Music lessons with no instruments
Over 100 Warwickshire Suzuki violinists meet monthly at Kenilworth School, of which the youngest ones to take part in some non-instrumental activities during their workshop to improve their co-ordination.
The group of four to six year olds, known as the “Twinklers”, started music lessons last September, but take part in these holistic learning sessions – some of which require no violins - to help to hone their music-making abilities.
The children’s parents are actively involved in the sessions too, one activity example is ball work where children work in pairs with an adult throwing the ball to each other in time to music which helps them to develop rhythm.
Other activities include foot work patterns, pilates style balancing activities, and follow my leader games, all of which help co-ordination. Positive results are shown over the months and these skills transfer to their violin playing as well as other daily activities, including school work. Improvements in the children’s memory skills, balance, concentration and confidence have been noticed.
A parent from Kenilworth said: “The Saturday morning workshops give the children the opportunity to develop wider skills as well as adding lots of fun to learning the violin.”
Sue Mock from the County Music Service said: “The children gain so much over their first year of learning and their parents can usually see distinct improvements in their co-ordination, basic musicianship and violin playing skills which carry forward into subsequent years.
“It is particularly gratifying when several children from the same family follow this scheme which shows how much the parents value the overall ethos of the Suzuki method.”
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The Warwickshire Suzuki Group has been in existence for over 30 years. The method teaches children from the age of five to learn to play the violin by listening and copying their teacher, supported by their parents in home practice and school lessons. Music reading is usually introduced after 18 months to 2 years when bowing techniques are well established.
For more details about Suzuki tuition contact Sue Mock on 01926 742630 or for details about music making activities in Warwickshire please visit the council’s music service website http://www.musicforlife.net.