Studio of Leah Brammer: 08/01/2009

Friday, August 28, 2009

1_Twinkle Group -before the first class

Twinkle Group Parents:

Welcome to Twinkle class, and to this blog. I will be updating you on this blog, and also making the video of the individual lesson part of the class available for you on a private blog which will be available through an invitation which will be sent to you via e-mail. Suzuki Piano Teachers who join the East-West Teachers Forum on this site will also have access to this blog for research.

I hope all of you have been able to order the materials from the list sent to you by e-mail. The time before the first class is very important for listening to the disc. It's also nice to begin naming the pieces as you hear them.

The class will consist of 5 parts. We will keep basically the same order and activities for several weeks. We will build ability through this repetition.

First we will become familiar with and memorize each others names.
Next, I will play a couple pieces from the Suzuki repertoire.

In the third part of class, we will be singing the Book 1 pieces using solfege (Do, Re Mi) The children will catch on to this quickly. The parents can write the names of the solfege in the score. The children will sit with their parent and you can use your book 1 score. Please bring your Suzuki Book 1 score to class every week.

The next part of the class is individual lessons at the piano. For the first week we will just be going to the piano and I will be instructing the parents on using the video camera for future lessons.

The last part of the class will be floor activities with the students such as finger numbers and clapping rhythms. Parents will stay seated, but please help with the singing and clapping.
We will end with the group bow.

Please bring a notebook to write down the activities done in the class. This also sends a nonverbal message to the children that the activities are important. I will review the assignment at the end. The first assignment will be as short as "practice the bow".

I will give the students a notebook with practice sheets. Please check off on the practice record each day after you have practiced the bow. Please bring the assignment back to the next class.
Then gradually we will add to the assignment as the habit is established.

It is good to have a tote bag to carry materials back and forth to class. So, please bring a tote bag with the Book 1 score, another book to read during lessons, a notebook to take notes on, and I will give you the assignment notebook at the end of class to take home.

The beginning is very important. The main goals are to establish the relationships and the structure, help the students feel comfortable and supported in the environment, and create motivation to play the piano.

Looking forward to a great class!
Leah Brammer

*Please bring your Book 1 score to class as we will be using it.

Link to next Twinkle Blog

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

International 10 Piano Concert!

Suzuki Piano Basics
International 10 Piano Concert
Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts
Saturday, August 15, 2009 -2:30 PM
For tickets call the box office at 530-754-2787

Core Education Principles

1. Life Ability
Core Education develops life ability- the ability to live life optimally.

2. Natural Learning
Core Education utilizes and preserves natural learning, which is direct learning from the environment.

3. Whole Learning
Children learn through absorption of the total environment rather than part by part. This is sometimes called ”right-brain learning” Whole learning is a better way to describe this absorption as it involves both the right brain (learning through the senses/intuition and left brain (analytical) types of learning working together.

4. Ability Development
Pattern recognition and the forming of relationships between these patterns can be developed through repetition for optimum learning. This then includes physical ability, mental/memory, emotional balance and spiritual development as well. This is the balancing concept of whole learning and involves understanding of learning in relationship to sequencing and the development of ability through the acquisition of foundation skills

5. Integral Learning
Core learning involves recognition and support for the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of development in combination with mental/cognitive learning to form life abilities.

6. The core focus principle of nurturing:
This principle is that the most fundamental aspect in a child’s learning must always be addressed rather than focusing on the content of what is being learned. It is finding the core aspect of the process that will produce the easiest and quickest way to learn. It is closely connected to Ability Development.

7. Positive affirmation
Core education involves affirmation as a critical component of feedback for the child. Using verbal acknowledgment of that which is correct will accelerate learning. It is not a judgment such as good or bad, but is a positive statement of fact to the child about how they are learning.

Through understanding and applying these principles teachers and parents can recreate the concept of education from the learning of facts to the development of ability.