Annual Parent Retreat

Monday After Labor Day

We enjoyed sun chips, caramel bugles, and oreos in my cozy basement living room while we discussed the Suzuki philosophy. The main thing that sets the Suzuki approach to learning violin apart from traditional methods is that Dr. Suzuki very strongly believed that talent is something that is learned, not something we simply have or do not have. What I love about my studio families is how all of us have taken to heart that we BELIEVE in our violin students, in their great potential. As they continue to work hard, they grow. It is a beautiful thing for me to witness. Thank-you for entrusting me with the nurturing of your talent development in music!

Annual Student Party

Despite beautiful weather in the morning hours, it turned out to be a windy, cloudy afternoon. But that didn't stop us from having a good time. We played games, enjoyed snacks, and some brave students even ventured outside!

Annual Student Party ~ Monday after Memorial Day

I have a wonderful violin studio! We missed those who couldn't make it.

Winter Term Ends, Summer Term Begins Soon...

I thought that a great way to celebrate the ending of our winter term would be to update our studio blog with all of the wonderful events we were able to enjoy throughout the school year. I'm looking forward to the progress that will be made this summer by my wonderful students!

2011 Spring Recital

Spring Violin Recital

Monday, April 18, 2011 at the Layton Library

Rhody Travels Around the World!

Group Number Finale

100 Days-in-a-Row of practice certificate presented. So impressive. Great job!!!

365 Days-in-a-Row of practice certificate also presented. Wow, what an accomplishment!

My boys are my biggest supporters!!!

We enjoyed refreshments,

to go with our theme,

from around the world.

Video from Spring Violin Recital

Enjoy our rendition of Rhody Travels...

Native Utah, China, Egypt, Tennessee, Utah-Pioneers

Suzuki Convention

This year, the Suzuki Association of Utah decided to do something a little different with their annual convention. Instead of having a separate parent portion of the event, parents and teachers were invited to share the day together, taking classes that would inspire and uplift. I was able to attend a 1/2 day with one of my studio parents and it was, as always, a wonderful experience. As a teacher, there is always room for improvement and much to learn - I'm grateful to be given the opportunity to learn from the most experienced of teachers. I also feel very lucky to have received this beautiful bead counter from a class on practicing tips - I am enjoying the use of it for repetitions completed in my studio back home!

Suzuki Graduation

I lead Bach Bourree at the Suzuki Graduation Concert

Saturday, February 26, 2011 at Clearfield High School

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This year, I had the privilege of my very small studio representing 4 different graduation groups. Congratulations on all of your hard work!!!

Twinkles

Gossec Gavotte

Boccherini Minuet

Bach Bourree

Violin Fixed Up

My violin was sounding pretty terrible; long over-due for Peter Prier & Sons to take a look at it. It needed a bow rehair, sound post adjustment and shim, finger-board planing, new set of strings, a french polish (having the wood clean actually enhances the sound) and cosmetic repair to prevent further, more extensive damage. It was super expensive - just about doubled our family's Christmas budget. But my violin sounds so wonderful now and it was oh, so worth it. What a huge difference a little maintenance can do. A really great way to start out 2011!

My Violin - All Fixed Up!

Christmas Group Lesson

Monday, December 20, 2010

We had a special guest for our Christmas Group Lesson - my sister all the way from Hartford, Connecticut! She played a few selections from her upcoming recital for her Master's Degree at the Hartt School of Music. She also joined in on the group lesson fun and was reminded of all the wonderful foundational techniques the Suzuki Method started her out with; mentioning review, specifically, as one of the most important aspects of her Suzuki training.

2010 Fall Recital

This recital was full of fun non-Suzuki repertoire with lots of duets and small ensembles in addition to the Suzuki solos.





Student artwork displayed.

Pictures with my boys after the performance:

Celebration Concert

This wonderful celebration of the Suzuki method brings thousands of Suzuki students from all around the state of Utah. This concert presented at the Conference Center in SLC, which only happens every 3 years, includes all Suzuki instruments such as violin, viola, cello, piano, harp, guitar, voice, etc. The theme for this concert was "A Joyful Journey." Michael McLean (the violinist/composer from California, not the Utah pianist/composer) wrote the music for the finale. The parts were challenging to learn but rewarding to perform.


This is my group of attending students. It was a fun day and an enjoyable concert.

Studio Parent Meeting

My wonderful group of Suzuki parents!

I thoroughly enjoy this annual parent meeting each fall as we share our triumphs, our frustrations, our thoughts and support eachother in the process of helping children we love learn a difficult instrument.

Summer Student Party

3 days before I delivered my second baby, we had our student party as scheduled (I wasn't too sure if we'd have to reschedule this one!). We enjoyed a barbeque lunch on my deck and played games.

Fun Times!

2010 Spring Recital

This recital was short, but sweet. The weather could not have been more perfect for this annual spring-time occasion. It was a perfect day for a stroll in the park (after the recital, of course).


Lisa Miner, our Piano Accompanist (Thanking her with Chocolates!)


Yummy, Beautifully Presented Food
(Being very pregnant, this hearty snack hit the spot!)

Suzuki Graduation

Congratulations to all of my graduating students! Prior to the concert I helped with tuning and afterward I passed out certificates. Since I didn't lead a piece or have my child with me, I got to sit back and enjoy the performance. Although they play the same music every year (since the graduation levels never change), I still really enjoy the concert very much. I'm always impressed with the level of musicianship these young students attain - impressive!

Christmas Group Lesson

Christmas Group Lesson 2009

This was our first Christmas in our new home and group lessons were festive! This Mickey violinist was one of our object lessons. It is impossible to demonstrate in a picture but poor Mickey can't bow straight and my very smart students figured out quickly just why. His elbow doesn't bend! That's right, in order to bow straight our elbows (and all the other joints in our arm/hand/fingers for that matter) must bend. It is a huge technique issue and it was fun to have Mickey teach us just how important the flexibility of our joints are in violin!

Terry Durbin

ISSI 1995 & ISSI 2009

Terry Durbin

November 21, 2009

Weber/Davis Suzuki Region

Layton High School Auditorium
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I've been enjoying Terry Durbin's teaching for many years. The pictures above are of my sister with Terry at ISSI back in 1995 and the other picture is of one of my students who had a class with him just this year at ISSI. In helping to plan this event, I had the unique privilege of learning more about Terry by writing his bio for the announcement of our workshops. I won't put it all here (you can google him if you want to learn more) but Terry flew in from Lexington, Kentucky where he lives with his wife. They have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. His unique brand of teaching and his infectious enthusiasm makes him one of the most sought after clinicians in the country. And we got to have him in our town!

2009 Fall Recital

Cathy Marlor (violin) & Janie Nebeker (piano)

Special thanks to our wonderful pianist!!!

As always, my students did a wonderful job on their solo peices and duets/groups. It is always so rewarding as a teacher to hear them perform!

Parent Meeting

This afternoon was our annual parent meeting held every year on the Monday after Labor Day. We were supposed to have a family potluck over at the park afterward but we got rained out. Bummer! I just want to send a special thanks to my studio parents for all the support and love you give your children. You are such wonderful examples to me and I appreciate you for being part of my violin studio!

Group Lessons on Deck

Welcome to my new studio! It is cute and cozy. Which makes it perfect for private violin lessons but a little cramped for group lessons. So, I have to get creative and this month our group lessons were out on the deck...

Cool, huh?!?

Our audience was the beautiful Utah mountains.

It's actually really fun to play outside. My students asked if we will be playing in the snow. Ha ha! We'll use my family room for the winter but as long as the weather is nice, we can enjoy the great outdoors!