Membership Level:
Private Instruction $450. every 12 weeks * 45 min. weekly instruction Ages 8-12 Book IV and up
Private Instruction: $600. every 12 weeks * 60 min. weekly instruction High School Students Book IV and up
Initial Registration per student $100.
* Membership tuition based on year round continuous participation. If notified in advance, arrangements for make up lessons can be made case by case and scheduled before or after an absence. Students who leave the studio for 4 weeks will need to reregister and pay Registration fee as new students. See Tuition Calendar.
Observation of fellow students in the studio. All students are invited and encouraged to observe other students in the program. See Observation policy.
Group Instruction. To develop motivation all students are encouraged to participate in Group Lesson Activities. All levels of students are invited to perform in recitals and Play-in-the Park activities. Please see Studio Calendar.
Ensemble participation. Ms. Cynthia is always looking for opportunities for her advanced students to play in Ensembles and duets with fellow students. A wide variety of ethnic fiddling is also available. Some students are interested in Alternative and Popular Film music. Please let Ms. Cynthia know of your interest. If you are interested in joining an orchestra please let Ms. Cynthia know about the auditions involved well in advance so she can assist you.
SMAC Festivals, Workshops, Institutes. All Suzuki Students from Twinklers and up are encouraged to participate.
Community Service. Students who like to perform publically or mentor younger students are encouraged. Please speak to Ms. Cynthia about your ideas.
Advanced students who have the desire to practice the violin are usually very self motivated. You may not realize how critical it is to develop listening habits that support violin study. Initially, these students need a parent's guidance and encouragement to establish the habits of effective musical study. Allow your parents to attend your first few lessons and support your efforts by helping you get everything organized for effective study. You may want some one to help take notes during lessons and make sure you have the equipment you need for listening and practice at home. If you have a video camera you may want them to help you record some of your lessons so that you don't miss anything. It is important to have good communication between parents and Ms. Cynthia when making any changes in your regular lessons schedule and tuition.
Advanced students are expected to start keeping track of their own music, musical equipment and practice habits and routines. The better organized you are the more listening and practicing you will be able to do and the more progress you will make toward your musical goals.
Advanced Students are playing pieces in Book IV and up because they have made the investment with their ears and their bodies to memorize their music and practice effectively. Students at this level begin to form their own musical preferences and are encouraged to explore them while continuing to develop greater skill using Suzuki Method Materials.
These students continue to memorize all of the literature which they have covered in their earlier books.
They are doing all of the Tonalizations and creating some of their own from pieces they are working on.
They are shifting to all positions using Fingerboard Geography Book.
They are playing 3 octave scales in Major and Minor forms.
They are polishing their vibrato.
They are able to sight read in an orchestra or ensemble environment.
They are exploring music outside of their Method Books.
Private Instruction for 45-60 minute weekly lesson.
60 minute lesson time recommended for:
Students who expects to take significant breaks for family travel which are difficult to make up or High School Students.
Suzuki Violin CD Vol. IV and up Revised Edition if available
This is the minimum listening for effective study.
Students need to be listening ahead at least one book level above the book they are currently studying in to progress more quickly.
Advanced should be looking for and listening to examples on the TEC YouTube channel. They should own several CDs with well known performing artist on the violin.
Please see Additional Resources Recommended for Supplementary Listening.
The more listening students do the more easily they will acquire reading skills.
There are 3 kinds of listening that students need to do to be successful: Preview, Current, Review and General exposure to Violin Music. We use the Single Repeat button on our listening device to memorize pieces that will be studied in class. High School student will be listening to each Twinkle Variation in this way so that they can play them in class spontaneously with out fear. At the same time begin to preview the Vol. 1 CD so that you will already have familiarity with those pieces when you start working on them.
Advanced Students and their parents will find it helpful to read as much of the required reading as possible before starting. Take time to read these pages so you can be prepared for your first classes and have everything you need at home to practice effectively on those things that Advanced Students need to start doing first before picking up the instrument.
Most reading and instructional materials needed can be obtained through on line catalogues who cater to the Suzuki Community:
Young Musicians Easiest to use, smaller catalogue
Shar Music More expansive catalogue with more choices.
Please read carefully the information you need about obtaining a violin. It will save you money.
See also Ages and Stages
Required:
1. CD players and DVD player in convenient locations
2. Access on line
3. Dr. Scholl's mole skin plus
5. Cloth, lint and chemical free for cleaning violin
6. File bands rubber bands for shoulder rest
7. Foam wedge, firm foam which will be custom trimmed for shoulder rest with violin.
8. Dr. Scholl's callus pads for chin rest or chin rest pad if needed
9. Rosin, soft dark rosin in a slider box is recommended .
10. Music Stand
11. Metronome and Chromatic Tuner
12. A comfortable chin rest.
More information on violin care
A correctly sized violin. A Scott Cao STV 017, is recommended or an instrument of similar quality and adjustment. The peg box must work and hold intonation for at least a week at a time so that you can do most of your tuning with fine tuners. The 4th finger harmonics need to match the pitches of the same fingered and open string tones. The G string must have a true pitch so that the 2nd finger on the E string will ring. Each student will be measured for their unique body type and size by the teacher in the studio so that they have relaxed access to the violin and can play with out tension.
A wood bow with a proper grip and silver winding. A fiberglass is not adequate or reliable for making musical expression.
Please, Do not purchase an instrument with out consulting the teacher you plan to study with. It is nearly impossible to obtain refunds for musical instruments from a retailer.
I recommend that all of my students and their parents read the following books about the Suzuki Method. It is helpful to understand how we create our own environments and habits for learning something new. I hope this book gives you inspiration
1. Ability Development from Age 0
Reading the above materials will begin to give you the understanding that you need to be effective as a Musical Student and help you to create the environment at home to help with practicing.
Instructional books needed by students: Suzuki Method Violin Book Vol. I, Revised Edition
See Ages and Stages for additional resources.
