October 2019 MIC Suzuki Sentinel

“Beautiful tone, beautiful heart” - Shinichi Suzuki

Greetings, Suzuki families! Welcome to MIC's Suzuki e-newsletter. Each month, we'll be sending you the latest news and information from MIC's Suzuki program. For more information about any of the items in this newsletter, please contact your private teacher. You may also contact Avi Friedlander, Director of the Barston Suzuki Center at afriedlander@musicinst.org or Sarah Montzka, Associate Director of the Barston Suzuki Center at smontzka@musicinst.org. In this month's issue:

• Suzuki Family Resources • Practice Tip Spotlight • Suzuki Sunday • Register now for the MIC Suzuki Piano, Flute, Viola, Violin, and Cello Workshops! • Perform the National Anthem at a Northwestern University Basketball Game • Extraordinary Practice • Suzuki Cello Master Class with Dr. Nick Curry • MIC Suzuki student/faculty news • 2019-20 Suzuki Events Calendar

Suzuki Family Resources For information about the MIC Suzuki program including group classes, free practice consultations, and more, please visit our Suzuki Family Resources page at www.musicinst.org/suzuki-family-resources Practice Tip Spotlight What are some ways for students to inspire themselves to practice if there’s a day when they don’t feel like practicing? Camille Witos, Suzuki piano teacher: We hope our students practice regularly, and along with their parents, establish a healthy practice routine. The short answer? Go to your instrument and choose to play only one piece or exercise. Pick one part and try some variable practice, such as: • reverse the articulation, i.e. legato to staccato • play the passage with different dynamics ranging from ff to pp • start from different sections, not always the beginning • set the timer for only 15 minutes, decide what you want to play, and stop when the timer goes off. To get some feedback, I went to the source and asked two of my teenage students this question. Their responses were a revelation. They said they enjoy their music, but often after a long evening of homework, it is hard to muster the energy to go to the piano. They both agreed that practicing one thing would make the challenge simple and accomplishable. As one of them said, “I try not to look at practice as a chore. Rather, I become a warrior and tell myself, ‘you can do it, you’ve got this!’”

mailto:afriedlander@musicinst.orgmailto:smontzka@musicinst.orghttp://www.musicinst.org/suzuki-family-resources

Sometimes in life, though, taking a break and not feeling bad about it can actually be just the medicine to jumpstart the energy and enthusiasm for the rest of the week! Shigetoshi Yamada, Suzuki violin teacher: We can make practicing more fun by thinking of it as playing, instead of practicing. Medical doctors practice medicine, and lawyers practice law! Let’s practice on the concerts! Or we can practice (play) for parents or friends. The great violinist Ruggiero Ricci had concert tours during which he performed every day. Somebody asked Mr. Ricci after the concert, ”When do you have time to practice? You have concerts every day.” Mr. Ricci told him after the concert, “You just heard my practice!” Suzuki Sunday The next Suzuki Sunday will take place on Sunday, November 10, 2019 in Thoresen Performance Center at the Winnetka campus, 300 Green Bay Rd.

• 1:00 pm Piano/Guitar jamboree • 2:00 pm Cello/Flute jamboree • 3:15 pm Solo recital • 4:00 pm Violin/viola jamboree

There will be mixed instrument jamborees on Sunday, November 24, 2019 at the Evanston East campus in Room 9 at 3:00 and 4:00 pm. For more information about these performances, please contact your private teacher. Register now for the MIC Suzuki Piano, Flute, Viola, and Violin, and Cello Workshops! The MIC Suzuki flute, viola, violin, and cello workshops are a wonderful way for students to strengthen their skills while fueling friendships. Led by internationally recognized Suzuki teachers, special activities include master classes and enrichment activities. Suzuki Piano Workshop Saturday and Sunday, November 9-10, 2019 Evanston East Campus 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston Saturday, November 9: 10 am - 6:30 pm Sunday, November 10: 12:30 - 6:30 pm (includes 3 - 5 pm - Wallace Foundation master class with Dr. Sylvia Wang) Final Registration Deadline is October 25, 2019. Register now at www.musicinst.org/suzuki-piano-workshop%202019 Suzuki Flute Workshop Saturday and Sunday, January 25-26, 2020 Winnetka Campus 300 Green Bay Road, Winnetka Saturday, January 25, 2020: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Sunday, January 26, 2020: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

http://www.musicinst.org/suzuki-piano-workshop%202019http://www.musicinst.org/suzuki-piano-workshop%202019

