Guitarists Sing/Play/Bake

Pre-Twinkle Suzuki Guitar: Readying Families for Success introduced two parents and young students to the philosophy behind the method and some of the basics behind how technique is approached in Suzuki Guitar. Parents learned how Suzuki differs from other classical guitar methods, and what makes it an effective and fun start to instrumental instruction. The children played games using the songs in the guitar repertoire, learned the parts of the instrument, labelled their finger numbers, and got comfortable sitting and using the footrest. I played for them, and they listened. They do not have instruments yet, though one person brought a ukulele and another had a toy guitar that were useful for the activities. Both parents had their own guitars, and l taught them how to play the first songs in Book One.

It was obvious by the last meeting that the children enthusiastic about their music class! Now they have very positive experiences to associate with their first lessons. Students will be comfortable in their first individual lessons, with seating position and basic terminology already learned, they will be able to focus more easily on the instrument. And the parents have what they need to start being effective home teachers. One parent shared a story of how they incorporated listening and singing with other activities at home: they made and baked a pizza with their child, singing the “pepperoni pizza”, Twinkle Variation A, while they put the toppings on the pizza!

Children can sing Twinkle with body pitches, and started to learn a few of the Variation rhythms. We sang “The Children on the Bus” so they know how to maneuver themselves around the guitar stool and use the footrest, and began the fingerboard mapping needed to play Twinkle. Great start!

I appreciate how focused and excited these families about Suzuki Guitar! I looking forward to teaching you more during individual lessons.