#8 practice Tips and Ideas for Parents

Book Reviews by Susan Hall

Donald Plays Violin by Karen Patch (a violin teacher and illustrated by Randy Wicks

Donald decides he wants to learn to play the violin after attending this cousin's music class and hearing her play a solo on her instrument.  After his second lesson he went to a music store with his mother and father to get a violin.  His teacher says practice, practice, practice, every day, but poor Donald has a terrible time deciding which room at home to use for his practicing.  The kitchen is too noisy, his sister wants to take a bath in the bathroom, and his brother is playing with friends in the room they share.  Children will love the cartoon like illustrations and seeing how Donald solved his problem.

I Can Play My Violin Just As Well As Jeremy Can! - The Suzuki Way by Margaret Keith (a Suzuki violin teacher) and illustrated by Albin Zotigh

Laura, who is five years old, aspires to play her violin as well as Jeremy her best fired does.  Laura is in Book 1 and Jeremy is in Book 2.  Jeremy assures he is not to worry about how many pieces she can play or what book she's in, since eventually she'll play all the pieces he does anyway.  Practicing only on the days you eat is stressed, as well as handling some negative feelings towards practice and working through these "normal highs and lows" of learning an instrument.

One day Laura left her violin, just for a minute, in her dad's favorite chair.  He nearly sat on it.  He dropped his book and glass of iced tea.  He nearly sat on the floor when Laura yelled, "Don't sit there!"

Jeremy talks about setting "short goals" for himself when he learns a new piece.  Laura learns to "open the doors to success " the Suzuki way,”  through her parents, listening, practicing, reviewing, tonalizing, and faithfully attending group lessons and recitals.