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

Things to bring you happiness and a full life as an adult and senior. Free printable PDF on playing music lessons and starting to art classes

Things to bring you happiness and a full life as an adult and senior. Free printable PDF on playing music lessons and starting to art classes

Chad comes from Ontario to join us as one of our special guests at our 2023 traditional music concert at SSSM. There is a surprise acro guest, teacher ensembles, NSYA, the new Junior NSYA groups debut and other surprises! Students from SSSM this year will perform the Turning top waltz set - see you there! Tickets are NOW FOR SALE at Event Brite at the Link below. Before buying your tickets check the link with the list of which concert your child is at 2 PM or 6 PM. We ask th

Build a goal-setting guide that actually works! Step-by-step guidance to build bond with your student on creating consistent, effective, and enjoyable daily music practice with awards for each reached goals

Creating consistent, effective, and enjoyable daily music practicing and teaching routine with stickers awards for each reached goals.

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

Halloween is almost here! Check out spooky monster mask music practice activity and upcoming events at Scotia Suzuki School in Halifax. Get ready for musical fun!

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org You can also Watch / Listen to the Live HERE Today I'm talking about little changes and how little daily changes make the most significant and lasting changes. Let's look at a boat that's on a course. It's headed straight toward somewhere. It goes to the same place every single trip, year after year; from generation to generation, it goes from one location to the next over and over. Now, if the captain changes the regular cou

School opens Monday, September 12th, for regular classes! See you this week! BRING: Returning students - Parents, bring your Suzuki School Lesson binder filled with new sheets, ready to take practice notes in your child's lesson. You can get your binder practice sheets to print at home on the BINDER TAB on the Student Portal Page on the school website. (Quick-link below) New students - you will get your binders at your first lesson. Binder Tab on

Parent’s Night / School photos are here / RCM book discount For all parent’s new & returning Who is involved? All parents with students at the Scotia Suzuki School of Music (Adults taking lessons can come too) All Scotia Suzuki School teachers Where? In the upstairs hall of the Scotia Suzuki School, 6141 Chebucto road Park behind the building, walk around to the Chebucto road side and go up the stairs What time? 7pm on Thursday, September 8th Why parents night? Meet t

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org You can also Watch / Listen to the Live HERE We all know that eating well is healthy. Exercising and getting fresh air in nature is also good for you. Listening to good music and making music is also an incredible thing for our minds and our spirits and even has physical benefits. Nature and fresh air also help your health in so many ways. Let's have some fun today and play the first words that pop into your head when I say

I want to share with you a brand new practicing activity this Summer - paper planes! Children love paper planes and it’s something you can do whether it’s sunny outside or not.

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org Read the Blog HERE and get your FREE African Safari Practicing (5 of 6) Adventures. You can also Watch / Listen to the Live HERE where I share part 5 of how I happened to find myself suddenly teaching music one day in a remote Kipsigis village in Kenya 6 years ago! This time I am sharing what I taught the children in the village. It's time to release level FIVE of the "African Safari Practicing Adventure", and with it - some m

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org Read the Blog HERE and get your FREE Valentine's Day practicing activity. You can also Watch / Listen to the Live HERE I called my daughter yesterday. It was her moving day and she and her husband had rented a van and were moving by themselves. Now you need to know that my daughter is pregnant with her second child, due in just over a month. She works as a middle school science teacher and she has another few weeks before her

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org Read the Blog HERE and get your FREE first African Safari Practicing (1 of 6) Adventures. You can also Watch / Listen to the Live HERE where I share HOW I happened to find myself teaching music in a remote Kipsigis village quite suddenly one day 6 years ago! Link to join the email list so that you don't miss any of the 6 adventures. Did you know that I have traveled to Africa twice to teach music in a little school in Nairobi

By Christy | Practicing Pro www.ScotiaSuzuki.org This blog is part 3 of the memory series. To read parts 1 and 2, see blogs #54 and #58. You can also Watch / Listen to the Live HERE Do you want to memorize easier with a review program? Are you feeling overwhelmed by a HUGE piece of music that you need to learn and memorize by a deadline? Today we are talking about making memorizing advanced repertoire easier, and I mean WAY easier, by using a review system that works. How ca

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 This blog is part 1 of the memory series. To learn more, see blogs #58 and #61. You can also Watch / Listen to the Live HERE Learning to play music by ear, remembering songs without any sheet music and being able to harmonize on demand- these are skills that many adults who start music later in life spend years mastering. Yes! Me included! I recently started singing lessons again since my university days when I dabbled in a ti