4 TO 5 YEARS: UPDATE ON THE VIOLIN AND MUSIC

When Joey first started the violin, I had my doubts about the Suzuki method. But now I admit that I am completely sold on it. Joey has made so much progress in the six months since he started with a real violin (this is my opinion, and I am not a musician myself, but his music teacher seems to be pleased). But of course, I think this is more than the method because Joey took to reading music like a fish to water, so technically, I am not sure we are still doing 'pure Suzuki', except for using the books and the amount of caretaker involvement. He is completely ahead of us in his ability to read, absorb, and apply the material, although we try to keep up so we can provide direction. 

Joey is even starting to write his own music for fun (nothing extraordinary, but the interest is definitely there). He also started playing the same tunes on his little piano (with one finger). But the most amazing aspect of this for me is that he is developing a real ear for music, i.e. he knows when the violin has to be tuned before we do, and I have come to really trust his judgement. 

His progress has been constant, up the point when he had to prepare for his first 'public performance' (to play in front of a few friends and also at his birthday party which coincided with Chanukah). We worked him really hard so he would master "I have a Little Dreidel" well enough to produce a relatively flawless recording of the song in its entirety. He did not perform flawlessly in front of the real audiences, but he really found that zone of concentration where nothing could distract him from getting through the tune as best as he could, and he concentrated very hard.. well beyond his years. This was a real lesson in grit.... the satisfaction that comes from success and recognition after a lot of hard work. After that experience, he now knows the amount of effort involved with preparing for a live performance and he knows he can succeed. I think that in the two videos I have recorded after 'I have a Little Dreidel' (see below), one can see his boost in confidence and improvement in technique. For up to date information and videos on Joey's violin progress, please consider checking out (and perhaps subscribing) to my Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/Carolerivi

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