Celebrating 25 Years

Today I turned 30 which means I am also celebrating 25 years (that's a quarter of a century!) of playing the violin. Many Suzuki students start young and I was no exception. It is so great to teach young students and be reminded of all the fun and challenging times I had with my wonderful Suzuki teachers. What a wonderful circle of life!

Intermountain Suzuki String Institute 2009

I got to attend ISSI 2009 for one day out

of the week long Suzuki summer camp.

Wednesday 06.17.09

I had 2 students attending this year.

We had lunch together and I had the privilege of
observing both of them with their teachers.

Picture with repertoire teacher, Koen Rens, from Belgium
(he is one of the funniest teachers; especially with his great accent!)

Picture with Terry Durbin

(an institute favorite coming to Davis County this fall!)
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I LOVE observing great teachers do their thing. There are so many wonderful ideas that come from this and I'm inspired by their creativity and teaching expertise. There are six pages of notes to add to my growing notebook of observations which I put into my "teaching bible." I am so happy that 2 of my students were able to attend this year. Utah is blessed to have one of the best Suzuki institutes around!

Circe Dopp and My Bows

This is Circe Dopp - soon to be mother of 6, dance instructor, and violin repair woman - a very talented lady!

A couple of weeks ago my bow was in desperate need of a rehair. I'm so glad I can call Circe, who is close by, to help me out with these things. The little bow (above my rehaired bow) is not from Circe but I thought it was super cute and fun to include since I just bought it at ISSI as a new teaching tool for my studio.

Circe Dopp Violins
801.726.8685
circe@clytieadams.com
330 N. Main in Kaysville
(by appointment only)

La Folia Memorized!

I am happy to say that today I played La Folia (all 4 pages) memorized for Jeanne (my teacher trainer) to finally pass all the requirements for Book 6 Teacher Training. This experience reminded me of how hard my students work each day to master the music that they learn and I appreciate all the effort they put into their little instruments. Listening to the music on CD (a LOT!) and drilling the hard parts made it so much easier to master. And isn't that the purpose of practice? To make a difficult instrument become easy!!!

Rebekah's Graduation Recital (Kaysville, UT)

This is my beautiful sister Rebekah rehearsing...

Rebekah Butler and Diane Bastian
(picture taken with her pianist right after the graduation recital)

Cathy Butler Marlor and Rebekah Butler
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It was so fun to have my students come and hear my sister play.
I'm so excited to follow her violin career as it progresses;
a professional in the making!

Suzuki Book 6 Teacher Training

Cathy Marlor & Jeanne Grover

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I decided to be ambitious this year. Along with building a house and chasing after my 2-year old, I took Suzuki Book 6 Teacher Training from Jeanne Grover. The class was 15 hours long with 8 hours of observations and this weekend I completed all the requirements except for one: memorizing LaFolia. I will be finishing that up soon and sending my registration of the course to the SAA. This will upgrade my status with the Suzuki Association of Utah to Advanced Active Teacher. Cool, huh!?! Jeanne, as always, is a wealth of knowledge and I'm excited to apply what I've learned. Thanks Jeanne!

Rebekah's Graduation Recital (Tucson, AZ)

February 1, 2009

Exactly 3 months ago, I sat in on one of the most inspiring performances I've ever been to - my sister's graduation recital.

Rebekah has become quite the violinist! She is graduating with her degree in violin performance from the University of Arizona.

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She will be doing an encore performance here in Utah...

you won't want to miss it!

2009 Spring Recital

Violin's Tuned and Ready to be Played!
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This is my entire current group of students...

Suzuki Twinkle Group

Suzuki Book 1 Group

Suzuki Book 2 Group

Pianists: Kristy Putnam and Lisa Miner
(Thank-you, Thank-you!)

Our wonderful assortment of refreshments afterward

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This was a really fun recital for me as I sat back and just enjoyed hearing my students play. I was enjoying it so much that I almost forgot that I was playing too. Thanks to all who contributed to making this recital a success. You are all so wonderful to work with.

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I have the best job ever!

Practice Makes it Easy!

We have a fun program in my studio for consistent practice. There is a 100-Day Club and a 365-Day Club. For every student that practices 100 days-in-a-row they join the 100-Day Club. I had 5 new members join over the last 6 months. They have all completed specific requirements. Every day their practice includes 3 important elements: listening, notereading and review. Pictured is one of my students who is also in the 365-Day Club. She took her violin all the way to China to continue her daily practicing. What wonderful group of dedicated students I have. Congrats to all my club members!

