Suzuki Parent Education

“Parents are a child’s most important teacher.”
— Shinichi Suzuki

In Catherine Whelan’s Studio each new parent attends a ten-hour Suzuki Parent Education Course at some time during the first year of participation. This course goes in depth, reading and discussing the seminal works of Shinichi Suzuki—Nurtured By Love and Ability Development from Age Zero, as well as other foundational material of the Suzuki (Mother Tongue) philosophy.

Parents discover how the Suzuki Philosophy translates into current home life, daily practices, and lessons. The purpose of this class is to help parents become comfortable leading the way as the “home teacher,” able to partner in a positive way with both teacher and child. Creating this student/parent/teacher partnership is known as the the “Suzuki Triangle.”

Parents’ Workshop

In the 2006-2007 season, SuzukiPortland parents will have the opportunity to participate in a workshop for parents, with author and Suzuki Association of the Americas teacher trainer, Edmund Sprunger.

For more information about this workshop, please go to the events page.

Reading List for Parents

Required reading for the Parent Education class for new Suzuki Parents:

• Nurtured By Love, Shinichi Suzuki ISBN 0-87487-584-6
• Ability Development From Age Zero, Shinichi Suzuki ISBN 0-87487-580-3
• Helping Parents Practice, Edmund Sprunger ISBN 0-9767854-3-9

Recommended Reading:

• How Muscles Learn: Teaching the Violin with the Body in Mind, Susan Kempter
• Teaching From The Balance Point, Edward Kreitman
• The Myth of Ability—Nurturing Mathematical Talent in Every Child, John Mighton (available from www.anansi.ca)
• Journal of the Suzuki Association of the Americas
  a quarterly publication of the SAA. Available from suzukiassociation.org

Suzuki materials are available from:

• ymonline.com or
• sharmusic.com

For more information contact Catherine Whelan
503.244.6190 Email catherine AT suzukiportland dot com

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