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 class of their own.

My answer is always this: take the training, even if you never teach your own SECE class.

You will never look at your pre-twinkle students the same again.

In our instrumental teacher training, we may spend some time on the Pre-twinkle stages, but it’s often a few ideas, and then we have to move on so we can get through the rest of the material in the course.

Often we get some great ideas to get started, and then much of what we do we learn through trial and error or observing other teachers – both of which are great ways to come up with what works for you.

However, when you take SECE training, you will spend a week of in-depth study about how very young children learn, how we can support them as teachers, and how we can support their parents as they watch tiny bits of growth happen in front of them.

Which leads me to the next benefit . . .

You will never approach parent education the same again.

Sharon Jones, Trainer and one of the founders of SECE, calls the class a three-year parent education program.

In training, you will learn so many ways to share the purpose behind what you’re teaching with parents, in a way that helps them connect to what the class is giving their child, in a personal way.

During a week of training, we see parent education happen right in front of us in dramatic ways, and this new perspective will help you as you work with families in your instrumental studio as well.

Before SECE training I had lots of ideas about parent education, AFTER training I had a whole new mindset about hw to do it well.

Even if you never run the formal class – the information you will learn is invaluable if you work with young beginners.

That being said: I hope once you take your training you will start your own class or send families to a local teacher who is holding one.

I have just been teaching it long enough to have a few young violin students start lessons after being in the class.

The “readiness” that we often look for when starting a young student is so apparent, even compared to students who have been in other early childhood music classes because of the focus on mastery, repetition, and home listening from such a young age.

You can find a list of courses offered this summer HERE

Another suggestion: if you have a local class or local institute offering SECE, is go observe. Have conversations with other SECE teachers and learn as much as you can about the program. It’s an excellent foundation for Suzuki Instrumental students and as a teacher, one of my favorite parts of what I do!