Godfrey Violin & Viola Studio: Excellence and Fun From the Start!

Isn't it great to play the violin or the viola? When we first start with the Suzuki method it is SO exciting. To hear the sound of beautiful violin or viola tone, see the teacher demonstrate and after learning many essential pre-twinkle skills to finally replicate the magic--please Mom can I do it again? That is the moment we want to have over and over, progressing with each repetition, motivated by each small success. I love putting myself in the child's shoes and experiencing this with each new beginner. Difficult as it may be at home to find the perfect time of day to practice and re-create this bubble in yours and your child's life, whenever you do, it is like adding another day of sunshine or rain or good earth to the growing seedling. While working hard on the essential skills such as posture, bow hold, sound of bow on open string, or doing a whole pre-twinkle song perfectly many times, remember to take a break and play a bow game, or do the marble test, or some cross crawl brain gym (such as marching while crossing hands to opposite legs). Or, just stop and run around the room! Remind yourselves how many skills you are learning, and learn to identify them to your child and praise them for success whenever you notice it. Recently I perused a list of skills learned in Twinkle, and Book 1. 31 Twinkle skills and 44 Book 1 skills, quite amazing! Remind me to give you a copy of this list for your reference. Below are the first several Pre-Twinkle Violin and Viola skills: