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

Make music practice fun this holiday with this creative Santa's beard activity! A hands-on way to help your child work through their practice list with the festivities.

Keep guilt-free music practice going during the holidays! Simple strategies to maintain momentum during busy seasons without adding stress to your family.

Come join us for an evening of holiday music at the Scotia Suzuki School featuring the musical theater program with the senior string ensemble as guests. New music video from the Nova Scotia Youth Ambassadors! Filmed at Millers Falls, Nova Scotia. Enjoy and watch for our new Celtic Christmas video coming soon!

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org You can also Watch / Listen to the Live HERE Everyone is feeling tired and ready for a break this time of year. Are you wanting to slow down and spend time with family for the holidays? Me too! You have worked so hard establishing a daily routine to include practicing this year. The holidays don’t just sabotage our diets, they can also affect our daily routines and daily practice is often missed. What to do? Everyone is differe

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org You can also Watch / Listen to the Live HERE Cultural appreciation is when someone seeks to understand and learn about another culture because they want to broaden their perspective and connect with others cross-culturally. Cultural appropriation, on the other hand, is simply taking one aspect of a culture that is not your own and that you do not understand and using it for your own personal interest or entertainment, or to

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org You can also Watch / Listen to the Live HERE Each year, I always find it so surprising the first time I have to use the word “December”. What? Is it nearing Christmas already? It can’t be possible. The holiday season sneaks up on me every year and is closer than I think. Are you like this too? There are so many fun festive events happening over the next weeks in preparation for Christmas day. Those eager to spread cheer a

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org Here is a fun Christmas "Play-by-Ear" and Charades activity that you can use for your practicing! You can play it as a family activity or with your practicing parent. How to Play: Find your level: - Beginner - Intermediate - Advanced Download the cards for your level (see below) and cut them out along the dotted lines. Fold each card and put it in a hat or bowl. Randomly pick a card which will tell you which Christmas song to p

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org You may be asking yourself, how do I fit in time to practice this week, or the next, or the next...maybe we’ll just wait until January. Well I’m here to tell you DON’T WAIT! Right now is the PERFECT time for some amazing practices and I have lot’s of ideas for you on how! Everyone is different Some players work so hard every day during the regular school months that a much-needed break in all areas of your life might be just wh

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org Would you like to inspire your musician to perform for others this Holiday Season? Share the GIFTS of Music by performing and by using my Christmas Advent Tree! This Christmas Advent Practice activity is a special holiday tree that is inspired by a tree I made last Christmas, for my 2 adult children, when we spent Christmas in Mexico! I wanted to recreate this special tree for you THIS Christmas! Sharing the GIFT of music 13 m

October 1st brings a shift in the season as Fall shows up and Spooky season begins! Spice up your practicing with this ghost activity!