Christine Wilson Goodner’s Beyond the Music Lesson is a well-thought out resource written for Suzuki parents and teachers alike. My favorite thing about this book is that it so clearly lays out the expectations necessary to succeed on the Suzuki Journey. Christine reminds the reader of the big picture, as well as the steps needed to get there! The meat and potatoes of the book largely focuses on mindset, which is the biggest reason I recommend it. My take on it is this: Succe

This is the 4th section of a 5-part series outlining Shinichi Suzuki's "Conditions for Developing Great Ability" from Chapter 2 of his book Ability Development from Age Zero. If you would like to listen to the Intro, you can hear it here. Full Transcript: The fourth condition is to provide a great deal of training— The best way to get a strong and well-rounded music education is to be committed and consistent. Years of study, rather than “just trying it out,” will be required

This is the 2nd section of a 5-part series outlining Shinichi Suzuki's "Conditions for Developing Great Ability" from Chapter 2 of his book Ability Development from Age Zero. If you would like to listen to the intro, you can hear it here. Full transcript: The second condition is to create the best possible environment: The first two elements that I think should be present in the best environment possible are structure and discipline. When you invest in Suzuki lessons for your

This is the 1st section of a 5-part series outlining Shinichi Suzuki's "Conditions for Developing Great Ability" from Chapter 2 of his book Ability Development from Age Zero. If you would like to listen to the intro, you can hear it here. Full transcript: The first condition is to begin as early as possible— Dr. Suzuki makes it abundantly clear that he views the learning of music the exact same way he views the learning of a child’s first language. Suzuki asks his audience, “

Confession time. I remember seeing the Twinkle A rhythm as a youngster, and thinking that it looked SO HARD! 16th notes, 8th notes, string crossings, all together--this was supposed to be the first piece in Book 1? Fast forward to when I started teaching. Before I did my first Suzuki teacher training, I thought it was crazy for a beginner to start off with Twinkle. Turns out, I was right. You have to have confidence in your bow hold, feel the balance in open string rhythms, a

Are you tired of playing Mississippi Stop Stop all by yourself? Problem solved--we can play it together in this video! If you were born after the year 2000 and know who's in the painting behind me, you get extra bonus points on this one. Neil Fong Gilfillan teaches cello lessons in Frisco, Texas. #mississippi #stop #suzuki #pretwinkle #twinkle #cello

If you want an easy way to remember how to set up a beautiful bow hold, check out the Mouse House. I made this video especially for my beginning students. I hope you find it helpful! Looking for cello lessons in the Frisco area? Email me at chilidogstrings@gmail.com! #bowhold #cello #bow #suzuki #book1 #pretwinkle #twinkle #teacher #lesson #practice

Practice makes permanent, so make sure you're set up for success! These tips don't just work for violin, viola, and cello--they work for any instrument. Watch our video for some tips on how to optimize your practice space. Happy practicing! Rachel and Neil teach violin, viola, and cello together at their studio in Frisco. #violin #viola #cello #frisco #lessons #texas #suzuki #practice #privatelesson #music #instruction

We just got some new gear, a looper and effects pedal! And sometimes you just have to have fun with the music you make. Here's us in the studio mixing a Book 1 tune with a good old fashioned hip hop beat straight from the turntable. #cello #turntable #beastieboys #DJ #gotellauntrhody #book1 #classical #hiphop #rap #thenewstyle #licensedtoill

Even though every student is unique and has their own challenges to overcome on cello, the basics of good practicing stay the same. Most musicians don't have as much time to practice as they would like. The good news is that with smart practice skills, students can make the most of their cello time and be more objective with their goals. The ideas layed out below are some of the most effective and proven techniques to get the most out of our valuable practice time. Practicing