Group Lessons

Twinkler "Bumper Pads"
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An important part of the Suzuki Method is group lessons which in my studio we hold each month. We practice various techniques in addition to playing the literature together. The "antennas" you see here are actually straws sticking up through their F-holes. I use these to help students with the creation of a nice straight bow close enough to the bridge for good tone quality. I thought this was a really cute picture!

Before I had a digital camera...

I just discovered that I have some great studio pictures before 2005 amongst my negatives that I am having converted to digital images. My mom did this for all my growing up years but between the time I got married in 1998 and when we got our first digital camera in 2005, I have some student pictures I'd like to share...coming soon!

2008 Recitals

Spring Recital 2008

Book 1 Group

Spring Recital 2008
Book 2 Group

Spring Recital 2008

Accompanist: Janie Nebeker

(we go way back so this was really fun!)

Fall Recital 2008

My Son ~ He's Learned How to Clap!

Fall Recital 2008

All My Students

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This pretty well brings us up to date. This is my current group of students. I look forward to the years ahead and many more recital posts to come!

2007 Recitals

Spring Recital 2007

Pre-Twinkle Group
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Spring Recital 2007

Book 1 Group

Spring Recital 2007
Vibrato Group

Suzuki Graduation 2007

Ellen Cox - Suzuki Teacher who sent me lots of wonderful students
(some were related to her so she came to see their progress)

Winter Recital 2007
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This year included the Celebration VII Gala Concert which was held at the Conference Center in SLC. Thousands of Suzuki students of all instruments participated. Kurt Bestor was commissioned to write the music for the grand finale, Jubilate! It was amazing to witness and be a part of not only because of the shear number of students playing all at once but also because of the wonderful legacy that Dr. Suzuki gave us which we were celebrating. I've got a DVD of the event which has been wonderful to watch. I found a great clip on Kurt Bestor's website:

www.kurtbestor.com/index.php?page=video&category=Classical_Commissions&display=27&hilight=jubilate

2006 Recitals

Spring Recital 2006

(first time at the Layton Library)

Annual Parent Meeting and Student Party

(the very first one)

Suzuki Grand Concert 2006
(100's of students on stage playing the twinkles!)

Fall Recital 2006
(Pop Goes the Weasal with brand new Suzuki Students)

Fall Recital 2006
Pre-Twinkle Group

Fall Recital 2006
Book 1 Group

Fall Recital 2006
Vibrato Group

Pictured: Me (nine months pregnant), Emma West, Jackie Tanzie

Fall Recital 2006
My Wonderful Accompanists!
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This was a busy year. In the fall we moved from Syracuse to Washington Terrace but I continued teaching in Davis County at my parents house in Layton. Over the course of one year I took 5 teacher training classes. Oh, and I had my first baby!

2005 Recitals

Summer Recital 2005
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Tuning for Winter Recital 2005

Winter Recital 2005


Me Performing the Mozart Concerto
(which I had learned, memorized, and video-taped for the SAA to gain eligibility to take all the Suzuki Teacher Training courses)
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In 2005, many recitals were held at my home in Syracuse. My dining room was the stage and my family room was where the audience sat. It actually worked really well - it was a fun group of students!

Intermountain Suzuki String Institute 2005-2008

Bill Star ~ Suzuki Pioneer at ISSI 2005

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Time for Three ~ Guest Artists at ISSI 2005

My first student to attend ISSI 2006

My second student to attend ISSI 2008
(they said it was the best thing their family did all summer!)
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In My Violin Background February 2009, I have a post all about institute which I attended as a young Suzuki student. Now I appreciate it even more for the growth it provides for me as a teacher and for my students who attend. They fly in the best Suzuki string teachers from all over the world to teach for one very intense week every year in June. To learn more about ISSI visit:
intermountainsuzukistringinstitute.com

Suzuki Teacher Training

Book 1 Teacher Training

ISSI - June 2005

Ed Sprunger

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Book 2 & 3 Teacher Training

Apprenticeship - 2006

Jeanne Grover
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Book 4 & 5 Teacher Training

ISSI - June 2006

Linda Fiore~

The really great thing about being a Suzuki Teacher is all the training that is offered (and required for active status). Each course is 15 hours of instruction, 8 hours of observation, and memorization of the repertoire. The acception is Book 1 which is twice the hours of instruction and observation plus a pre-requisite class: Every Child Can Learn. I am currently taking Book 6 Teacher Training from Jeanne Grover which, upon completion, will make me eligable to become an "advanced active teacher" with SAU. I am excited to be learning and growing as a teacher. I especially love the opportunities I have to observe great Suzuki teachers both locally and from around the world at institute each year. Special thanks to my teacher trainers who I have learned so much from!