Faculty Spotlight

ISSI boasts a world-class faculty from around the world! Read about one of our excellent faculty members, Brant Bayless, in this article here from the Salt Lake Tribune.

I love the way Brant mixes his easy-going, relaxed approach with careful, thoughtful instruction for students at Institute.

Leave us a comment if you've ever had the chance to work with or observe Brant at Institute!

Early Bird Registration is Open

Visit our website here to get started on your registration.

Don't forget that you can add extras, like additional t-shirts and meal tickets when you register.

Early-bird Registration ends March 1, so act fast!

Early Bird Registration...

....will open shortly!

For now, visit our website at www.intermountainsuzukistringinstitute.com to read up on the exciting tidbits about this year's Institute.

Remember: Early Bird discount closes March 1!

On Listening...

One of the things I love most about the Suzuki philosophy is when we as a community can share ideas with each other! Thanks to Ramona Stirling for sending along some tips from a studio parent, Tabitha Ricks.

Tips from Tabitha:

This month's newsletter is on the three types of listening. Edward Kreitman says there are three types of listening: passive, parallel, and active listening.

Passive Listening

This is the type of listening done in the car or at home...or anywhere where it's not the primary activity going on.

This is the way the student learns melodies, quality of tone, and intonation.

Another good idea for this type of listening comes from Michele Horner. She calls it "listening like a maniac." Each day, you listen to the song you're on at least 10 times in a row, then switch to the next song 10 times in a row, and finally the song after that 10 times in a row. Michele Horner did this with her own daughter and was able to learn faster. I have been doing this with Seth, and it has been much easier to for him to learn the next song. One thing to mention is that it's important to listen to the rest of the CD and the other CD's also.

Parallel Listening

This type of listening is listening to the higher books while you are in a lower book. For example, listen to book 4 while you're in book 1. You should listen to all books as early as possible.

This listening builds great vision for the parent and the student (and they will know the pieces much better). It is also good to hear other classical music as much as possible.

Active/Targeted Listening

This is where you have the student listen specifically to one part of the music during practicing and hear specific detail to learn from listening.

This has been helpful to us for a couple of reasons. It has helped Seth learn the song easier, it gives him a break of playing during practicing, and it is training his mind to listen to the details of the piece. When he was learning Humoresque, I had him listen specifically to the order of the piece with the music in front of him. Since he is learning to read music, having him look at the music and identify the sections gave him confidence in reading music and added visual input to help him learn the piece. He played it in the right order a lot easier than some of the pieces before that.

Here are some examples of other questions you could ask:

"How many slurs do you hear in each line?"

"Do you hear the 1st or 2nd ending here?"

"Does this section repeat?"

"Where does the first part end?"

"Do you hear legato or staccato bowing?"

"Are the notes on or off the string?"

You can even point to the music to show how the slurs are or the staccato bowing is written...where the repeat is, or where the 1st or 2nd ending is.

All in all...KEEP LISTENING...it might save you from going crazy!!!

Perspective on the Suzuki Philosophy from a Parent's Point of View

Hello ISSI Fans!

I wanted to share some of my own thoughts with you about teaching music to my own young children. This post is found here.

What are your thoughts? What victories and challenges to do you face as you teach and practice with your own children? Why do you do it?

Relax!

Spending too much time in the practice room with not enough results? Take a look at the article found at this link here, for some insights.

Thanks to ISSI Board Member, Deborah Moench, for sharing this!

Gabe Bolkosky Shares His Thoughts on the Suzuki Philosophy

One of the things I love most about ISSI is the world-class faculty that join us. One such faculty member is internationally-recognized violinist Gabe Bolkosky. Mr. Bolkosky is a man of many talents, equally at home conducting one of our orchestras, teaching a performance class, or leading a teacher workshop.

I tracked him down a few weeks ago to ask him what he loved most about the Suzuki philosophy, and this is what he said:

"I value most that at its core, the Suzuki philosophy is about fostering a noble human being. I value that it is not about creating the trappings of musicianship, but tapping into and nurturing deep qualities of humility and kindness through the musical process. The philosophy drives me in my professional life at all times and I am so grateful for that."

(for more information on Mr. Bolkosky, visit his website at www.gabrielbolkosky.com)

This philosophy motivates all we do at ISSI. Imagine an entire week filled with this sentiment; encouraging teachers, parents and students to strive to be better people through music. It truly is a wonderful place!

So, what is it you most value about the Suzuki philosophy?