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# Christine Goodner: The Suzuki Triangle Blog, Author, Speaker, Podcaster

Inspiration and motivation for Suzuki teachers, parents and students

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://suzukitriangle.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Vijay Gupta on Music, Nuruturing Young Musician's Growth & Coming Back to Yourself](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode140/) - This week on the Time to Practice podcast I'm excited to kick off Season 4 with a fantastic conversation with Vijay Gupta: violinist, speaker, founder and aurtistic director of the nonprofit Street Symphony and author of the new memoir Restrung: A Memoir of Music and Transformation. Vijay shares his reflections on music learning, what he's
- [Getting Organized for a Productive Year in Music Lessons with Your Child](https://suzukitriangle.com/getting-organized/) - It's always a good time of year to review the materials and logistics your child needs to be successful in their music lessons. The start of the school year, or the calendar year, can be an especially great time to take stock of what you have, what you need, and what is coming up on
- [Laura Nerenberg on Creativity that Fuels Motivation](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode137/) - This week Laura Nerenberg, performing musician, music educator, and parent, is sharing a practice tip with us that involves creativity and the outdoors, and I can’t wait for you to hear it! Laura first came on the Time to Practice podcast on episode 127 and if you enjoyed this tip, you’ll want to check out
- [3 Practice Tips for Parents of Young Musicians from Parent Anton Van Oosbree](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode136/) - Parent, and musician himeself since childhood, Anton Van Oosbree sat down with me recently to share 3 practice tips for parents of young music students. If you help support practice with a child in music lessons right now I think you will find these great tips and food for thought about how we show up
- [Supporting Perfectionists in the Music Studio](https://suzukitriangle.com/perfectionist/) - Christine Goodner is joined by violinist and music educator Claire Allen in this six-part series called Supporting Perfectionists in the Private Music Studio. This series was born out of research and real-life experience, woven together and originally presented at the American String Teacher's Association (ASTA) in the Spring of 2025. Christine and Claire were excited
- [Perfectionism in the Music Studio Revisited with Claire Allen & Christine Goodner](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode135/) - Claire Allen joins me this week to discuss and reflect on perfectionism and perfectionist thinking in the music studio, one year after we published our podcast series where we went in depth on the topic. We're excited to share what has stuck with us and helped us personally as well as in our teaching and approach to
- [Alyna Bloecher on How to Keep Music Practice Engaging & Avoid Burnout](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode134/) - This week, our practice tip comes from Alyna Bloecher, a parent, Suzuki teacher, and former Suzuki kid currently based in Tennessee. She shares two specific music practice strategies that are working for her family this summer to keep practice engaging and motivating for both adults and kids alike. We talk about avoiding burnout, how parents
- [Annie Reed: Gamifying Practice & Building Motivation](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode132/) - This week, we’re continuing our summer practice and motivation tip series with performing musician, music educator, early childhood educator, and parent Annie Reed. Annie shares a strategy that has transformed practice for her children the past few months. If you're a parent or caregiver, you may find her helpful for thinking about music practice in
- [Grazzia Rode-Sagastume & The Gift of Time in Music Lessons & Practice ](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode131/) - Grazzia Rode-Sagastume & The Gift of Time in Music Lessons & Practice Grazzia Rode-Sagastume shares practice tips for parents of young musicians.
- [Running Parent-Teacher Conferences as a Private Studio Teacher](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode74/) - This article about holding parent teacher conferences was originally published as an episode of the Time to Practice podcast. It has been edited a bit for ease of reading. You can listen to this episode through the link below. To listen to the full episode, you can find the Time to Practice Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify,
- [Laura Nerenberg on Improvisation, Working to Avoid Distraction, & Music Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode127/) - This week we cap off season 3 of the Time to Practice podcast with a fantastic interview with Laura Nerenberg: violinist, educator, and expert in teaching improvisation through CAD (Creative Ability Development). We talk about everything from her beginning years as a very young musician, when she knew she wanted to become a professional musician,
- [5 Tips to make the Most of Music Practice During a Busy Time of Year ](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode126/) - This article was originally published as a podcast episode on the Time to Practice podcast. It has been edited a bit for ease of reading in this format. You can listen to the audio version through one of the links below or anywhere you like to stream podcasts. Here in the U.S., the school year
- [Beyond the Keys: Part Two of our Conversation with Jeeyoon Kim](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode124/) - This week, I’m looking forward to sharing part two of our conversation with an award-winning classical pianist, educator, author, and podcaster, Jeeyoon Kim. If you haven’t heard part one of this two-part series be sure to go back and listen to episode 123 (either before or after you listen to today’s episode). Today, Jeeyoon Kim is going
- [Jeeyoon Kim on Practice & Creating Connection Through Music](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode123/) - This week on the Time to Practice podcast, we are starting a two-part series of conversations with award-winning classical pianist, educator, author, and podcaster Jeeyoon Kim. In this first part of our conversation, we talk about her experience learning music as a young child in South Korea, her very insightful thoughts about learning to practice
- [Four Slow & Steady Ways to Optimize the Suzuki Method](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode121/) - This week on the Time to Practice podcast I'm sharing an article I recently had published in the American Suzuki Journal in an audio format all about how we can optimize our results in the Suzuki Method. My hope is that if you're an SAA member, this prompts you to open up the journal and
- [Planning Ahead for Summer Music Camps](https://suzukitriangle.com/summer-music-camps/) - On a recent episode of the Time to Practice podcast, monthly expert guest Barbie Wong came on the podcast to talk about looking ahead to summer music activities. Our conversation centered on music camps and also on how to raise funds in creative ways if the cost feels daunting. You can listen to our episode
- [Sarah Hart-Unger on Planning, Goals, & Music Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode119/) - On this week's episode of the Time to Practice podcast, I'm thrilled to welcome Sarah Hart-Unger, MD, parent of three, podcaster, and author of the new book Best Laid Plans: A Simple Planning System for Living a Life You LOVE. I'm a huge fan of Sarah's podcast(s) and book and when I heard that she
- [ Screen Time & Motivation to Practice: A Conversation with Megan Orton](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode115/) - This week on the Time to Practice podcast, we're speaking with Megan Orton. Megan is a musician, parent, and former Suzuki violin teacher who now runs Mindful Media - where she speaks and coaches parents as they think about setting healthy limits for screen time and navigating parenting in the digital age. In this episode,
- [Fostering Deliberate Practice vs. "Playing Through": A conversation with Barbie Wong](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode114/) - There is a place for both playing for enjoyment and focused, deliberate practice to improve our pieces when we're learning music and practicing, and on this episode of the Time to Practice podcast, Christine Goodner and Barbie Wong have a conversation all about it. What is deliberate practice? Why is deliberate practice, a phrase coined by Anders
- [Tera Sumpter: Executive Function Skills & Music Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode112/) - This week on the Time to Practice podcast, I am thrilled to welcome someone whose work has had a huge impact on me and the way I understand my students and music practice. Speech Language Pathologist and Executive Function Skills Specialist Tera Sumpter joins us to talk all about Executive Function Skills & Music Practice.
- [Linda Piatt: Solutions for Challenging Behavior in Music Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode108/) - This week on the Time to Practice podcast, violinist, violist, music educator, and parent Linda Piatt joins us to continue a two-part series on supporting our children with music practice. This week we tackle the subject of challenging behavior in music practice. On our last episode Linda shared her best practices for home music practice
- [Linda Piatt: Best Practices for Home Music Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode107/) - This week on the Time to Practice podcast, violinist, violist, music educator, and parent Linda Piatt joins us to kick off a two-part series on supporting our children with music practice. In this week's episode, she shares with us what she's learned as a teacher, but even more so as a parent, about how families
- [Supporting PreTeen Music Students: A Conversation with Barbie Wong](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode105/) - On this week's episode of the Time to Practice podcast, we're speaking with frequent guest Barbie Wong on the topic of supporting teen & preteen students in music lessons. We talk about the support students moving into their teen years need from both a teacher and parent perspective. We'd love to hear what you'd add
- [Dr. Elizabeth Morrow: Multi-sensory Music Reading & Supporting Students with Learning Differences](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode103/) - This week on the Time to Practice podcast I'm joined by Dr. Elizabeth Morrow - a cellist, music educator, certified dyslexia therapist, and creator of NoteSense® (a multisensory approach to teaching note reading). I first met Elizabeth at the American String Teachers Association conference earlier this year, after hearing her give a fantastic talk on
- [Making More Progress in Music Lessons](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode101/) - How do we help our child(ren) or students make more progress in music lessons? This is the topic of the most recent episode of the Time to Practice podcast. In this episode, Christine Goodner and Barbie Wong discuss several ways parents can help their child make more progress. We also invite you to embrace the
- [Music Practice Tips for Consistency and Excellence with Bassist Sherry Luchette](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode99/) - This week on the Time to Practice podcast, bassist, music educator, and author Sherry Luchette is joining Christine for a great discussion on supporting music practice. In this conversation, Sherry Luchette shares her unconventional journey to becoming a bassist, her approach to working with students to find a practice routine that works for them, and
