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From the Blog

Suzuki Violin, Flute, and Bass Students Perform in a Day of Spring Recitals

Suzuki Violin, Flute, and Bass Students Perform in a Day of Spring Recitals

On Sunday, June 5, 2022, our Suzuki Violin, Flute, and Bass faculty, students and families all got together for our Spring Recitals. We had five recitals spread throughout the day showcasing the hard work of our students and their wonderful playing. Photographs by Jaznina Santiago

Suzuki Spring Piano Festival

Suzuki Spring Piano Festival

Our Suzuki Piano Department had their Spring Piano Festival on Sunday, June 5th. This concert is a fun one full of collaborations with their teachers, parents, siblings, and friends. It also includes lots of music outside of the Suzuki repertoire. Pieces performed included: The Typewriter, Over the Rainbow, Zorro’s Theme, Linus and Lucy, Watermelon Man,…

Suzuki Students Perform at Open Stages 2022

Suzuki Students Perform at Open Stages 2022

The Suzuki Program’s cello, bass, and piano students performed at Open Stages 2022, BKCM’s huge outdoor fundraiser, on Saturday, May 21st, 2022. We had piano students performing solos, the cello and bass students performing a Play Down Festival, and the advanced cello and bass students performing ensemble pieces like “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter, “The…

Suzuki Festival Program

Suzuki Festival Program

Our Suzuki Violin Festival is taking place in Prospect Park at 3:30pm on May 1st. Click below to download our Suzuki Violin Festival Program for May 1, 2022.

A Practice-A-Thon Challenge

A Practice-A-Thon Challenge

Suzuki Benefit and Practice-A-Thon 2022

Suzuki Benefit and Practice-A-Thon 2022

Before our Mid-Winter break (no classes Sunday, February 20 – Saturday, February 26) please register for our upcoming Suzuki Practice-A-Thon, which begins the day we come back from the break, Sunday, February 27, and culminates with the outdoor Suzuki Benefit on Saturday, March 12! The two-week period of the Practice-A-Thon and Suzuki Benefit is an…

Students celebrate Lunar New Year!

Students celebrate Lunar New Year!

On February 5, 2022, BKCM had our annual Lunar New Year celebration to bring in the Year of the Tiger! Suzuki students, Colton Choi, Alma Mister, and Jane Hawkins performed a popular Chinese folk song called “Jasmine” or “Mo Li Hua” in Chinese. Thank you to our performers for playing for this special celebration!

Practice Strategies- A Virtual Parent Conversation

Practice Strategies- A Virtual Parent Conversation

Nora Friedman led an insightful Practice Strategies conversation with parents on Zoom on Wednesday, February 2nd. One of the main topics discussed included doing your best to find empathy for your child when they’re having trouble with something. It can be tough at the end of a long day, when you’re trying to squeeze in…

Suzuki Piano’ween Concert!

Suzuki Piano’ween Concert!

On Saturday, October 30, 2021 our Suzuki Piano students performed in a spooktastic Halloween themed concert at St. John’s of Park Slope. Here are some pictures from that event! Photos by Joseph Cochran. For more photos from this event, visit our Flickr Page!

Halloween Performance Class

Halloween Performance Class

On October 24, 2021 we held a Halloween themed Performance Class! Performance Classes are an opportunity for students to practice performing in front of people in a more informal setting. Every year, we hold a Halloween themed Performance Class where the students are encouraged to dress in costume! Enjoy these pictures taken by Pam Wong!

Happy Birthday Dr. Suzuki!

On October 17, 2021, the BKCM Suzuki Community celebrated Dr. Shinichi Suzuki’s birthday with cupcakes, snacks, and music performed by our faculty members! Families gathered to celebrate and even sang “Happy Birthday” to Dr. Suzuki. Paloma Ferrante, one of our Suzuki Cello Faculty members performed some solo Bach for our families. Here is Shayna Dulberger,…

Johnson String Instrument delivery

Johnson String Instrument delivery is scheduled for Wednesday, September 11. If you need an exchange, let them know by noon, Tuesday, September 10 at the latest.  

Suzuki lessons start Sunday, September 15!

We hope you had a wonderful and relaxing summer. Our Suzuki lessons and classes begin on Sunday, September 15. Have a great year!

Johnson String Instrument this Thursday

Johnson String Instrument is scheduled for this Thursday, March 14, to deliver/ pick up any exchanges, returns as well as drop off any orders that have come in. If you need an exchange,  let them know by Wednesday, March 13th at the latest. The next two visits will be  Thursday, April 11th, and Thursday May 9th.

