Annual Parent Retreat

We hold our Annual Parent Retreat near the beginning of each school year.  This year we met on Friday, September 13, 2013.  I made garden-grown zucchini bread and provided what has become a studio staple: carmel and chocolate peanut-butter bugles. :)

Thanks to all studio mom's who were able to attend and to those who wanted to come but couldn't for various reasons, you were missed.

A special note to all my studio parents: I learn so much from you as I observe you nurturing your children, you are so wonderful and set such a good example to me.  I feel honored to know you and work with you.  Thank-you for all that you do!

Inspirational Notes from our Meeting: If you have not yet read Dr.Suzuki's Nurtured by Love, I encourage you to do so.  It is a great book that gives an enlightening perspective on the Suzuki method and where it originated from.  The inspiration I offered at our meeting was something my son's preschool teacher shared with me a couple years ago: “If your child is testing you at home that means they feel safe because you are being a good parent”.  I realize that sometimes students aren't always consistent with how they behave at lessons versus how they behave at home so I hope that gives some encouragement as it did for me.  Another saying I heard recently also came to mind: “Don’t let the problem at hand become more important than the person to love”.  We are a 3-way team (teacher, parent, child) learning a complex and technically challenging instrument and the experience we create through this process matters.  We “practice to make it EASY” - isn't that a wonderful concept!  The parents attending had great thoughts to share.  We discussed the importance of considering the personality, nature, and love language of our young students as we work with them.  We also talked about creating long-term goals with short-term steps to get us there based on what we hope to accomplish with lessons.  Please be thinking about that as we go into this new school year; let me know where you want to go and help me understand the unique characteristics of your child so I know how best to work with them.  I love Suzuki's motto that "every person can learn" - at any age, with any background, talent is a trained skill that can be taught. Own your violin journey, no matter where you are now. Enjoy the process and set goals that motivate you!