- [How to Establish (or Re-Establish) a Practice Routine for Kids with Barbie Wong](https://suzukitriangle.com/episode97/) - In episode 97 of the Time to Practice Podcast, we're speaking with Barbie Wong about how to establish practice routines, or re-establish one, when practicing with kids learning music. In fact, her advice is a great starting point for musicians of all ages looking to establish a practice routine. Barbie shares with us a number
- [Edmund Sprunger: Back to School Advice and The Value of Frustration](https://suzukitriangle.com/sprunger/) - This season I’m excited to be kicking things off on the Time to Practice podcast with expert guest Edmund Sprunger. Edmund Sprunger is a Registered Violin Teacher Trainer with the Suzuki Association of the Americas, Author of Helping Parents Practice and Building Violin Skills (two books I personally love and recommend all the time). He
- [Supporting Young Musicians with Nicola Cantan](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode80/) - On this week's episode of the Time to Practice podcast we're speaking with Nicola Cantan: someone who really inspires me as a teacher: music eductor, pianist, podcaster, author and more from Ireland. I’ve read some of Nicola’s books, one of which we talk about in this episode. I love following her on social media for
- [Empowering the Next Generation Through Music with Raúl Gómez-Rojas](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode77/) - This week on the Time to Practice podcast, we’re speaking with Raúl Gómez-Rojas, musical director of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS), about the transformative power of music education in the lives of young people. This is a special episode highlighting a non-profit organization making a difference in its local community, and this conversation has something for
- [How do I get my child to WANT to practice without being reminded?](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode76/) - In episode 76 of the Time to Practice podcast, Barbie Wong joins Christine to answer this frequently asked question that we have both heard often when working with families of music students. "How do I get my child to WANT to practice without being reminded?" To Listen to the full episode you can find the
- [Women Composers in Student Literature and Beyond with Dr. Cora Cooper](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode75/) - On this week's episode of the Time to Practice podcast, we're speaking with Dr. Cora Cooper about her wonderful anthology Violin Music by Women Composers, as well as works by many other composers that are not easily available anywhere else. Dr. Cooper shares her journey as a publisher as well as her practice flow chart,
- [Music Practice from a Parent & Teacher Perspective: A Conversation with Violinist Andrew Miller](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode73/) - This week we are talking about music practice with violinist, parent, music educator, and the co-director of the Southside Suzuki Cooperative in Chicago, Andrew Miller. Andrew shares his musical journey, from starting violin at age 14 to becoming a violin teacher, parent of young musicians, and his current role at Southside Suzuki Cooperative. He discusses
- [Creating an Environment for Your Young Musician to Thrive with Barbie Wong](https://suzukitriangle.com/creating-an-environment-for-your-young-musician-to-thrive-with-barbie-wong/) - This week we’re excited to have our monthly guest, Barbie Wong, who has done extensive research on the lives of professional musicians and especially their musical environments growing up. She is back on the podcast to talk about ways that you (or the families that you work with) can help create a musical environment for
- [Collaboration between Studio Teachers & Orchestra Directors with Stephanie Hellekson](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode71/) - On this week's episode of the Time to Practice podcast, we're speaking with professional violinist, music educator including orchestra director in the Seattle Public schools for 10+ years, conductor with the Bellvue Youth Symphony Orchestra, and private teaching experience about collaboration between private teachers and orchestra or ensemble teachers. I invited Stephanie to come and
- [Two Frequently Asked Questions About Music Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode70/) - This week on the Time to Practice podcast, I shared two questions about music practice that have been coming up over and over in the talks I've been giving, and the questions I'm being asked. You can listen to this episode through the audio link below, or anywhere you stream podcasts, or you can read
- [Music Practice as Self-Care: A conversation with Cellist and Composer Bianca d'Avila Do Prado](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode69/) - On this week's episode of the Time to Practice podcast, we're speaking with cellist, composer, and music educator Bianca d'Avila do Prado about her journey to the cello and later composing music. We talk about music practice, the importance of seeing people we connect to and identify with doing inspiring things in the world of
- [Why & How to Create a Practice Challenge: A Conversation with Barbie Wong](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode68/) - On this week's episode of the Time to Practice podcast, regular guest Barbie Wong is back to have a great conversation about practice challenges. Whether you're a parent or caregiver supporting a young musician or a music educator, a practice challenge can help give a real boost of motivation and energy around getting in our
- [Motivation & Maximum Efficiency in Music Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode67/) - This week, on the Time to Practice Podcast, we’re speaking with Dr. Elizabeth Guerriero about motivation and maximum Efficiency in Music Practice. Elizabeth is a violinist, music educator, and founder of Beth G Consulting. She had a lot of wisdom to share about learning, achievement, and music practice. We talk about a hilarious story about her own
- [4 Tips for Music Practice During the Holidays](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode65/) - This episode about how to support young musicians in music practice during the holidays when things are busy and we're out of our routines, was originally published in audio format on the Time to Practice Podcast. It has been edited and formatted for ease of reading. You can read it below or listen to the
- [Music Practice, Finding Resources, & Making Progress Tangible: A Conversation with Meret Bitticks](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode64/) - This week I’m excited to welcome Meret Bitticks, our first flutist, to the Time to Practice podcast. Meret is a performer,a music educator at the Music Institute of Chicago and is on faculty at Lake Forest College and DePaul University. She is also a Flute Teacher trainer through the Suzuki Association of the Americas and
- [Should we use rewards or incentives for music practice?](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode63/) - Barbie Wong and I recently had an interesting discussion on the topic of rewards and incentives that we recorded for the Time to Practice podcast, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts. You can join us in the Music Nest community for ongoing discussions, live monthly meetings, and coming in January a fun 30
- [A Note of Encouragement to Parents & Teachers](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode62/) - The following is a letter of encouragement, originally shared on the Time to Practice podcast (Episode 62) and shared here in written form. I hope you find it encouraging and share it with anyone else in your life that you think needs encouragement! https://timetopractice.libsyn.com/ To the parents and caregivers, the grandparents who support the young
- [Curiosity, Ownership, and How to Stop Practice with Kathryn Drake](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode61/) - In this week’s episode, we’re speaking with Kathryn Drake. Drake is a violin teacher, music educator, and co-director of Ithaca Suzuki Music Education in Ithaca, New York. As I got this episode ready to share with you and revisited our conversation, I found our conversation so inspiring and honestly so grounding - I think you,
- [Teaching is a Sacred Responsibility: Part Two of our Conversation with Eloise Hellyer](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode60/) - I'm happy to back with part two of our two-part interview this week with Eloise Hellyer, violin teacher and author of the Violin Teacher’s Blog and the book 1 Teaches 2 Learn: Private Music Teaching and You. Eloise currently lives and teaches violin in Italy. She was a recent speaker at the American String Teacher’s Association conference in
- [Time in Music Lessons is Never Wasted: A Conversation with Eloise Hellyer (Part One)](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode59/) - I am thrilled to be bringing you the first in a two-part interview this week with Elloise Hellyer, violin teacher and author of the Violin Teacher's Blog and the book 1 Teaches 2 Learn: Private Music Teaching and You. Eloise was born in Chicago, IL, and currently lives and teaches violin in Italy. She was
- [7 Expert Tips about Music Practice from the guests of the Time to Practice Podcast](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode58/) - This week on the Time to Practice podcast I am sharing expert practice tips from our guests on the show who we heard from in early 2024. Each week I ask our guests the question: "If you could leave listeners with one tip about music practice this week, what would it be?" These tips are too
- [Adding Some Sparkle to Practice: A Conversation with Leslie Thackeray of The Practice Shoppe](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode57/) - Adding Sparkle to Practice with Leslie Thackeray of The Practice Shoppe - in this conversation we talk about when to add a little something extra to
- [Using Games in Music Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode56/) - On this week's episode of the Time to Practice podcast, recurring guest Barbie Wong is back to discuss using games in music practice with kids. We discuss why including games can help with practice and three different kinds you might consider incorporating into practice at your house. We're both very passionate about this topic and
- [Motivation, Movement, and Health with Dr. Hannah Murray](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode55/) - This week on the Time to Practice podcast I'm thrilled to be speaking to Dr. Hannah Murray. Here is some of Hannah Murray's background from her website: "Dr. Hannah Murray is a violinist and teacher based in Los Angeles, California. She is an internationally recognized artist and the co-founder and creator of corpSonore – sound
- [5 Ways to Measure our Progress in Music Lessons](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode54/) - It’s easy to see and celebrate progress in the form of huge milestones along the way when our child is in music lessons. Milestones like book graduations are easy to spot, but what about all the hundreds of little milestones in between? There are endless small wins that add up to these bigger, more obvious signs
- [Supporting Music Students Through Frustration: A Conversation with Kimberley Wong](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode53/) - Kimberley Wong joins Christine Goodner on the newest episode of the Time to Practice podcast to talk about helping music students through frustrating practice
- [Getting Back to Our Fall Practice Routine with Barbie Wong](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode52/) - Six tips for families getting back into their practice routine with Christine Goodner & Barbie Wong - read the article and transcript or listen on the podcast.
- [The Neuroscience of Practicing: A Conversation with Dr. Molly Gebrian](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode51/) - On episode 51 of the Time to Practice Podcast, Dr. Molly Gebrian speaks to us about the Neuroscience of Music Practice & her new book on the topic.