Final Registration Deadline is January 10, 2020. Register now at www.musicinst.org/suzuki-flute-workshop Suzuki Viola Workshop Sunday, January 26, 2020 Winnetka Campus 300 Green Bay Road, Winnetka Sunday, January 26, 2020: 12:30 pm - 6:30 pm The final registration deadline is Saturday, January 10, 2020. Register now at www.musicinst.org/suzuki-viola-workshop-0 Suzuki Violin Workshop Saturday & Sunday, January 25-26, 2020 Evanston East Campus 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston Saturday, January 25, 2020: 10:00 am -5:00 pm Sunday, January 26, 2020: 12:30 pm - 6:30 pm The final registration deadline is Saturday, January 10, 2020. Register now at www.musicinst.org/suzuki-violin-workshop Suzuki Cello Workshop Saturday & Sunday, February 22 - February 23, 2020 Evanston East Campus 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston Saturday, February 22, 2020: 10:00 am - 8:45 pm Sunday, February 23, 2020: 12:30 pm - 6:30 pm The final registration deadline is Saturday, February 7, 2020. Register now at www.musicinst.org/suzuki-cello-workshop Perform the National Anthem at a Northwestern University Basketball Game MIC Suzuki cello, viola and violin students have been invited to perform the national anthem at a Northwestern University men's basketball game. The performance will take place on Friday, November 22, 2019 at 7:00 pm at the Welsh-Ryan Arena, 2705 Ashland Avenue, Evanston, IL. Students must sign up by Monday, November 4 to participate in this performance. Violin students Late Book 2+ to Book 4 will play Violin 1, and Violin Students Book 5+ will play Violin 2. Viola Students Book 2+ and Cello Students Book 3+ are also welcome to participate. Music must be memorized and polished. All students will need to purchase a ticket in order to perform. The cost is $18/per ticket (which is a discounted rate for students and family members). Seats are in the lower section of the stadium. Sign up to participate here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRcnIIh8VrrJBoFx4KEf-QhS1k5VVZ5k4OYwfevrpPM5YSJA/viewform?usp=sf_link Purchase tickets here: www.nusports.com/groups Use the promo code: SUZUKISTRINGS and order seats by price.

http://www.musicinst.org/suzuki-flute-workshophttp://www.musicinst.org/suzuki-viola-workshop-0http://www.musicinst.org/suzuki-violin-workshophttp://www.musicinst.org/suzuki-violin-workshophttp://www.musicinst.org/suzuki-cello-workshophttp://www.musicinst.org/suzuki-cello-workshophttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRcnIIh8VrrJBoFx4KEf-QhS1k5VVZ5k4OYwfevrpPM5YSJA/viewform?usp=sf_linkhttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRcnIIh8VrrJBoFx4KEf-QhS1k5VVZ5k4OYwfevrpPM5YSJA/viewform?usp=sf_linkhttps://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nusports.com%2Fgroups&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbcb573cfc11449d0632708d750b8bfc3%7C5de2c3fcbc60408c9cf8abe2ebade9aa%7C1%7C0%7C637066626766238519&sdata=QdIybwJ2X5BAG20nWSqYc5kFNMq29UibFd1W7LOdO7E%3D&reserved=0

