Giving and receiving are the two parts of the same basic principle which is love. When we teach our children to give with happiness and excitement, we enable them to receive with gratitude. Children feel empowered when they give something which they have worked on and created. This holiday help your child to give something that they have worked hard for and are very proud of- their music. This is how we can nurture with love.
There are many ways you can do this. One idea is to make a video/DVD of past recitals and performances. Another idea is to make a Christmas video/DVD. Have your child dress up in a Christmas outfit and record their regular pieces as well as their Christmas Songs. You could send it in the Christmas cards, or even by e-mail. Grandparents especially love these gifts. Make sure to save a copy as it will make a great gift for your child someday.
Children who have learned through the Suzuki method internalize the sound of their pieces through listening. So, they enjoy performing in public as they always have their “music” with them –inside their self. There are many opportunities for your child to share their music during the season. From nursing homes to parties, to church, to malls it is always welcome to hear a child playing music. You can prepare and talk about these opportunities ahead of time with your child and in this way make the practice time become an important part of the gift.
Start a Holiday tradition of playing and singing music together with friends and/or family sometime during the holiday. My family does this on Christmas Eve. Everyone has a turn to sing, dance, or play an instrument. Each year you can play the old songs, and add new ones. Years from now when your child hears the pieces they have played it will bring back these memories.
When your child experiences this joy that they can give to others through their music, their own love for playing piano will become very strong.
As Dr. Suzuki said “Where love is deep much can be accomplished.”
Happy Holidays!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
November 9, 2008 performance with Brian Parks in Atlanta Ga for the Cultural Arts Perfomance Series at the Ahavath Achim Synagogue
Congratulations to Brian on an awesome performance, and for encouraging me to perform with him.
Thanks so much to the students, parents, teachers, family and friends who attended the concert and made it a very special event.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
e-mail test
To the parents in the studio:
I have put you on an e-mail list so that you will be notified when I put up a new post.
Please let me know if you get it and read this message. You could reply with a comment to this blog, or through e-mail.
I am off to Atlanta to play with Brian in the concert, and will be teaching a lot as well. I wish all of you could meet the students in Atlanta!
Also, I am going to Orange County for a workshop with the Japanese teachers in February. There will be a Friendship concert and lessons for students. If anyone is interested in going for a lesson, or to be in the concert please let me know. The deadline for video submission is the beginning of December.
Speaking of videos, I want everyone to bring their discs for recording lessons each week as I can really tell a difference in the students progress when people use them. If you have your own video camera, you can use it instead and put it on my tri-pod if that is easier for you.
thanks,
Leah Brammer
I have put you on an e-mail list so that you will be notified when I put up a new post.
Please let me know if you get it and read this message. You could reply with a comment to this blog, or through e-mail.
I am off to Atlanta to play with Brian in the concert, and will be teaching a lot as well. I wish all of you could meet the students in Atlanta!
Also, I am going to Orange County for a workshop with the Japanese teachers in February. There will be a Friendship concert and lessons for students. If anyone is interested in going for a lesson, or to be in the concert please let me know. The deadline for video submission is the beginning of December.
Speaking of videos, I want everyone to bring their discs for recording lessons each week as I can really tell a difference in the students progress when people use them. If you have your own video camera, you can use it instead and put it on my tri-pod if that is easier for you.
thanks,
Leah Brammer
Monday, November 3, 2008
Nurture Your Child's Musical Taste
Reprinted from the February 2003 Atlanta Suzuki Piano Association "Nurture" Journal
This article seems relevant now as we go into the Thanksgiving holiday. The association of family and friends with the autumn season foods is reinforced over many years for children. We associate music with feelings in much the same way.
When my children were young I remember encouraging them to try new foods. I knew that they would probably like fried foods and candy without any help, but also knew that getting them to appreciate high quality whole foods was going to take persistence. The same principle is true with music. Children need parents to take care of their musical environment in order for their taste to mature.
Our memories from childhood often come from our senses- our grandmother’s perfume, the feeling of sand between our fingers at the beach, the glimmer of Christmas tree lights, or the taste of a particular food being associated with a holiday. When children are growing up, having music on in the house creates a feeling that they will remember even when they are older.
Recently, I picked up my teen-age daughter from school. When she got in the car she said, “Oh, it is so nice to hear classical music.” I asked her, “ Why? Were you listening to pop songs while you were running track?” “No” she replied, “It’s just been a difficult day.” So, music is not just a luxury. Good music is important for our emotional well-being in the same way good food is necessary for our physical well-being.
Young students need many repetitions of the highest quality music. It is not necessary to own many discs, just the best ones. Researching and buying new music is fun for older children as well as for parents who are developing their musical taste. Researching discs by specific artists is a great way to buy discs. Another way to collect discs is to buy a specific disc to prepare for live performances. This makes the live performance much more enjoyable and valuable. A student’s parent recently told me that she had taken her three boys to see the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra perform Holts’ “The Planets.” The mother bought the disc and played it in the car several weeks ahead. During the performance, her son Max would turn to his head and whisper "Mars!" "Mercury!"...
I am always so happy when a student comes to the lesson and announces a piece they have heard and want to learn. Sometimes they find another pianist on a piece they are learning. They develop the ability to hear subtle details and make decisions about good interpretations. Then, the music becomes truly their own.
Last, when listening to new music, remember that through time and familiarity one acquires the the understanding/awareness that gives the experience meaning. Repetition of high quality music is an important factor in acquiring good musical taste. To taste and enjoy wonderful music is a gift!
This article seems relevant now as we go into the Thanksgiving holiday. The association of family and friends with the autumn season foods is reinforced over many years for children. We associate music with feelings in much the same way.
When my children were young I remember encouraging them to try new foods. I knew that they would probably like fried foods and candy without any help, but also knew that getting them to appreciate high quality whole foods was going to take persistence. The same principle is true with music. Children need parents to take care of their musical environment in order for their taste to mature.
Our memories from childhood often come from our senses- our grandmother’s perfume, the feeling of sand between our fingers at the beach, the glimmer of Christmas tree lights, or the taste of a particular food being associated with a holiday. When children are growing up, having music on in the house creates a feeling that they will remember even when they are older.
Recently, I picked up my teen-age daughter from school. When she got in the car she said, “Oh, it is so nice to hear classical music.” I asked her, “ Why? Were you listening to pop songs while you were running track?” “No” she replied, “It’s just been a difficult day.” So, music is not just a luxury. Good music is important for our emotional well-being in the same way good food is necessary for our physical well-being.
Young students need many repetitions of the highest quality music. It is not necessary to own many discs, just the best ones. Researching and buying new music is fun for older children as well as for parents who are developing their musical taste. Researching discs by specific artists is a great way to buy discs. Another way to collect discs is to buy a specific disc to prepare for live performances. This makes the live performance much more enjoyable and valuable. A student’s parent recently told me that she had taken her three boys to see the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra perform Holts’ “The Planets.” The mother bought the disc and played it in the car several weeks ahead. During the performance, her son Max would turn to his head and whisper "Mars!" "Mercury!"...
I am always so happy when a student comes to the lesson and announces a piece they have heard and want to learn. Sometimes they find another pianist on a piece they are learning. They develop the ability to hear subtle details and make decisions about good interpretations. Then, the music becomes truly their own.
Last, when listening to new music, remember that through time and familiarity one acquires the the understanding/awareness that gives the experience meaning. Repetition of high quality music is an important factor in acquiring good musical taste. To taste and enjoy wonderful music is a gift!
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