- [Unlocking What's Possible: A Conversation with Christopher Maloney of Practice Warriors](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode50/) - Today, we’re speaking to Christopher Maloney of Practice Warriors. Christopher is a multi-instrumentalist who has performed and recorded with an impressive list of rock and pop musicians, some of whom he’ll share at the start of our interview below. He’s a former instructor and Department Chair at the world-renowned Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, a
- [Approaching Music Practice with Gratitude, Part Two of our Conversation with Amy Beth Horman](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode49/) - This week’s episode of the Time to Practice podcast is the second in a two-part interview with violinist and pedagogue Amy Beth Horman. Here is a bit of her bio from her teacher page at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music “A passionate teacher and performer, Amy Beth Horman has enjoyed an active solo career
- [Transition Rituals for Starting Music Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode47/) - This article is based on episode 47 of the Time to Practice Podcast all about creating transition rituals for music practice, and serves as it's transcript. Its has been edited lightly for ease of reading. To Listen to the full episode you can find the Time to Practice Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Google Podcasts,
- [Supporting Teens & Approaching Practice with Gratitude: A Conversation with Amy Beth Horman (Part 1)](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode48/) - This week’s episode of the Time to Practice podcast is part of a two-part interview with violinist and pedagogue Amy Beth Horman. Here is a bit of her bio from her teacher page at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music "A passionate teacher and performer, Amy Beth Horman has enjoyed an active solo career as
- [Making Great Music with Ease: A Conversation with Jennifer Roig-Francolí](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode46/) - On this episode of the Time to Practice podcast, we’re speaking to Jennifer Roig-Francolí, creator of the Art of Freedom Method™, Alexander Teacher, musicians coach, and bestselling author of the new book Make Great Music with Ease!: The Secret to Smarter Practice, Confident Performance, and Living a Happier Life. In this episode we talking about
- [Measuring Both the Gap & The Gain](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode45/) - In this mini-episode of the Time to Practice podcast, we're discussing measuring both the gap & the gain. Christine Goodner discusses the importance of knowing both how far we've come AND where we're headed. Striking that balance as a musician and an adult supporting a young musician is important. You can read the blog version of
- [The Parent-Child Relationship in Music Practice: A Conversation with Alan Duncan](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode44/) - On this week’s episode of the Time to Practice podcast, we’re speaking with long-time Suzuki parent and collaborative pianist for his violinist daughter, Alan Duncan. Alan shares what he’s learned through the challenging starting phases of preschool, beginning lessons through letting go and helping his daughter transition into the independent practicer she is now. We
- [Leading with Love First: A Conversation with Barbie Wong](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode43/) - On this week’s episode, we’re speaking with music educator and speaker Barbie Wong. Barbie is a Suzuki Piano Teacher, holds degrees in music from Stanford and Smith College and gives wonderful talks and workshops on raising musical children. In this episode, Barbie Wong shares about the importance of community for young musicians (and their parents!),
- [Helping Students Find The Joy](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode42/) - This article all about helping students find the joy is the transcript for Episode 42 of the Time to Practice Podcast, essentially the podcast in written form. The words may be edited slightly for ease in reading. This mini episode I wanted to reflect on one of the themes that has come up in each
- [Playing the Long Game: A Conversation with Susanna Klein](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode41/) - In this week’s episode, we’re speaking to violinist and practice expert Susanna Klein. Susanna shares her own experience with music practice, how her perspective changed about music practice after incorporating ideas from sports psychology, and thoughts on supporting our children in their music practice. You can find the transcript for this week's interview below. About Susanna
- [Flexing Our Perseverance Muscle through Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode40/) - Welcome everyone to episode 40 of the Time to Practice podcast - all about flexing our perseverance muscle. This is the first of our bite-size episodes in season two. If you're reading this on the blog, this article acts as a transcript for the episode, this way you can either read it, or listen to
- [Musicality & Joy from the Beginning with Crystal Boyack](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode39/) - Season 2 of the Time to Practice Podcast is here, featuring our first guest Crystal Boyack, and I'm so excited to share a new episode with you. On this week's episode Crystal Boyack speaks with us about her journey as a young musician, what she's learned about practice from being a parent, and how wanting
- [Community & Support for Parents/Caregivers: An Interview with Violist Grazzia Rode-Sagastume](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode38/) - Grazzia Rode-Sagastume is a Honduran born- American based Suzuki Viola, Violin, and Early Childhood educator. She began studying the viola at age 13 in her hometown, San Pedro Sula, Honduras at the Escuela de Música Victoriano López. She discovered her passion for teaching and mentoring while doing her Master degrees and Suzuki long-term training at the
- [Setting Goals for Music Practice: An Interview with Ángel M. Falú-García](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode36/) - This week on the podcast we're speaking with freelance artist and viola & violin teacher Ángel Falú-García. We talk about his start in music and how he ended up playing the viola, what he learned the hard way about practice, and how that influences how he works with his students now and more. As a
- [Four Very Different Reasons We Practice Music](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode35/) - This article is based on Time to Practice Podcast Episode 35, a solo episode with host Christine Goodner where we discuss different reasons we practice. The text has been edited slightly for ease of reading. This episode is sponsored by Music Practice Makeover. This new resource is out on March 21st, 2022 and is all
- [Practice, Performance, & The Creative Process: An Interview with Courtney Woodward](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode34/) - Courtney Vowell Woodward is a wife, mom, former music educator, business owner, and author. After teaching music education in the classroom for 15 years, Courtney now hopes to share her passion for music through early children's literature. Wanting to introduce a love of music in every family's home, Courtney incorporates basic musical knowledge inside heartfelt
- [Motivation & A Musical Environment: An Interview with Barbie Wong](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode33/) - This week on the Time to Practice Podcast we're speaking with music educator Barbie Wong. We talk about her research into the lives of musicians, how we can create an environment that supports young musicians' growth, and some great tips for motivation and music practice. More about Barbie: Barbie Wong is a music educator who
- [Building Motivation & Enjoyment for Music Practice: An Interview with Tiana Angus](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode32/) - This week we’re speaking with violinist, performer, & Suzuki Teacher Tiana Angus. Tiana Angus is an enthusiastic and passionate Suzuki violin teacher in QLD, Australia. Tiana loves creating resources to help violinists learn and practice with colour and fun at www.dolcestrings.com.au. She has two young children who play, with whom Tiana is an enthusiastic practice
- [The Connection Between Feeling & Sound: An Interview with Kayleigh Miller ](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode31/) - This week we’re speaking with Violist and movement specialist Kayleigh Miller. Kayleigh is certified in yoga, pilates, and personal training. She is also a performing musician in the Pacific Northwest. We talk about how her relationship to practice has changed over time, the connection between movement and music, and many thoughts about practice and life
- [Teamwork & Practice with Young Musicians](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode30/) - This week on the Time to Practice podcast we're talking about working as a team, with our young musicians, to get practice done. Adopting this mindset, or approach can be a huge game-changer! You can read more about this in this article HERE. This blog post is a transcript, with a few edits for ease
- [Bringing Our Human Experience to Music: An Interview with Raymond Mallari](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode29/) - This week we’re speaking with violinist & violist Raymond Mallari. We talk about motivation, how he used to think he didn’t like to practice when he was younger but has changed his mind, and the importance of incorporating the human side of ourselves as musicians into our music. I hope you find this episode as
- [Nurture Each Student As They Are: An Interview with Violinist Kristina Turner](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode28/) - This week we are talking to violinist, music teacher, and parent Kristina Turner. From her website: Kristina Turner grew up in Bellingham, Washington. She attended Eastern Washington University and studied Violin with Kelly Farris while performing in the EWU Symphony Orchestra and Gonzaga University Symphony. Kristina transferred back home to finish her Bachelor of Arts
- [The Importance of Efficient Practice: An Interview with Violist Lisa Dyvig](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode27/) - In this week’s episode, we’re speaking with Lisa Dyvig. Lisa is a professional violist living in Olympia Washington. She is also a music teacher & parent of two young musicians. Lisa is the owner and creator of Alto Clef gifts - which features fun gifts, mugs, t-shirts and more that she was inspired to create
- [Best Practice Tips of 2021 (Part Two)](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode25/) - This week’s podcast episode is the second in a two-part series recapping the practice tips from all of our amazing Time to Practice guests shared at the end of their episodes this year. You can find part one of the series HERE. This series a great way to remember all the great practice ideas shared on the podcast
- [Best Practice Tips of 2021 (Part One)](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode24/) - This week's podcast episode starts a two-part series (to be continued next week) recapping the practice tips from all of our amazing Time to Practice guests shared at the end of their episodes this year. It’s a great way to remember all the great practice ideas shared on the podcast in 2021 and if you
- [Setting Goals in Unusual Times: An Interview with Jessica Peresta](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode23/) - In this episode, we're speaking with music educator Jessica Peresta. Jessica is a music teacher who spent time in the classroom and now works to support teachers through mentorship, curriculum development, and her resources at her website The Domestic Musician, and through The Elementary Music Teacher Podcast. We talk about her memories of learning music
- [3 Ways to Think About Measuring Progress](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode22/) - Today Christine is sharing a few ideas about measuring our progress at the end of the year. Especially when it comes to progress on an instrument with young musicians, here are three ways we can think about looking back and seeing how far we've come this year. You can read this article below, or listen
- [Executive Function Skills & Music Practice: An Interview with Emily Hawe](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode21/) - This week we're talking to Executive Function Skills coach Emily Hawe all about the skills we use in practice and how we (as teachers and practice partners) can help our children and students develop them. Emily Hawe is a certified teacher and staff developer for multiple NYC metropolitan area school districts and the parent of
- [On Gratitude & Being Human](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode20/) - Listen to the audio version of this article On Gratitude & Being Human on the Time to Practice Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. You can also listen directly from the link below: https://timetopractice.libsyn.com/rss I've been trying to decide if I should make a podcast episode about gratitude this
- [Good Practice Makes Good Habits: An Interview with Tamara Gonzalez](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode19/) - This week we're speaking with Violinist & Violist, Suzuki Teacher, conductor, and music education advocate Tamara Gonzalez. We discuss the importance of school music programs, how vital an orchestra experience is if you have one in your community, and many helpful ideas about practice. To Listen to the full episode you can find the Time
- [Dispelling a Myth about Suzuki ECE](https://suzukitriangle.com/a-myth-about-suzuki-ece/) - It's a common misperception that Suzuki ECE classes are just like all the others out there. Read about my experiences and learn why they are so different.
- [The Secret to Practice is Understanding Yourself: An Interview with Claire Allen](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode18/) - This week we're talking to violinist, music educator, and writer Claire Allen. In this episode we're discussing effective practice, tapping into what students want to improve in their playing, and how understanding ourselves is really the key to effective practice. To Listen to the full episode you can find the Time to Practice Podcast on
- [Encouragement for Teens](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode17/) - Episode 17 of the Time to Practice podcast is out this week with a new once-a-month episode that will feature tips and ideas that I often share with teachers and families about practice and the process of learning a musical instrument. This month we're talking all about ideas for encouragement for teens in our lives.
- [Writing, Performing, and The Creative Process : An Interview with Ashley Rescot](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode16/) - On today's episode of the TIme to Practice podcast we're speaking with violinist and author Ashley Rescot. Ashley describes herself as an "aficionado of music, pedagogy, family, faith, and language." She writes about her life as a musician and writes fiction geared toward young musicians that they can connect and relate to. We got a
- [Be Intentional & Keep Going: An Interview with Dr. Quinton Morris](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode15/) - On this week's episode of the Time to Practice podcast, we have the pleasure of speaking with violinist, educator, entrepreneur, radio host, and filmmaker Dr. Quinton Morris. Dr. Morris has performed solo concertos, recitals and presented masterclasses and lectures at some of the world’s most respected venues, including the Seattle Symphony, Carnegie Hall (New York),
- [Music History We Weren't Taught: An Interview with Chenoa Murphy](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode14/) - Today we're speaking with Chenoa Alamu Murphy who is a violinist, teacher, and speaker who offers fabulous courses online about Black Classical Composers & Musicians, as well as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We talk about diversifying our repertoire, some of her story as a musician, incorporating music history we wish we had known growing up,
- [Motivation for Musicians with Ruth Meints](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode13/) - On this week’s podcast, we’re talking to Ruth Meints. Ruth is the Executive Director of the Omaha Conservatory of Music and creator of String Sprouts, a program that connects over 1200 students in her community to music lessons. Ruth has a new book out: The Music Teacher’s Little Guide to Big Motivation and I can’t
- [5 Practice Tips for Supporting Young Musicians from Christine Goodner](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode12/) - This article is based on this week's Time to Practice Podcast, episode 12. Christine Goodner is sharing tips about practice on the podcast this week. It has been edited a bit for ease of reading. You can listen to the audio through your favorite podcast platform or through the link below. https://timetopractice.libsyn.com/rss This week I'm
- [Growth, Beauty & Connection an Interview with Brittany Gardner and Kelly McConkie Stewart](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode11/) - On this week’s episode, we’re talking to two cellists from Salt Lake City, Brittany Gardner and Kelly McConkie Stewart, who are performers, teachers, parents, sought-after guest clinicians and who run a wonderful cello choir together that has been especially inspiring to them and their students this past year. We're talking about motivation, connection, setting a
- [Untold Stories Around Us: An Interview with Diane Worthey](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode10/) - Today we're speaking with violinist, teacher, and author Diane Worthey. Diane teaches in the preparatory Strings Division at the University of Idaho and is the author of the recent book IN ONE EAR & OUT THE OTHER: ANTONIA BRICO & HER AMAZINGLY MUSICAL LIFE and the recipient of the 2021 Paterson Prize for Young Readers.
- [An Interview with Maria De Alba](https://suzukitriangle.com/an-interview-with-maria-de-alba/) - On this week’s episode we are speaking with cellist, parent and music educator Maria De Alba. Maria De Alba is a professional and experienced Cellist. She graduated from Shenandoah University, Virginia USA. Director of the International Suzuki Monterrey Festival for 7 years and Festival Bach to Cello for 2 years, She is a Cello Suzuki
- [Music is for Everyone: An Interview with Bryson Tarbet](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode8/) - On this week's podcast we're talking about music practice, motivation and how sometimes practicing music looks like being a kid with Elementary Music Educator Bryson Tarbet. Bryson Tarbet is a PreK-6th grade general music teacher just outside of Columbus, Ohio. He received his Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education from Ohio Wesleyan University and is
- [I Want them to Find Their Voice: An Interview with Dr. Shu-Yi Scott](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode7/) - On this week’s episode, we are speaking with Dr. Shu-Yi Scott. Dr. Shu-Yi Scott holds a MM in cello performance from Penn State University under Dr. Kim Cook and a DMA in cello performance from the University of Texas at Austin under renowned pedagogue Ms. Phyllis Young . She became a registered Suzuki cello teacher
- [Creating a Laboratory for Learning: An Interview with Laura Sinclair](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode6/) - In this episode we are talking with Laura Sinclair about creating a laboratory for learning in our practice rooms and studios. Laura is a performer, an educator, and is passionate about making practice with our children easier by understanding how the brain and emotional regulation affect us in the practice room. You can listen through
- [The Fun is Had Once You've Put in the Work: An Interview with Rebecca Lane](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode5/) - In this episode, we talk to Rebecca Lane. Rebecca is the director, founder, and owner of Lane Music School. She co-hosts the Kids Q the Music Podcast with her daughter Zara and coaches teachers and professional musicians in their businesses. She is a violinist, a teacher, a mom and we talk about embarrassing practice stories,
- [Pull People Up Alongside You: An Interview with Calida Jones](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode4/) - Calida Jones is a violinist with her Masters in Violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy from the Hartt School. She has taught in a variety of music settings including Suzuki and El-Sistema-inspired programs. Calida is an activist, consultant, and speaker. She is the former Director of Engagement at the Hartt School and has just begun a
- [The Only Way You Get Better is By Making Mistakes with Dr. Molly Gebrian](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode3/) - How can neuroscience help us with practice? Why is it necessary to make mistakes when we're learning? What can we learn about effective practice that might be a new perspective and really different from what we thought good practice was? Dr. Molly Gebrian is a violist who teaches at the University of Arizona’s Fred Fox
- [Parents Should Know They’re Not Alone: An Interview with Kimberley Wong](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode2/) - I am excited to share a new podcast episode with you - We're talking to violinist Kimberley Wong and you can read more about our conversation below and listen to the full conversation through the links provided at the end of this article. It's always been my passion to support parents, caregivers, and other practice
- [High Standards & Lots of Grace: An Interview with Abigail Peterson](https://suzukitriangle.com/ttpepisode1/) - In 2018-2019 I cohosted the Beyond the Music Lesson Podcast with Abigail Peterson a violinist, teacher, and parent of two young violinists. Recently I had the opportunity to catch up with Abigail and hear what music and practice at home have been like for her and her family for the past eighteen months. We also
- [3 Mindsets To Develop When Practicing Music With Children](https://suzukitriangle.com/3-mindsets-practice/) - This post is the first in a series on the type of mindsets that adults can develop as they support children and teens' music practice. This past year has been an intense one for parents working with their children. Many of us have been working, parenting, and even schooling all in the same space with There are many strategies that help with music practice, but it can be even more important to address our mindset.
- [Growth Mindset in Music Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/growth-mindset/) - This post is part of a series on the type of mindsets that parents, caregivers, and other adults can develop as they support the music practice of children and teens. You can read the first post here. Growth mindset is a concept coined by researcher Dr. Carol Dweck and has become familiar to many parents and
- [The Teamwork Mindset in Music Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/the-teamwork-mindset-in-music-practice/) - This article on teamwork is part of a series on three mindsets we can develop as parents and caregivers working with our children & teens during music practice. You can read the intro article here and the article on growth mindset here. Why a Teamwork Mindset Helps Of all of the mindsets I am sharing
- [The Connection Mindset in Music Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/connection/) - "There's a world of difference between insisting on someone's doing something and establishing an atmosphere in which that person can grow into wanting to do it." – Fred Rogers. This article on connection is part of a series on three mindsets we can develop as parents and caregivers working with our children & teens during
- [A Big Thank You](https://suzukitriangle.com/a-big-thank-you/) - 2020 has been a stressful year for so many: For medical professionals For essential workers For those out of workFor those working nonstop For parents For students For Teachers I want to take a moment to acknowledge all that you’ve been through this year. It’s customary for many people to reflect back on the past year and all that’s been
- [Building Focus: 3 Strategies for Independent Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/building-focus/) - A common question from parents is how to help their child with building focus during a practice session. I have written before about how to put together a practice toolkit for young students. Lately, I have been thinking about how important it is to have something like this for older, more independent practicers as well.
- [Why You Need a Practice Toolkit](https://suzukitriangle.com/practice-toolkit/) - How to rescue practice sessions by having the necessary tools close by.
- [SuperNova: An Interview with David Cutler](https://suzukitriangle.com/supernova/) - I am excited to be bringing more interviews to the blog this school year, starting with an interview with musician & author David Cutler, who just launched an exciting, Suzuki-licensed project through Kickstarter called SuperNova. You can read an excerpt from my conversation with David about this exciting new project and creative performance practice. This
- [Setting Music Goals for 2020](https://suzukitriangle.com/setting-music-goals/) - I have been giving a lot of thought lately to setting music goals for the coming school year. Whatever your school year looks like, chances are it’s a very different year this fall of 2020. I love setting goals and working with my students and their families to develop them, as well. This year, I
- [How to Focus on the Big Picture During Music Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/music-practice/) - Now more than ever, it's critical to focus on the big picture when we work with our children during music practice. It's easy to get distracted and frustrated by the details that aren't going the way we want, but if we can step back and focus on what will be important years from now, we
- [Confessions of a Suzuki Parent . . .](https://suzukitriangle.com/confessions-of-a-suzuki-parent/) - The difficult years of practicing Suzuki violin with my daughter: what I wish I knew then and what I've learned along the way.