Helpful Hint: Each seat is $18. Select Print at Home tickets to save the $5 fee for mailing tickets or the $7 will call fee. Even if you would like to sit in the stands and cheer instead of performing, we would love to have you join us! Please use the link above to purchase tickets. If you have not received the music by email, or if you have any questions, please contact Gretchen Rebar, Suzuki Outreach Coordinator at grebar@musicinst.org. Extraordinary Practice Group classes are in full swing, Halloween is just around the corner and, if you are like me, you may be asking yourself “How can it already be late October?!”. Fall back-to-school season is a whirlwind of preparation. We coordinate schedules, purchase all the gear and settle into our new routines. If we’re lucky, by October, we have found a rhythm to our week that prioritizes experiences and learning we value. For new Suzuki students, October can also be the month when our young musicians discover that learning to play an instrument takes effort. By October, that initial excitement of lessons (Shiny new instrument! Fun teachers! New friends!) may have worn off. Students suddenly realize that ease of playing requires focused (and seemingly endless) repetitions—which can feel frustrating to a child. As parents and teachers, we understand the undeniable and lasting brain benefits that come from long term study of a musical instrument. In a Suzuki program, character development is an added priority in our work. So how do we stick with it and remain committed to the process when faced with a grumpy young practice partner? Step One: Recognize and reframe a mid-semester “slump” as an opportunity for growth; an opportunity to develop crucial traits like perseverance, grit and follow-through. Step Two: Understand that your child’s behavior is perfectly normal. Children are inherently drawn to “new” and that’s okay. “Novelty Theory argues that children’s behavior during an activity is initially determined by the degree of novelty inherent in that activity. As novelty diminishes, children habituate to or become bored with a particular activity, and their concentration on that activity wanes; unless prevented, they will eventually seek novelty by switching to another activity.” (School Recess and Playground Behavior: Educational and Developmental Roles by Anthony D. Pellegrini) Step Three: Think creatively and use variation to your advantage. Our challenge, as practice partners, is to prevent our daily practices from becoming mundane while still diligently preparing the homework—-yes, including those endless repetitions. Your mission is to bring something new to each practice session. The content will likely remain the same, however, the delivery methods are endless. Imagine your teacher has asked you to sing a piece every day. The goals (correct notes, in tune, steady rhythm) remain the same each day. The way you sing it, though, can vary. Monday: Sing it in a cowboy voice Tuesday: Opera style! Wednesday: Sing it pianissimo Thursday: Sing while marching Friday: Sing like a chipmunk Saturday: Sing it while holding your child upside down

mailto:grebar@musicinst.org

Sunday: Pass a bean bag to the beat while you sing 10 repetitions to tackle? Set aside a goldfish cracker for each successful repetition and then eat them together. Count pennies, use stairs, count in different languages, make a silly face after each attempt, go on tour and “perform” each repetition for a different piece of furniture in your house. . . the possibilities are infinite! This month, I challenge parents to design practice sessions using new, creative and varied ways of exploring weekly content. Set aside some time to plan your upcoming practices and ask yourself how you can best harness your child’s natural love of new experiences. By incorporating variation and “the unexpected” into your practice sessions, my hope is that you will experience moments of joy and partnership. Happy Practicing! Sarah Montzka Associate Director of the Barston Suzuki Center Suzuki Cello Master Class with Dr. Nick Curry Five MIC Suzuki cello students participated in a master class with Dr. Nick Curry on Sunday, October 6. Dr. Curry is Professor of Cello at the University of North Florida and a founding member of Trio Florida. The students performed the following pieces: Gabi Raviv, Allegro Appassianato by C. Saint Saëns; Simon Updegraff, Concerto in C Major, 1st movement by J. Haydn; Ella Wimbiscus, Hungarian Rhapsody by D. Popper; Luke Ponko, Prelude from Suite No. 1 by J.S. Bach; and Hannah Cheung, Gigue from Suite No. 1 by J.S. Bach.

Hannah Cheung with Dr. Curry

Gabi Raviv with Dr. Curry

Luke Ponko with Dr. Curry

Back row, left to right: Dr. Curry, Luke Ponko, Hannah Cheung. Front row, left to right: Gabi Raviv, Ella Wimbiscus, Simon Updegraff. MIC Suzuki student/faculty news

• Suzuki cello teacher Tanya Carey went to Madrid, Spain from October 10-13 for an International

Meeting of Suzuki Teacher Trainers. She presented thoughts on "Teacher Training, Then and Now." This is only the second time this group has met.

