How the Thankful Tree Works Your player plays six review/upgrade pieces, and after each one, they fill a leaf on their tree.

How do we keep that spark going — not just through September, but through the whole year? Right now, this month, you and your child are in your watering-can season. Here are the three things that do the watering.

Advanced music retention strategies for teachers: the nugget method, parent psychology tips, and language that stops dropouts. Part 2 of the series.

By Christy Hodder, Expert Music Educator www.ScotiaSuzuki.org If you're a Halifax parent working through the summer camp decision right now, you're in good company. Every spring, families across the city weigh the same questions: What will my child actually learn? Will they make friends? Will they come home happy? And honestly — will the schedule work for our family? This guide is written from our perspective as music educators. We run summer music camps in Halifax, and we've

By Christy Hodder, Expert Music Educator www.ScotiaSuzuki.org Have you ever watched students you genuinely cared about simply disappear from your studio, leaving you wondering what went wrong? If you're losing more than 15% of your students each year, you're not alone. Research shows that around 50% of music students will quit before they reach age 17, with the steepest drop-off happening between ages 11 and 15. But here's what most teachers don't know: student retention isn'

Research shows 85% of music students develop better persistence & character are the top benefits of Music Lessons. Why families keep music lessons even when budgets are tight.

Download free Santa and Snowman PDFs for a fun holiday music practice activity! Perfect for Suzuki families — track daily practice with cotton balls and encourage kids to share music with others.

By Christy Hodder, Expert Music Educator www.ScotiaSuzuki.org What if your child's music practice this Thanksgiving could do more than just build skills — what if it could also build a beautiful heart? Dr. Shinichi Suzuki believed exactly that. He famously said, "Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens, noble human beings. If a child hears fine music from the day of his birth, and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline and e

By Christy Hodder, Expert Music Educator www.ScotiaSuzuki.org Hey! Can I share something with you that's going to change the way you think about teaching music? Right now, you might be focused on getting your students to practice more, drilling technique, pushing through repertoire. But what if I told you there's something even more powerful you could be doing - and it only takes five or more minutes a day? Why Your Students Need to Listen First Here's what Dr. Suzuki figured

By Christy Hodder, Expert Music Educator www.ScotiaSuzuki.org You know how sometimes you watch a child at the piano and they're doing this awkward thing where they refuse to let their left hand cross over to the right side of the keyboard? Or maybe you've noticed your violin student gets all tangled up when they try to bow across different strings? Well, there's actually a really fascinating reason behind this, and once you understand it, so many things about children and wha

By Christy Hodder, Expert Music Educator www.ScotiaSuzuki.org As a music teacher and the owner of a big music school, I've seen firsthand the struggles that students and parents face when it comes to consistent, effective practicing. Whether finding the time, creating a routine, or keeping practice sessions engaging, the required daily practice for music lessons can sometimes feel more like a chore than a joy. That's why I'm so excited to share a new 100-day practicing chall

By Christy Hodder, Expert Music Educator www.ScotiaSuzuki.org Remember that bright-eyed young violinist who couldn't wait for practice time (at least most days)? Now they are teens, and suddenly getting them to pick up their instrument some days feels like moving mountains. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. As both a teacher and mentor to other teachers, parents and teen musicians, I've seen this transformation happen - and I've learned how to help young people sta

By Christy Hodder, Expert Music Educator www.ScotiaSuzuki.org The holidays often revolve around wish lists and surprises under the tree, but what if we shifted the focus this season? By using your child’s hard-earned musical skills as a way to give to others, you can nurture not only their talent but also their gratitude and joy in sharing. When children practice their instruments daily, they aren’t just improving their technique—they’re creating something special. Encouragin

By Christy Hodder, Expert Music Educator www.ScotiaSuzuki.org You asked for it, and here it is again! Last summer's punch card system was such a hit with families that we're bringing it back for another round. Your children loved the excitement of punching their cards, and you loved seeing their confidence bloom as they prepared for our annual Suzuki play-in to kick off the new school year at Scotia Suzuki School - and I'll share it with you too! Easy, convenient and ready to

By Christy Hodder, Expert Music Educator www.ScotiaSuzuki.org Summer is here and halfway gone, and I know many of you are enjoying your well-deserved relaxation and fun. However, keeping up with your musical practice is also important. Even though regular lessons might pause for a few months, keeping routine and practicing habits can make a huge difference when you return to lessons in the fall. Here’s how to keep the momentum going and make practice enjoyable during the rest

Help your child shine at their next recital! Step-by-step preparation tips for parents and young musicians to feel confident and ready to perform on stage.

Make music practice fun with this creative activity! A hands-on way to help your child work through their practice list with love.

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org You can also Watch LIVE/HERE Take the 2- minute Music personality TYPE quiz HERE for Music Teachers and Practicing Parents. Why is it important to know your practice parenting or music teaching personality type? WHY? Start with a story: I got to go to the Wizarding World for two days with my husband, Mark. Wow, it was so fun! One of my favourite parts of being there was trying out the spells and watching others practice and fig

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org You can also Watch LIVE/HERE Last year I wrote a blog and did a live about the 4 ways to have guilt-free practicing over the holidays. It was a very popular one. Its number 85 so if you missed it - its a good one so I wanted to recap it and add some personal stories and examples. 1. Find Balance in Practicing 2. Use a Holiday practice activity 3. Plan unstructured times to enjoy music and share it with others 4. What Guilt-fre

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org You can also Watch/LIVE HERE The opinionated and headstrong child can be so hard to parent and even harder to manage a daily home music practice with. I like to call these little people TUMBLEWEEDS. Have you seen or held a tumbleweed before? You have to be so careful - they are surprisingly hard and sharp. So, Imagine a tumbleweed rolling across the arid plains, unstoppable and resolute in its journey. Similarly, tumbleweed ch