- [Games for Preschool Students](https://suzukitriangle.com/preschool/) - Recently I asked readers to let me know what kinds of resources they were looking for during this unusual time of online lessons. I got a great response and plan to address many of these topics in upcoming articles. Today I am tackling the topic of games for preschool students. Here are some things I
- [SECE during COVID-19](https://suzukitriangle.com/sececovid-19/) - Jodie St Clair & Christine E Goodner As we navigate through this unprecedented time, it’s natural that we want to connect with our SECE families. Families with young children often feel isolated in normal circumstances, and we want to find ways to connect with them when everyone is experiencing isolation. We understand that many of
- [Teaching The Child in Front of Us During Covid-19](https://suzukitriangle.com/covid19/) - You can find last week's article for parents about keeping music going at home HERE. This is an unusual time. In my studio all lessons, and even early childhood music classes, have moved online for everyone's safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. I love the way the Suzuki community is rallying together to help each other
- [How Parents of Music Students Can Help Keep the Music Going at Home](https://suzukitriangle.com/keep-music-going/) - This has been a challenging week. Many of us are facing school closures, and thinking about how to balance working, and parenting from home. All while we're also very aware of wanting to keep those around us healthy and safe from the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our communities. How do we keep the music
- [My Favorite Books of 2019](https://suzukitriangle.com/favorite-books-2019/) - Well, the year isn’t quite over yet, but I want to share some of my favorite books of 2019. Specifically this list applies to teachers and parents who are part of the Suzuki Triangle Community. I also read a lot of fiction (one of my favorite ways to relax), but I wanted to share some
- [Practice: Why Habits are More Effective Than Willpower](https://suzukitriangle.com/willpower/) - A topic I have been thinking a lot about over the past few months is the importance of making practice a habit and not something we make happen through our willpower. Families who practice daily and have a long-term commitment to learning an instrument often learn this through experience. When I conducted research with over
- [Teens & Motivation: A Research Project & How You Can Help](https://suzukitriangle.com/teens-and-motivation/) - The topic of teens and motivation is one that I thought a lot about when my children were in this age group & one I think about all the time as a teacher. What motivates our teens to keep practicing and keep improving? How can we, as educators, and parents, help? What do the teens
- [10 Questions to Get Discussion Started at Your Parent Meeting](https://suzukitriangle.com/parent-meeting/) - One of the best things I've started doing in my studio is connecting with parents to help them feel empowered to help their children be successful through the process of learning to play a musical instrument. Holding a regular parent meeting to share information about the studio and give parents time to connect is a
- [What do you hope your child gains by learning an instrument?](https://suzukitriangle.com/instrument-study/) - Fall is a great time to set goals for the school year. As a teacher, I always find myself finding ways to think intentionally about how I want to structure things in my studio and what I want to work on with my students as a group. It can also be an excellent time
- [How Can I Help My Child Learn to Practice Independently?](https://suzukitriangle.com/practice-independently/) - You can find an additional article about the skills needed for a student to practice independently here Is your child ready to start practicing independently? Will it be a while before they practice alone, but you’re wondering how the process will work? Helping our children learn to practice is important at any level! Right now
- [3 Ways to Make Faster Progress in Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/3-ways-to-make-faster-progress-in-practice/) - A few conversations both online and in person, this week had me thinking about my top advice for students and their families if they feel their progress is too slow. Maybe you’re even just unsure about how your progress compares and want to know how to improve it. First, off while it’s human nature to
- [Why you Should Take Suzuki ECE training](https://suzukitriangle.com/why-you-should-take-suzuki-ece-training/) - Because I have written a few articles about Suzuki ECE (Dispelling a Myth about Suzuki ECE & The Impact of Music from Birth) I get into a lot of conversations about training and who should take it. Teachers wonder if they should take the training if they aren’t 100% sure they want to start a
- [Progress Not Perfection](https://suzukitriangle.com/progress-in-lessons/) - What makes a good practice session? Or a good lesson? Sometimes I think we only count sessions where all the starts align, everyone is in a great mood, and what we're working on comes easy to us. I'll take a practice or lesson like that any day. But it's not the reality most of the
- [3 Skills Music Students Need for Independent Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/independent-practice/) - Because I teach very young children to play the violin, their parents are an integral part of their practice sessions at home for quite some time. I literally couldn’t do it without them! Every student though eventually makes the transition to practicing independently. When and how this happens can be very individual, and if you’re
- [Mastery Through Practice: Powerful Results That Last](https://suzukitriangle.com/mastery/) - It’s the start of a new year. A natural time to make goals and think about where we want to go in the next 12 months. I like asking students and their families to set goals for the year and you can see my planning sheet for that by clicking here. As a teacher I
- [Setting Family Music Goals](https://suzukitriangle.com/goals/) - I am writing this on New Year's morning. It's a very natural time to be looking ahead and making goals. It's not the only time to think this way though. The start of a new school year or the start of summer, or any other new season in your family's life are all good times
- [Best Resources of 2018](https://suzukitriangle.com/best-resources-of-2018/) - Each year on the blog I like to share a roundup of the best resources from the Suzuki Triangle from the year for teachers and parents alike. To read last year's list click here. My goal is that this helps you find anything you may have missed over the past year and also gives you
- [Gift Ideas for Music Students](https://suzukitriangle.com/gift-ideas/) - Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases. I am only recommending ideas I really recommend to students! Now that Thanksgiving has passed in the US, our house has started preparing for the holidays. Decorations are going up and we’re all crossing our fingers the cats don’t take
- [4 Gifts Every Music Teacher Will Love](https://suzukitriangle.com/gifts-music-teachers/) - Last week I published an article with gift ideas for students and received a request from a parent to follow up with a list of ideas for music teachers. *Full Disclaimer: Any gift is wonderful and as a teacher I appreciate that a student, or family, has thought about me and wanted to give me a
- [Atomic Habits: Helping Music Students Build the Habit of Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/atomic-habits/) - “We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act it’s a habit.” - Will Durant (often attributed to Aristotle) As a music teacher, I think a lot about excellence. How do I teach with excellence? How do I develop it in my students? How do I help my own children develop
- [How do I Practice ? (A Note to My Middle School Self)](https://suzukitriangle.com/a-note-to-my-middle-school-self/) - I've learned a lot about practice since my middle school days when I was just started to practice totally on my own. I don't remember anyone giving me any steps to do it successfully. Everyone assumed I'd been practicing with an adult since before I was three so I probably had some idea of what
- [How Can We Foster Creativity in Young Musicians?](https://suzukitriangle.com/creative/) - Last month I attended the Portland Creative Conference: a one day conference of creatives from all different fields, that supports the arts in Oregon. Speakers included an art director, a footwear designer, an author, musicians from the group “Portugal.The Man.”, the studio head for the company that produces Halo, and a television writer from the
- [Developing Discipline AND Artistry](https://suzukitriangle.com/developing-artistry/) - Music is a creative art and a discipline. Sometimes we get ultra-focused on the discipline. Practice becomes a series of commands for the student to carry out. Flaws are pointed out and (hopefully) practice reduces them and they disappear. We are precise. We ask for controlled movements and use of muscles. We learn to repeat
- [The #1 Way to Overcome Practice Struggles](https://suzukitriangle.com/practice-struggles/) - It seems like there should be an exciting, flashy solution to solving the challenge of getting practice in and overcoming practice challenges. An app or a new book or some secret tip that will make everything work. The good, and not so exciting truth, is that there is a very basic answer. The #1 way
- [Resistance: Why is it So Hard to Start Practicing?](https://suzukitriangle.com/resistance/) - . Is resisting practice bad behavior? Maybe . . . sometimes. What many parents may not realize is that many professionals struggle with the same thing. We may not insist we need to use the bathroom, are dying of thirst, or are suddenly starving as soon as it’s time to start, but we still sometimes
- [Rules for the Practice Room](https://suzukitriangle.com/practice-rules/) - Practice is a daily activity for musicians and music students everywhere. What spoken and unspoken rules for practice do you have in place to make sure it goes smoothly at your house? Thanks to readers in the Suzuki Triangle Community for sharing your ideas and helping this list take shape! See which rule didn't make
- [Transitions](https://suzukitriangle.com/transitions/) - Transitions – moving from one activity to another – make a huge impact on children. If you simply google transitions and teaching, you will find pages and pages of articles on the topic. Classroom teachers think carefully about how they move from one activity to another. Without giving the topic any thought lots of time
- [The Real Life Ups and Downs of Parent-Child Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/the-real-life-ups-and-downs-of-parent-child-practice/) - Last month I had the pleasure of presenting research about the real life ups and downs of parent-child practice at the International Research Symposium on Talent Education ( http://www.irste.org/) in Minneapolis. This research will be part of a resource about about practice that I am just starting to work on. Because the project that will
- [5 Steps to Transform Practice for Music Lessons](https://suzukitriangle.com/practice/) - Daily practice with our children as they are learning to play an instrument can be an intense experience. For many families, it is the most challenging part of learning an instrument. No one wants to fight with their child over practice every day. As both a teacher and parent I have learned this important lesson
- [15 Ways to Keep Practice Going Over the Summer](https://suzukitriangle.com/summerpractice/) - The worst feeling for both students and teachers is coming back to lessons in the fall when there has been little to no practice over the summer months. Just like students need to make time to read over the summer, so they don't lose important skills before the next school year, practicing an instrument is
- [Rushing Through Music Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/rushing/) - Rushing: It's a common problem with music students. How do we get them to slow down enough to play well? How do we get them to stop rushing without nagging over and over again? Here are a few suggestions that work for my students: 1. Ed Sprunger suggests students walk to the beat of their
- [How Musicians Can Use Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies to Accomplish Their Goals](https://suzukitriangle.com/four-tendencies/) - This post is part of a series on the blog about helping teens succeed in music. You can read last week's article about 20 Ways to Encourage Your Teen in Music HERE. I am a huge fan of Gretchen Rubin’s work, especially her newest book all about the Four Tendencies. If you’re not familiar with
- [20 Ways to Support Your Teen in Music](https://suzukitriangle.com/support-teen/) - For some ideas to help teens who are struggling to practice because of too much homework - you can read my article: Teens, Practice & Too Much Homework It can be hard to know how to support our teens once they are old enough to practice on their own. They may seem like they don't
- [4 Books that Should be in Every Suzuki Parent's Library](https://suzukitriangle.com/books/) - Practicing with our children can be a challenge. Understanding how they learn and what we can do as parents to best help them isn't always easy to figure out. Suzuki parents have a big job. I would argue that they also have a wonderful opportunity. I know that my dad and I have a special
- [8 Truths about Learning An Instrument That All Parents Should Know](https://suzukitriangle.com/learning-an-instrument/) - Learning an instrument is such a rewarding activity. But, it takes lots of work too. Here are eight truths I think all parents should know about learning an instrument. 1. It's Not Always Going to Be Fun It's fun to learn new music. It's fun to play in a group. It's fun to perform and
- [Communicating in the Middle School Years](https://suzukitriangle.com/middle-school/) - The middle school years can have their challenges. This article is first in a series about teaching & parenting music students during the teen years. Middle school is both a wonderful age and a challenging age. In my parent talks, I always start talking about this age group by saying: Never before has your child
- [4 Ways to Reduce Arguments Over Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/4-ways-to-reduce-arguments/) - Does this sound familiar? You're ready to start practice with your child and call them into the practice room only to be met with stalling, complaints, or even arguing? Your child seems to enjoy playing their instrument but it's an ordeal to get them to start practicing every day. (You can read last week's article
- [Resisting Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/resisting-practice/) - This article is part of a series on Grade School students and music. You can read the other posts here on Practicing music, Practice Strategies for ADHD, and parent involvement in practice. . If your child is resisting practice at home, you may be worried that they don't want to keep learning their instrument. It
- [Teens, Practice & Too Much Homework](https://suzukitriangle.com/practice-too-much-homework/) - I am in the midst of parent - teacher conferences in my studio, and the issue of fitting in practice when there is too much homework has come up a few times already. I have some thoughts to share with my students and thought others may benefit from hearing them as well. A number of
- [Practicing Music During the Grade School Years](https://suzukitriangle.com/grade-school/) - This post is first in a series about working with grade school students as they learn and practice their musical instrument. How do we work successfully with the development of our grade school age music students, both as teachers and parents? I meet people every week who tell me they wish they hadn't stopped playing
- [5 Practice Strategies for Music Students with ADHD](https://suzukitriangle.com/adhd/) - There are often focus and attention issues in practice with young children when they are first starting to learn an instrument. Often students naturally build their ability to focus over time but, sometimes students are struggling with a bigger issue of ADHD which makes the focus needed to practice difficult for everyone involved. The tips I
- [Will I Always Have To Practice With My Child?](https://suzukitriangle.com/practice-with-my-child/) - I think we can all agree parenting is much more of a marathon than a sprint. The journey of parenting a child who is learning music from a young age into their teen years and beyond is one too For those of us who are involved in the day to day practice with young children,
- [10 Effective Ways to Start Practice with a Young Child](https://suzukitriangle.com/start-practice/) - How do we start practice? Especially with young children, getting started is easily the hardest part.. This is even true for me as an adult. There are countless things that get in the way of getting starting. Often the hardest part is leaving one activity, that we're already engaged with, and getting started concentrating on
- [Preschool Practice: Why does Progress Seem So Slow?](https://suzukitriangle.com/preschool-progress/) - This post is second in a series about Preschool Age Students. You can read the first article here: Secrets to Successful Practice With Preschoolers. Often when we practice an instrument daily with our preschool age child it can be hard to see any progress at all. Progress is often happening, but it ca be very
- [How Do I Know if My Child Will Like This?](https://suzukitriangle.com/how-to-know-if-my-child-will-like-music-lessons/) - Parents looking for lessons often ask me this question: How do I know my child will like it? Especially if your child isn't sure which instrument they want to play or is too young to really make that decision, you may struggle with this idea too. You may know the research that having parents who
- [Meet the Beyond the Music Lesson Podcast](https://suzukitriangle.com/meet-the-beyond-the-music-lesson-podcast/) - I am so excited to announce a new podcast that I am hosting with my friend and colleague Abigail Peterson. On the Beyond the Music Lesson Podcast we will talk about learning music, teaching music and parenting music students. Our first intro episode, where you can hear about who we are and our vision for
- [Secrets to Successful Practice with Preschoolers](https://suzukitriangle.com/secrets-to-successful-practice-with-preschoolers/) - There are many great reasons to learn an instrument as young as the Preschool years including: a child that shows interest, time to practice as part of the routine before school & homework begin, and that students this age are at a developmental stage where music will become part of who they are, just as
- [What Every Parent Should Know About The Power of Words](https://suzukitriangle.com/power-of-words/) - As a parent working closely with our children, it's easy to point out mistakes and what is wrong. It's easy to see when things aren't going the way we think they should. When we know our children are capable of more, it's easy to talk about what is hard or get frustrated. But how do
- [Is My Child Ready to Start Music Lessons?](https://suzukitriangle.com/ready-lessons/) - "Is my child ready to start music lessons?" This is a question I hear all the time as a music teacher. It's a good question. How do we know if our child is ready for lessons? There are many factors involved but I am going to touch on 3 things to consider before starting. First,
- [20 Ways to Review Your Suzuki Pieces](https://suzukitriangle.com/20-ways-to-review-your-suzuki-pieces/) - Find 20 creative ways to practice Suzuki Review pieces with your children or students
- [Best Suzuki Triangle Resources of 2017](https://suzukitriangle.com/resources-2017/) - Happy New Year! I'm excited to start a new series on the blog this month about different ages and stages and how they affect practice, communication with students and children, and how to help music students thrive at each of these developmental stages (preschool - high school). Before launching into the new year I wanted
- [Favorites from 2017](https://suzukitriangle.com/favorites-from-2017/) - It's that time of year again - time to make plans for a new year ahead, and reflect on the year that is coming to a close. Part of the process for me is coming up with list of favorites for the year, related to teaching. There is even a favorite from The Suzuki Triangle
- [Practice Struggles . . . What I Wish my Students Knew](https://suzukitriangle.com/practice-struggles-what-i-wish-my-students-knew/) - How is practice going at your house? Does your child start their practice without any nagging or reminding from you? Does your child come to every practice eager to learn and work on their lesson assignments? Does your child stay focused through every practice session so you don't have to remind them to keep going?
