productive. Write down your practice schedule. Many families find it helpful to schedule practice into their calendar, as you would schedule any other activity, such […]
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by Anca Simon Since Franklin Suzuki Academy (FSA) transitioned to online instruction in March of this year, the instructors have been actively looking for resources to help maintain communication between students and instructors and address the gap left by not being able to meet in person. Collabra is a “remote learning and practice management platform for K-16 music and performing […]
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by Andra Prewett Tuesday, April 14th marked the 100th day of our practice challenge, which began on Monday, January 6th.  Seven of our 39 private lesson students completed the challenge…our highest participation rate to date!   To celebrate, FSA hosted a virtual “100 Days Party” via Zoom.  I had promised the students a Pizza Party, so it really broke my […]
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For parents and family members looking for gifts for the young string player. When I was a kid, getting music themed gifts was hit or miss. Anything that I could play or use right away to make music was always a big hit. Music-themed accessories that I could wear, such as treble clef earrings or a music note umbrella were […]
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by Katie Sutton             In August my daughter, Sophie, presented her complete Suzuki Book One recital for friends and family at the Steinway Piano Gallery in Nashville. This half-hour concert represented three years of hard work and commitment. For those familiar with the technical aspect of playing the violin, the journey from young beginner to competent student during formative Book One […]
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By Anca Simon “This is our first time at the workshop, and it was wonderful!” exclaimed Michelle Zhu as students were carefully descending from the stage, violin cases snapped closed, and the enthusiastic chatter about another wonderful recital was increasing around us. Others who have attended the annual MTSA Fall Workshop for many years, like the Gadd family who were […]
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By Stephanie Taylor When I was 5 years old, my mom took me to a Suzuki Institute. I remember vividly when the teacher said, “Who’s a Happy Farmer? Come on up here!” I enthusiastically thought to myself, I’m happy and I live on a farm, I ran up to the stage, violin in hand and started playing the song. I’d […]
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There is such a thing as a “teacher’s high.” This describes the state I was in as I entered the last FSA Board meeting, several days after I returned from my Book 6 & 7 Teacher Training Course at the Chicago Suzuki Institute this summer. As each board member arrived and asked how I was, I immediately began summarizing the […]
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by  Shabnam Aminmadani  After group class in November, Roxy celebrated her first one hundred days of practice. Roxy was actually celebrating day 128. If someone had told me in July that November 27th would mark Roxy’s 128th consecutive day of practice, I would not have believed it. After two years of failed attempts to develop a consistent practice routine, I was almost […]
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