Listening ARCHIVE

Private Violin Lessons in Frederick/Urbana, Maryland

About Listening

The importance of daily LIstening

“Many people learn how to talk, but they don’t learn how to listen. Listening to one another is an important thing in life. And music tells us how to do that.” - Claudio Abbado

"We hear, yet how many have learned to LISTEN! We SEE, yet how many have learned to LOOK! - Ronda Cole

Listening to music is integral to your child's growth as a musician.

There are two types of listening: passive and active.

Passive listening is when you just play the music in the background and go about your activity without paying very much attention to it.
Active listening is when you sit and concentrate on the music, or it can be clapping or tapping your foot along to the music.

PARENTS - WHY WE LISTEN

Listening to music every day is important and is the number one thing you can do as a parent to make your child learn quickly and easily. Listening to the Suzuki CDs is not only one of the foundations of the Suzuki method it is the foundation of creating a musical home environment crucial to your child’s continued motivation. Whether your child's study is Suzuki based or Traditionally based, listening to pieces in their repertoire so the child knows them immediately is fundamental to their ear training and ability to play with enhanced skill.

Without listening, you’re not learning the Suzuki method.

When children are constantly listening to music and to the music repertoire they will be learning in their lessons, their minds are soaking it up. Though they might not be listening attentively, they are listening!

Dr Suzuki recounts in one of his books how a younger sibling who had never played a specific piece (she had listened to the CD constantly and her older sibling playing it), at a lesson one day picked up the violin and played the piece note for note the first time through! Ability Development!

HOW TO LISTEN

Did you know that the Suzuki Bk 1 CD is at the most 30 minutes long?

Listen whenever possible and make it as accessible as possible.
To keep listening a constant option, put the CD on your cellphone and listen to it as you/your child moves around the house.
Play it while driving in the car and eating breakfast!
Put the Suzuki CD on repeat and I promise you will see so much progress!
Sing the song you are learning many times every day, along with your recording or a capella, for faster learning -- and for FUN! http://musicwithtobysf.com/words-to-suzuki-songs or http://pottsviolinstudio.com/suzuki-book1-lyrics.html

WORDS FOR THE SUZUKI FOLK TUNES

Twinkle Theme:
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.

Lightly Row:
Lightly row, lightly row, in a boat away we go,
We will not sink, we will not sink, this new boat will float I think.
All my friends will row with me, we may row way out to sea.
We will not sink, we will not sink, this new boat will float I think.

or alternately:

Down the Stairs

Down the stairs, down the stairs, then I go back up the stairs.
Climbing here and climbing there my mom says don’t climb anywhere.
You might fall and crack your head, then you’ll have to go to bed –
Climbing here and climbing there my mom says don’t climb anywhere.

Song of the Wind:
When the wind blows through the branches,
How they bend and sway! How they bend and sway!
Doves and robins flap their wings and then they fly away, away.
Doves and robins flap their wings and then they fly away.

Go Tell Aunt Rhody:
Go tell Aunt Rhody, tell her quickly, please. Go tell the doctor, I am sick in bed.
I had some popcorn, and some chocolate bars, and peanut-butter, on my bread.
Go tell Aunt Rhody, tell her quickly, please. Go tell the doctor, I am sick in bed.

May Song:
Up the mountain, under a tree, sleeps a dragon baby.
Tiny tail and ears so so small, hasn’t any teeth, none at all!
Up the mountain, under a tree, sleeps a dragon baby
or
Robins flying up to the trees, feeding all their babies.
Worms taste yummy if you have wings. Me, I like to eat other things.
Robins flying up to the trees, feeding all their babies.

O Come, Little Children:
O come, little children, o come one and all.
O come to the cradle in Bethlehem’s stall.
Come look in the manger there sleeps on the hay,
An infant so lovely in light bright as day.

Long, Long Ago:
Long, long ago on a bright sunny day, I saw a frog, on top a log.
Long, long ago on a bright sunny day, I saw a frog on a log.
He jumped so high, that I thought he could fly.
He jumped so high that I thought he could fly.
Long, long ago on a bright sunny day, I saw a frog on a log.

WHAT TO LISTEN TO:

Of course listen to the Suzuki Cd’s! I ask my students to listen to the whole Suzuki Bk 1 CD at least once a day.

IF/WHEN you just want to throw in the towel because your whole house is sick of listening to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” on repeat buy the Suzuki Bks 2-4 CDs and listen to them for a bit instead! This will be one of the most helpful and encouraging things you can do for yourself and your child.

It is important to remember that your child needs to also hear music outside of the Suzuki repertoire and to see others play! (The list below is from Barbara Wong's handout 15 Ways to Inspire Your Child to Make Music - www.BarbieWong.com)

BATHE YOUR CHILD IN MUSIC!

1. Play music everywhere, every day.

2. Sing with your child.

3. Take your child to hear live music, especially the instrument your child plays.

4. Give your child the ability to play recorded music by themselves.

5. Show your child videos and movies of musicians.

6. Dance with your child.

7. Have your child attend a music camp.

8. Make up silly songs or "sing your instructions."

9. Attend a friend’s music lesson or performance.

10. Host a jam session or music party.

11. Have your child play their instrument or sing for a relative.