- [3 Winter Break Practice Ideas](https://suzukitriangle.com/3-winter-break-practice-ideas/) - In many studios, there is a week or two around the holidays with no formal lessons. It is always discouraging to come back at the start of the year and feel like progress has been lost and we have to spend a few weeks catching back up to where we were again after winter break.
- [5 Creative Ways to Keep Practice Going During December](https://suzukitriangle.com/keep-practice-going/) - This is the time of year when it's easy to get focused on the new year coming up. We tend to take stock of the year: What were our goals this year? What did we accomplish? What are our goals for the coming year? It's a process I love and encourage you to try. But
- [20 Important Concepts Parents Learn in Suzuki ECE](https://suzukitriangle.com/20-concepts-parents/) - Last week's article was all about skills that young children learn in Suzuki ECE classes (Read it here). It created lots of discussion about what parents also learn over the course of attending classes with their children. So, today we're talking all about the benefit of SECE classes for parents! When parents ask what the
- [Working Productively with Your Child in Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/working-productively-children-practice/) - In the Suzuki method we work with our children very closely in practice. The younger a child is, the more parents are involved in the process. As a teacher I depend on the parents in my studio to help their children practice and complete listening assignments at home. Without their help very young students would
- [20 Skills Developed Through Suzuki ECE](https://suzukitriangle.com/20-skills-sece/) - The longer I teach Suzuki ECE classes the more amazed I am by all that children ages 0-3 (and their parents) are learning from week to week. There are so many amazing moments of seeing a children grasp a new concepts during each class! Below are some of the most striking examples of skills children
- [The Impact of Music from Birth [A SECE Parent Interview]](https://suzukitriangle.com/from-birth/) - Teaching Suzuki Early Childhood Education (or SECE) classes is truly one of the highlights of my week. The development in the children we work with happens literally before our eyes and there's no doubt that music is having a wonderfully positive impact on both the students and families. Have you ever wondered what it's like
- [Enter to Win 3 Books of Martha Yasuda Arrangements](https://suzukitriangle.com/contest/) - This contest has now ended! Please check out Martha Yasuda's wonderful arrangements here: YasudaMusic.com Have you heard of Martha Yasuda's wonderful arrangements for strings? I use them all the time for fun duets, to help prepare students to play with an accompanist before rehearsals and recitals, and for note reading with older students as they
- [Are You Creating a Positive Practice Environment?](https://suzukitriangle.com/positivepractice/) - This article was originally posted HERE on Medium.com where Christine Goodner is a top writer in Music & Parenting. What is the practice environment like in your house? As a musician, and a music teacher, I know the environment we practice in has a big impact on the kind of practice we can do. Can we focus?
- [Life Lens: Seeing Your Children in Color [Author Interview]](https://suzukitriangle.com/life-lens-seeing-your-children-in-color-author-interview/) - Interview with the Aughor of Life Lens: Seeing your Children in Color about how the book was written and how it can help parents and teachers
- [Why Slow Progress is Not a Sign To Give Up](https://suzukitriangle.com/progress/) - You probably signed your child up for lessons excited about what they would learn. You pictured them playing their instrument with a big smile and steady progress. You may have observed lessons or group classes and seen children playing music with ease and expected to see your child do the same. So why is progress
- [The #1 Gift You Can Give Your Child ](https://suzukitriangle.com/child/) - Parenting is an all consuming job. If you're reading this then I'm willing to bet you're a parent who takes that job seriously and tries to be the best parent you can be. Being a Suzuki parent can be especially intense sometimes, because we're asked to interact with our children so closely, to understand them
- [Why You Should Replace the To Do List](https://suzukitriangle.com/why-you-should-replace-the-to-do-list/) - If you're like me you have a big to do list. Being a Suzuki Parent can feel like it's own big to do list. . . Attend Lessons Take notes Ask the right questions Attend Group Classes & recitals Make sure your child has all the materials & equipment they need Make sure to listen
- [Keep Students Motivated by Helping them See their Progress](https://suzukitriangle.com/noticing-progress/) - How to help Students see & Recognize the progress They a are making to keep motivation strong
- [15 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Music Lessons](https://suzukitriangle.com/succeed-in-music-lessons/) - Do one of of these descriptions sound like you? You signed your child up for music lessons because they have begging you for years to play an instrument. Or, you play(ed) and instrument and couldn't wait to get your own child started too. Maybe, you always wished you could have taken lessons as a child
- [Back to School Practice Problems](https://suzukitriangle.com/back-school/) - Lessons have just started for the school year here in Oregon. As a parent this can be a hard time of year for practicing with our kids. Here are some things you might be experiencing at home right now: Your child is getting used to long structured school days again and it feels unfair to
- [Developing Ownership in Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/ownership/) - I am in the midst of expanding my parent education materials, for the new families in my studio, this year and the second week of materials will focus on what I think are the most important things to keep in mind about practice. I narrowed it down to 7 items (I am sure there are
- [Scheduling Your Child's Fall Lessons](https://suzukitriangle.com/fall-lessons/) - Important things to keep in mind when scheduling your child's fall music lessons.
- [3 Suzuki Podcasts Everyone Should Subscribe to](https://suzukitriangle.com/suzuki-podcasts/) - Recommended podcasts for Suzuki parents and teachers alike!
- [A new school year & Gretchen Rubin's Strategy of the Clean Slate](https://suzukitriangle.com/a-new-school-year-gretchen-rubins-strategy-of-the-clean-slate/) - How to use Gretchen Rubin's strategy of the Clean Slate to start of the school year well as for music students and teachers.
- [Solving Interesting Problems and Learning to Lead ](https://suzukitriangle.com/solving-interesting-problems-and-learning-to-lead/) - What I learned from a teacher training class and a Seth Godin Podcast Interview and what it taught me about what modern students need.
- [Success Breeds Success](https://suzukitriangle.com/success-breeds-success/) - “Success Breeds Success” is a well know Suzuki concept that many people have heard before. On the surface it makes logical sense, but what does it look like in practice? It’s easy to nod our heads, say: “yes that is so true” and totally forget about it when we are teaching our students or practicing
- [Habits of Successful Suzuki Families](https://suzukitriangle.com/habits/) - The following is an excerpt from the book Beyond the Music Lesson: Habits of Successful Suzuki Families which officially comes out on Amazon Thursday June 22nd. It is meant to be a resource for families looking to answer the question: "How do we make the Suzuki method work in our every day life?" I
- [Comparisons](https://suzukitriangle.com/comparisons/) - It's so easy to make comparisons between our children and other students in the studio, at workshops, and institutes. We see other children that can seem like they have endless concentration, know all their pieces easily, or don't struggle in any way. What we may not know is that the book 3 student we see
- [What Working with a Trainer Taught Me About Teaching](https://suzukitriangle.com/what-working-with-a-trainer-has-taught-me-about-teaching/) - Sometimes doing things totally unrelated to teaching gives me a new perspective and teaches me something new. Our family recently joined a gym & as part of the joining package I have been able to work with a trainer, once a week, for the last month. The trainer I'm working with is a great fit
- [How Collaborating Helps us Thrive](https://suzukitriangle.com/collaborating/) - A post inspired by Jeff Goins' new Book about collaborating with others to succeed.
- [Working Productively With Parents](https://suzukitriangle.com/work-productively-with-parents/) - Based on a talk at the SAA Leadership Retreat this article talks about how to work productively with parents in the music studio.