• On October 10, Suzuki piano teacher Christina Tio presented a paper entitled, “Nurturing the Desire to Learn" at the Naperville Music Teacher Association Chapter meeting at Steinway in Naperville. She will also present this paper at the Illinois State Music Teacher Association (ISMTA) Conference at Eastern Illinois University at Charleston, IL on Friday, November 1.

• On October 13, four of Christina Tio’s piano students participated at the Illinois State Music Teacher Association (ISMTA) Piano Competition and won the following prizes: Karnik Prasad, Honorable Mention (Primary Division); Edie Park, 3rd Place (Elementary Division); Emily Hu, Honorable Mention (Elementary Division); Matthew Hahn, Honorable Mention (Junior Division)

• Matthew Hahn (piano student of Christina Tio) is featured in a Suzuki Association of the Americas video entitled, “Excellence from the Start - the Suzuki Piano Student’s Journey”. The video includes a clip of Matthew performing the Chopin Nocturne in C# minor at a SAA Conference Piano Masterclass in Minneapolis in 2018. Matthew’s performance is in the video at the 2’ 30” mark. The video is available on the SAA’s website at suzukiassociation.org/media/excellence-from-start-suzuki-piano-students/

• Matthew Hahn also recently made his orchestral debut with the Trinity Community Philharmonic Orchestra at Olson Chapel at the Trinity International University in Deerfield. He performed the 1st movement of Mozart Concerto in A Major, K. 488 under conductor Eli Chen.

https://suzukiassociation.org/media/excellence-from-start-suzuki-piano-students/https://suzukiassociation.org/media/excellence-from-start-suzuki-piano-students/

Matthew (second from left, holding flowers) with Christina Tio (left) and some of the pianists from Dr. Tio’s studio who cheered Matthew on at the Trinity International University performance.

Rabeil Slifo (piano student of Jay Kolin) recently celebrated his birthday with some tasty music-themed treats. 2019-20 Suzuki Events Calendar

• Suzuki Sundays (Thoresen Performerance Center in Winnetka – unless otherwise indicated) Sunday, November 10, 2019 Sunday, December 8, 2019 Sunday, January 12, 2020 Sunday, February 9, 2020 Sunday, March 8, 2020 Sunday, April 19, 2020 Nichols Concert Hall (Twinkle Graduation)

Mixed Instrument Jamborees – Evanston East Room 9 at 3:00 & 4:00 pm Sunday, November 24 Sunday, March 1 Sunday, June 7

Suzuki Workshop Dates

• Piano Workshop (Evanston East) November 9, 2019: 10:00 am - 6:30 pm November 10, 2019: 12:30 pm - 6:30 pm

• Violin Workshop (Evanston East) January 25, 2020: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm January 26, 2020: 12:30 am - 6:30 pm

• Flute Workshop (Winnetka) January 25, 2020: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm January 26, 2020: 9:00 am -5:00 pm

• Viola Workshop (Winnetka) Sunday, January 26, 2020: 12:30 pm - 6:30 pm

• Cello Workshop (Evanston East) February 22, 2020: 10:00 am - 8:45 pm February 23, 2020: 12:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Suzuki Level Graduation Recitals Sunday April 5, 2020 Nichols Concert Hall 1:45 pm -2:45 pm Rehearsal 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Performance and trophy presentation Suzuki Festival Concerts

• Saturday May 16, 2020 Nichols Concert Hall Cello Rehearsal: 9:00 am Cello Concert: 11:30 am Flute Rehearsal: 1:00 pm Guitar Rehearsal TBD Guitar Concert: 2:00 pm Piano Concert: 3:00 pm Piano Concert: 4:15 pm Piano Concert: 5:30 pm

• Sunday May 17, 2020 Nichols Concert Hall Flute Concert: 12:30 pm Violin/Viola rehearsal: 2:00 pm Violin/Viola Concert: 4:30 pm

100-Day Challenge Celebration Saturday June 6, Time and Location TBD