- [From Itzhak Perlman to Rachel Barton Pine: Why Students Need Music Heroes](https://suzukitriangle.com/music-heroes/) - How Itzhak Perlman and Rachel Barton Pine inspire students and why students need such inspiration.
- [Why Summer Lessons are So Important](https://suzukitriangle.com/summer-lessons/) - The reasons Summer Music Lessons are a must in this teacher's studio.
- [Why Parents Must Practice with the Big Picture in Mind](https://suzukitriangle.com/big-picture/) - It's easy to get stuck in all the details, but practicing with a big picture mindset is a must.
- [What You Practice Today is Not Important](https://suzukitriangle.com/what-you-practice-today-is-not-important/) - Looking at the bigger picture of how and why to practice - what you practice today is not important.
- [Helping Students Get to Institute](https://suzukitriangle.com/helping-students-get-to-institute/) - This summer I have spent a week at both the Oregon Suzuki Institute and American Suzuki Institute (Steven's Point) and they were amazing weeks of music, connecting with colleagues and fun! I want to encourage my students to attend next year and have been thinking about how to help make it a part of my
- [Easy Ideas for Making Practice Convenient](https://suzukitriangle.com/easy-ideas-for-making-practice-convenient/) - When my daughters were young and it was time to practice, for some un-explainable reason the hardest part was getting the instrument out of the case. It really took about 2 minutes but some days it would seem like such a daunting task! We learned that keeping the instrument out of the case (and also
- [Will Rewards for Practice Keep it From Becoming a Habit?](https://suzukitriangle.com/will-rewards-for-practice-keep-it-from-becoming-a-habit/) - Rewards can be powerful motivation! There are a lot of opinions about whether rewards really help or hurt motivation and that has gotten me thinking lately about how I use rewards with my students. As a music teacher I'd like my students to be motivated by making great music. While I think that's a
- [How Repetition Develops Mastery](https://suzukitriangle.com/repetition-mastery/) - How repetition in practice helps students gain ownership and mastery
- [Effective Practice Routines](https://suzukitriangle.com/effective-practice/) - How to set up a successful music practice routine and a free eBook.
- [My 2016 Favorites](https://suzukitriangle.com/my-2016-favorites/) - Favorite teaching and practicing resources for music students on the Suzuki Triangle blog.
- [Running a Studio Challenge](https://suzukitriangle.com/running-a-studio-challenge/) - How to run a practice challenge for your music students successfully.
- [50 Character Qualities Developed in Music Students](https://suzukitriangle.com/50-character-qualities-developed-in-music-students/) - Character qualities the music students develop through lessons,daily practice and performance
- [3 Ways to Focus on the Big Picture in Practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/the-big-picture/) - How to keep the big picture in mind when practicing rather htan getting stuck in the details.
- [3 Ways Students Can Learn To Give Through Music](https://suzukitriangle.com/giving/) - Ways for parents and teachers to encourage students to give through their ability to play music.
- [Why Short-Term Commitments to Music Don't Work](https://suzukitriangle.com/why-short-term-commitments-to-music-dont-work/) - Why it's important to make a long term committment to music lessons.
- [3 Ways to Keep Students Motivated & Inspired](https://suzukitriangle.com/3-ways-to-keep-students-motivated-inspired/) - How to keep music students motivated and inspired by developing their love of music and helping them notice their progress along the way.
- [Motivation: The Importance of Feeling Capable](https://suzukitriangle.com/feeling-capable/) - How to keep students Motivated by helping them see that they are capable and that everyone struggles when learning an instrument
- [5 Ways to Help Your Child Enjoy The Process of Learning Music](https://suzukitriangle.com/enjoying-the-process/) - Help your child stay motivated by teaching them to enjoy the process of learning. 5 practical steps to make this happen.
- [Ask More Questions](https://suzukitriangle.com/ask-more-questions/) - If practice is always a student playing something, an adult telling them what needs to be fixed and then student playing again and looking to the adult to tell them if it is good enough something is lacking. Progress might be made but the student is not learning how to practice, how to self-analyze, or
- [Why Every Studio Needs Parent Teacher Conferences](https://suzukitriangle.com/conferences/) - The importance of meeting with families in a music studio to talk about progress, goals and problem solve any problems.
- [Why Conferences with Teens Are So Important](https://suzukitriangle.com/teen-conferences/) - Why to hold conferences with teens about their progress and goals for their own music lessons and studies.
- [Attitude is Everything](https://suzukitriangle.com/attitude-is-everything/) - How attitudes affect practice and some ideas for improving attitudes when students fight practice.
- [You are Your Child's Practice Environment](https://suzukitriangle.com/you-are-your-childs-practice-environment/) - Your child's practice environment is an important part of practice success.
- [3 Minutes a Day to Radically Change Your Practice Sessions](https://suzukitriangle.com/3-minutes/) - How to check in about practice with your child and with yourself as a practice parent to see radical improvement in how practices go.
- [Practice Spot Cards & Repetition](https://suzukitriangle.com/practice-spot-cards-repetition/) - I'm always thrilled when a parent asks me for advice about how to practice better at home! I try to make it clear in parent education that this is something I like to help with & that parents need not struggle through alone. It's always great when someone takes me up on the offer to
- [Why do we Review?](https://suzukitriangle.com/why-do-we-review/) - The reasons behind review in the Suzuki Method
- [Happy Birthday Dr. Suzuki!](https://suzukitriangle.com/happy-birthday-dr-suzuki/) - Yesterday (October 17th) was Suzuki's Birthday! He would have been 112 years old. This is a great week to talk about who Dr. Suzuki was with your students or with your own children. Here is a great link to his biography on the SAA website: http://suzukiassociation.org/teachers/suzuki/. A great book for children about Suzuki is Diamond in
- [Back to School List for String Players](https://suzukitriangle.com/back-to-school-list-for-string-players/) - It's that time of year when the back to school lists come out and people are buying up #2 pencils, ball point pens, and index cards for the return to school. Many music students are gearing up to go back to weekly lessons after a summer of traveling and other summer activities and it's
- [Goal Setting: Student, Teacher, Parent](https://suzukitriangle.com/goal-setting-student-teacher-parent/) - Tomorrow is the first of February and many people have already abandoned the new year's resolutions they made only a month ago. I tend to avoid new year's resolutions for this reason. Instead, I usually make a few long-term goals for each area of my life and I urge you to do the same
- [Book Recommendation: The Young Musician's Survival Guide](https://suzukitriangle.com/book-recommendation-the-young-musicians-survival-guide/) - The Young Musician's Survival Guide: Tips From Teens and Pros by Amy Nathan This is a great book for teachers, parents, and teen/preteen musicians. The Young Musician's Survival Guide does a good job of addressing like practicing, staying motivated and playing in a musical group - all at the student's level. I picked up my
- [Getting the most out of practice](https://suzukitriangle.com/getting-the-most-out-of-practice/) - "It's not necessarily the amount of time you spend at practice that counts, its what you put into the practice" Eric Lindros (Hockey Player) As a violin teacher I absolutely love this quote. Often as teachers we are asked "How long should I practice?" or "How long should my child be practicing everyday?"
- [Music Tip Monday](https://suzukitriangle.com/music-tip-monday/) - Here in Oregon it is looking a lot like fall already. The rain is coming down and students have a week left before the school year begins. Many of us are gearing up to restart busy schedules as teachers, parents and students. Starting this week I will be posting tips for musicians (and
- [Weekly Listening for Musicians young and Old](https://suzukitriangle.com/weekly-listening-for-musicians-young-and-old/) - I cannot emphasise the importance of listening to the Suzuki recordings enough for every Suzuki student. In my experience, students who listen regularly learn their pieces much more easily, and can spend more time on developing dynamics and musicality (among other skills) rather than having to focus solely on learning the notes. Another thing
- [Music Tip Monday](https://suzukitriangle.com/music-tip-monday-2/) - Music Tip Monday: Keep a Practice Log Keep a log of each day that you practice. Intermediate and advanced students may want to log how many minutes they practiced as well. It can be really helpful for your teacher to be able to see if you need more help learning a concept or if you
- [5 Ways to Keep Practice Interesting](https://suzukitriangle.com/5-ways-to-keep-practice-interesting/) - There are many rewards that come with practicing at home with your child. You have the opportunity to find out how your child learns new concepts, you have daily one on one time with your child, and you both get to experience music together which can be a great bonding experience. There can
- [Music Tip Monday](https://suzukitriangle.com/music-tip-monday-3/) - Music Tip Monday: Pick 3 goals for the school year Personal achievement experts emphasise the importance of writing down your goals. At the beginning of each school year, I write down my top 3 goals for each student I teach. I would highly recommend trying this if you are a teacher or a student.
- [Getting Practice Started](https://suzukitriangle.com/getting-practice-started/) - The hardest part of starting practice is getting the instrument out and getting started. I have heard many professional musicians agree with this statement & it is certainly true for me. I love playing violin and viola, but I don't always like stopping something else to get started. For me, it is a lot
- [Music Tip Monday](https://suzukitriangle.com/music-tip-monday-4/) - When you are working on learning a new piece do some research on the composer who wrote it. Getting some insight into the person who created the music can make the process of learning more interesting. Great books for younger Suzuki students (about the composers in the Suzuki repertoire) are Stories of Composers for Young Musicians
- [Music Tip Monday](https://suzukitriangle.com/music-tip-monday-5/) - Music Tip Monday: Stretch! It has been said that musicians are atheletes of the small muscles and, like any athlete, stretching is an important part of staying in the best shape possible. Stretching your shoulders, back, arms and hands can keep you relaxed and free of tension when you practice. There are some great videos on
- [The Importance of Review](https://suzukitriangle.com/the-importance-of-review/) - One of the foundations of the Suzuki Method is its focus on reviewing pieces a student has already learned. Most teachers have a systematic way to have students go through their review pieces and it often varies from teacher to teacher. Reviewing pieces on a daily and weekly basis not only keeps students ready
- [Music Tip Monday](https://suzukitriangle.com/music-tip-monday-6/) - Remember to Focus on the Big Picture!: you want to become a better musician, you want to your child to learn music because of all of the life lessons they will learn along the way, you want to inspire your students and expand your skills as a teacher. Everyone has days when they feel discouraged,
- [Music Tip Monday](https://suzukitriangle.com/music-tip-monday-7/) - Music Tip Monday: Set up a Community Service Recital: Community Service Recitals are great ways for students to give back and use their musical talents to brighten someone else's day. There are many possibilities for where and how you could do this. For example, later this month I am taking students to play at
- [Let's Play A Game!](https://suzukitriangle.com/lets-play-a-game/) - In my studio, I teach many preschool & kindergarten students. My degree is in Early Childhood Education, and this is an age that I LOVE to work with. Working with these young students is never boring . . . you never know what will happen from week to week. What I can usually count
- [A Systematic Approach for Learning Rhythm](https://suzukitriangle.com/a-systematic-approach-for-learning-rhythm/) - In my studio almost all of my middle & high school students participate in performance groups in addition to regular lessons & group classes. Some students are members of community orchestras, youth symphonies or their school orchestra. Others play as a soloist in their church or with their school's choir . . . As their
- [Attending an Institute as a Teacher](https://suzukitriangle.com/attending-an-institute-as-a-teacher/) - I recently returned from a great trip to Seattle to attend the Japan Seattle Suzuki Institute. It had been a few years since I attended an Institute to take training (I have gone to observe only lately). It was such a motivating and re-energizing experience for me! I had taken a few years off to
- [Bruce Lee and Suzuki](https://suzukitriangle.com/bruce-lee-and-suzuki/) - Many of us know Suzuki's quote : "Knowledge is not skill. Knowledge plus 10,000 times is skill." Such a great reminder that it is not enough to know something - we have to practice over and over to really master it. I recently came across this quote and had to share . . .
- [Basic Expectations for Success: Mid Book One](https://suzukitriangle.com/basic-expectations-for-success-mid-book-one/) - I currently have a whole crew of young violin students in the middle of Book One. I can see that I need to better communicate what will help these students succeed as they move ahead to the more complicated pieces coming up. Below are some of my thoughts about what I want parents (home coaches)
- [Recitals](https://suzukitriangle.com/recitals/) - My studio has it's fall recitals this weekend. For the first time I am breaking my one long (very long last spring) recital into two shorter recitals. The downside is that not everyone will be able to hear each other play but the upside is more students are inviting people to come watch and there
- [The Power of Community](https://suzukitriangle.com/the-power-of-community/) - One thing I always say in my studio is that although practicing individually for lessons each week is very important (and the only way we can really improve our playing skills) it is not really what music is all about. I believe it's when we get together with other people to make music that the
- [The To Be List](https://suzukitriangle.com/the-to-be-list/) - Being a Suzuki Parent can feel like a big to do list : Attend Lessons Take notes Ask the right questions Attend Group Classes & Recitals Make sure your child has all the materials & equipment they need Make sure to listen every day Practice on the days that you eat! The list could go
- [Creative Ways To Add New Life To Your Decor](https://suzukitriangle.com/creative-ways-to-add-new-life-to-your-decor/) - Integer feugiat, nunc et accumsan dapibus, augue velit dapibus enim, quis sodales est nunc aliquet lorem. Morbi quis consectetur lorem. Cras malesuada in nisi a commodo. Quisque neque eros, feugiat non congue sed, dignissim eget augue. Morbi sit amet mauris in risus iaculis volutpat. Duis vel magna fermentum, ultricies sem ac, tempor turpis. Nulla consectetur,
- [Simple Touches To Make A House Feel Like A Home](https://suzukitriangle.com/simple-touches-to-make-a-house-feel-like-a-home/) - Praesent lobortis ultricies justo, nec fermentum eros mollis ac. Morbi mollis dui ut mi vestibulum hendrerit. Quisque fringilla bibendum est, et ultrices sem fermentum et. Aenean fringilla, nulla eget dictum ultrices, magna nunc pretium est, ac luctus est sapien at leo. Duis nec dui laoreet turpis sollicitudin porttitor. Pellentesque justo nisl, mattis sed erat in,
- [Making Use Of Your Occasional Dishware](https://suzukitriangle.com/making-use-of-your-occasional-dishware/) - Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer eget semper ex, vel blandit leo. Etiam venenatis ipsum id sapien hendrerit viverra. Donec gravida ullamcorper sapien, vitae convallis est viverra quis. Proin consequat mauris sed imperdiet tristique. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Pellentesque eu neque ullamcorper, venenatis
- [Stylishly Functional Additions To Your Home](https://suzukitriangle.com/stylishly-functional-additions-to-your-home/) - Mauris urna dolor, efficitur et lectus ut, tincidunt dapibus odio. Sed ac interdum nisl. Praesent commodo sodales porta. Pellentesque id tellus cursus, placerat lacus vel, laoreet nisi. Suspendisse tincidunt porttitor enim sit amet vestibulum. Mauris hendrerit dui ut volutpat imperdiet. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Fusce ullamcorper orci
- [Succulents 101: What, Why & How-To](https://suzukitriangle.com/succulents-101-what-why-how-to/) - Vivamus vestibulum varius orci a lobortis. Etiam dapibus eu ante vitae consectetur. Integer urna ligula, accumsan eget nulla eget, tristique tristique nibh. Fusce in tincidunt nisl. Donec ut nibh a sapien volutpat pharetra. Donec ullamcorper cursus sem. Morbi iaculis tincidunt turpis, vitae tristique dolor fermentum at. Cras finibus libero vitae tristique facilisis. Etiam sed odio
- [Bringing In A Bit Of The Outdoors](https://suzukitriangle.com/bringing-in-a-bit-of-the-outdoors/) - Curabitur interdum vel libero laoreet faucibus. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Aliquam suscipit rhoncus metus, eget bibendum sapien feugiat vel. Praesent fringilla eu metus et rhoncus. Donec maximus nisi odio, nec faucibus lorem eleifend ut. Nunc non nisl consequat, commodo tortor facilisis, tempor dolor. Pellentesque eget pharetra tellus.
- [The Do's & Don'ts Of Edible Decor](https://suzukitriangle.com/the-dos-donts-of-edible-decor/) - Sed id vulputate mi. Phasellus tortor purus, facilisis quis pellentesque eget, ornare eget magna. In viverra efficitur felis rutrum ullamcorper. Nam faucibus lectus vulputate consequat porta. Proin id accumsan massa. Sed pharetra sapien ac elementum aliquet. Vivamus convallis pretium mi in scelerisque. Quisque gravida purus nisl, vitae feugiat elit convallis et. Pellentesque interdum mattis efficitur.
- [Add A Personal Touch To Your Office](https://suzukitriangle.com/add-a-personal-touch-to-your-office/) - Nullam ac est lacus. Aliquam auctor dictum ante eu ullamcorper. Phasellus eget pulvinar enim, ac aliquet massa. Morbi sollicitudin libero quam, at consequat mi scelerisque ut. Donec efficitur mi dui, nec rutrum orci feugiat id. Nam sollicitudin felis diam, elementum dictum urna blandit id. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus

## Pages

- [Home](https://suzukitriangle.com/) - Christine Goodner Author | Speaker | Podcaster A resource all about the latest resources, workshops, and articles for teachers and parents of music students.
- [Podcast](https://suzukitriangle.com/podcast/) - Listen to the Time to Practice podcast on your favorite platform: APPLE PODCASTS | POCKET CASTS | SPOTIFY All Episodes (from Newest to Oldest) Season Four coming mid -late September 2026 139 | Dr. Michael King and the Sticky Note Game: A Fun Way to Keep Students Engaged 138 | Laura Sinclair Shares 3 Quick
- [Resources](https://suzukitriangle.com/resources-2/) - Some of the links below may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you click through to purchase. I never recommend resources I don’t use, and I personally recommend them. You are more than welcome to request from your local library or purchase another way! That being said, if you purchase
- [Upcoming Talks](https://suzukitriangle.com/upcoming-talks/)
- [Newsletter: Practice Resources & Tips from Christine in your inbox each month](https://suzukitriangle.com/newsletter/) - Every month Christine Goodner sends out an email newsletter that's like a mini resource guide just for you. *Latest podcast episodes *Upcoming events you'll want to know about *Resources for teachers and parents related to music and learning music, especially related to young musicians. New editions are released the third week of the month typically.
- [Thank you . . .](https://suzukitriangle.com/thank-you-2/)
- [Start Here](https://suzukitriangle.com/start/) - Christine Goodner welcomes you! Here's how to get started and find what you need on the website. Meet Christine, Join the Community and get started with helpful
- [Work With Me](https://suzukitriangle.com/resources-2/workwithme/) - Christine Goodner Online Parent talks, workshops, and enrichment courses. See the latest events happening soon, and how to contact Christine to set up your own.
- [Blog](https://suzukitriangle.com/blog/) - The Suzuki Triangle blog helps adults supporting young music students with music practice with tips, expert advice, and practice strategies that help.
- [Books](https://suzukitriangle.com/books/) - Music Practice Makeover: Strategies to Make Practice with Your Music Student as Painless and Efficient as Possible Do you support a young musician with their music practice? This book is full of inspiration, practical advice, and ideas you can use right away in practice! AmazonBookshop.orgAudibleKindleApple BooksBarnesandNoble.comKOBOBulk Orders Beyond the Music Lesson: Habits of Successful Suzuki
- [Printables](https://suzukitriangle.com/printables/) - Download each printable by right-clicking on either the image or the link, then selecting the option to save the link. Owls Practice Tracker Hearts Practice Tracker November Practice Tracker Practice Board Game Seashell Practice Tracker Share this post! Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Tweet Print (Opens in new window)
- [Books](https://suzukitriangle.com/book/) - Learn more about Christine Goodner's new Suzuki licensed book Beyond the Music Lesson: Habits of Successful Suzuki Families.
- [Start Here](https://suzukitriangle.com/starthere/) - Welcome to SuzukiTriangle.com! I started this blog to share all of the exciting things I am learning about music, teaching & the Suzuki method as I learn and grow as a teacher. It's one of my favorite topics of conversation and I'm excited that you are here to join in! I started Suzuki violin at
- [Privacy](https://suzukitriangle.com/privacy/) - This privacy policy sets out how ChristineGoodner.com & SuzukiTriangle.com & BeyondtheMusicLesson.com uses and protects any information that you give us when you use this website. We are committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can
- [Thanks!](https://suzukitriangle.com/thanks/) - Got it! Your preferences have been noted. Thanks!
- [Toggle Bar Content](https://suzukitriangle.com/toggle-bar-content/) - Get in touch today to request a quote. Request A Quote Share this post! Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Tweet Print (Opens in new window) Print

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