Two Exciting Suzuki guitar events

1.  On Thursday March 14, Suzuki Guitar Teacher Trainer Andrea Cannon will be with us to teach the 4:30-5:30pm Group in rm 35! She will also teach a group for any available Bk1 or Bk2 students who would like to come from 5:30-6:30p in rm 32. Space is limited, so please RSVP to Michele if you would like to take…

Friday Faculty Feature

Join us THIS WEEK for Friday Faculty Feature at 6 PM! The great Emile Blondel will perform first on the program, a piece written by his former teacher Kenneth Frazelle called The Road Up, depicting an exhilarating journey up a mountain road throbbing with bird calls and pulsing greens. BKCM Faculty Tom Chiu and Lyndol…

Violin Listening: A FREE GIFT From German violin teacher trainer Kerstin Wartburg

Violin Listening A FREE GIFT From German violin teacher trainer Kerstin Wartburg, to all Suzuki violin teachers, their students and their parents. During the last four decades I have been working with great interest and passion to create materials that support the learning of music according to the philosophy of Shinichi Suzuki. Dr. Suzuki showed…

Suzuki students participate in Make Music New York

Suzuki students participate in Make Music New York

Jenna Girone-Virgilio led a lively group of Suzuki string students in the 12th annual Make Music New York city-wide music event, held on Thursday, June 21, 2018. http://www.makemusicny.org

How Suzuki changed music teaching paradigm

This interesting article discuses how Dr. Shinichi Suzuki’s approach changed the paradigm of music teaching. Did you know that before him, it was considered a standard that they children should play “childish” music only? Or that all the teaching was left to teachers? Read more.  

First Friday Faculty Concert

First Friday Faculty Concert

First Friday Faculty Concert: Jeong-Hwa Park

Suzuki Faculty Recital

Suzuki Faculty Recital

    Suzuki Faculty Recital  

Michele Horner interviewed on Beyond the Music Lesson podcast

Michele Horner, BKCM’s guitar department head and author of Life Lens, is featured in Beyond the Music Lesson podcast. Horner’s book Life Lens: Seeing your children in color illuminates the learning style, pace, motivation and other critical elements that will inform and transform teaching and communication. Both teachers and parents will see the positive home practice…

Are we ready?

This article can help you decide if you and your child are ready to start your joint musical journey. Is My Child Ready to Start Music Lessons?

On Suzuki method and methodology

It’s important to remind ourselves of these core teachings from Dr. Suzuki (courtesy of suzukiexperience.com). http://suzukiexperience.com/2018/01/07/What-the-Suzuki-method-means/ The following article outlines some things to keep in mind within the Suzuki Triangle (teacher, parent, child) https://www.wsste.com/single-post/2017/11/06/Triangle-Communication-Lines    

Practice violin with recorded piano accompaniments at any speed!

Suzuki.AccompanyMusic.com is available for Violin Method Books 1 through 10 ! Long desired by teachers and students alike, and finally available after years of development, Accompany Suzuki (R) Edition now offers the most useful and effective tool for Suzuki Method (TM) students to practice Books 1-10, at ANY tempo, with no pitch distortion.  Loop option available…

Guitar students busking for hurricane relief!

Guitar students busking for hurricane relief!

We are proud of our BKCM guitar students who raised $600 for a Houston Suzuki guitar family displaced by hurricane Harvey!  Our students played outside for two hours, giving the gift of music to make a difference in this family’s life. It took a long time to get the check to them because they don’t…

Suzuki Early Childhood Education: What About the Parents?

This article outlines some thoughtful concepts that parents can keep in mind as their child begins music instruction in Suzuki Early Childhood Education. 20 Important Concepts Parents Learn in Suzuki ECE  

Violin Flash Mob

Violin Flash Mob

Our violin students conducted “Violin Flash Mob” during Seventh Heaven, a street fair on 7th avenue. Here they are:

“Perfect but not perfect” tuning of the piano

Here is a topic worth exploring for the scientists among us: piano tuning. These days, pianos are tuned with “Equal Temperament.” However, Bach wrote two books of Preludes and Fugues for “Well-Tempered Clavier” Here’s a cute 4 min video that goes very fast, but gets into the math of it! Kind of fun to think…

BKCM student Julian Raheb at NJPAC Hispanic Youth Showcase

Julian Raheb playing Chopin C#m Waltz at the NJPAC Hispanic Youth Showcase.  He was the 1st place winner in 9 to 12 years category, on May 26, 2017. Julian Raheb – Chopin C#m Waltz NJPAC Showcase winner 2017 05 26

Fun with Page Turning

https://youtu.be/FJkCMjhCbFA
Photos and videos from Cello Masterclass with Alex Croxton

Photos and videos from Cello Masterclass with Alex Croxton

A number of young cellists and bassists participated in the BKCM Masterclass lead by Alex Croxton, held on March 26, 2017.

Cello Master Class with Alex Croxton

Suzuki Division at BKCM is excited to host a cello Master Class with Alex Croxton on Sunday, March 26, 2017. 12:45-1:30pm Master Class 1:30-2:15pm Combined Group Class (All students Books One and above are welcome and encouraged to participate) 2:15-3:00pm Master Class Alex Croxton A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Alex Croxton began his cello studies…

Suzuki Benefit Photos and Thank You!

Suzuki Benefit Photos and Thank You!

Our first Suzuki Celebration & Benefit was a terrific success! Thank you for your enthusiasm and generosity. This Suzuki Benefit & Celebration is a great new initiative for the Conservatory and for our flagship Suzuki program – we’re already thinking of ideas for next year! We are so lucky to have your energy, your devotion,…

Music Apps

Here are some apps recommended by our faculty: Finale Notepad – use to put notes on printed page. Free version can get your pretty far. finalemusic.com Note Flight – use to create and play back music. noteflight.com Flashnote Derby – made for children to facilitate note reading. flashnotederby.com Musictheory.net – for more advanced music theory…

Piano recital

Piano recital

Reaching new heights in safety and musical excellence

Reaching new heights in safety and musical excellence

Paper chain for each day of practice

Paper chain for each day of practice

Suzuki students are hard at work prior to the big festival concert on January 29. Each link of this paper chain represents a day of practice for a student. 

Christmas Eve Concert at St. John’s Episcopal Church

Christmas Eve Concert at St. John’s Episcopal Church

Suzuki violin students will be performing at Christmas Eve mass at St. John’s Episcopal Church. The concert will be led by Nora Friedman. The students will perform Christmas-themed pieces as well as few pieces from the Suzuki reportoire. The mass starts at 5pm and will last for just over an hour. Performing students arrive at…

Yuja Wang plays a humorous take on Mozart’s Turkish March

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jmpXFXsJdA

Freakonomics Podcast: How to Become Great at Just About Anything

How to Become Great at Just About Anything

Guitars at Latin American Cultural week.

Guitars at Latin American Cultural week.

The Knights at BKCM!

Sunday, November 20, members of the Knights, an incredible chamber orchestra, will be giving a concert for Suzuki students from 3 – 4 PM in our Concert Hall. http://www.theknightsnyc.com/ Please RSVP as space is limited. Please only one parent per family. (We have 240 students and the Concert Hall has a capacity of 105!) Please use…

Siblings in harmony

Siblings in harmony

Saucy poses in violin group class

Saucy poses in violin group class

Saucy poses in violin group class

The New York Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concerts

The New York Philharmonic is bringing its famed Young People’s Concerts (YPCs) into the 21st century and around the world. Today we announced the launch of Young People’s Concerts Play!, a new online learning platform making YPCs available for on-demand streaming, enhanced by interactive lessons. Check out the first releases — YPCs focusing on Britten’s…

Johnson String Instrument rental questions

Here are answers to a lot of the questions about Johnson Strings rentals, found on their website. Next time you move up a size, now you know you can consider a wooden bow or an upgrade to the next grade of instrument, and how much it will cost. Also, it is good to know that…

Johnson String Service Trips

If you are renting an instrument from Johnson String, you can plan the deliveries and exchanges based on their monthly service trips to BKCM, listed here on their website.  Instruments can be picked up in the afternoon of the day of the delivery. Should you have an exchange, please drop off your instruments no more than…

Little Trio

Little Trio

Events

The Brooklyn Conservatory Community Orchestra directed by Dorothy Savitch returns to the Brooklyn Museum for its annual presentation of Prokofiev’s classic “Peter and the Wolf,” set within the galleries of the Brooklyn Museum, telling the story of a young boy, Peter, who is taking an art class at the museum. This wonderful event is a huge draw for the entire…

Message from our New Executive Director

We are excited to have Chad Cooper as the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s new Executive Director. Read this enlightened and inspiring message from Chad.

Dr. Suzuki’s Birthday celebration

Dr. Suzuki’s Birthday celebration

Violin Masterclass in honor of Dr. Suzuki’s Birthday

Allen Lieb has been mentor to our Suzuki program since its inception over 10 years ago. It is a great honor to play for him. We very much hope you will be able to join us. Violin Masterclass in honor of Dr. Suzuki’s Birthday with special guest Allen Lieb Sunday, October 23, 2 – 6 PM (specific schedule…

Article: Finger Warm-up Exercises

FINGER WARM-UP EXERCISES TO EXTENDED FLEXIBILITY AND PREVENT OVERUSE INJURY    

Celebrate with us on October 14!

On Friday, October 14, please join us from 6:30 – 8:30 PM in the Concert Hall, to celebrate Dr. Suzuki’s birthday! Drinks and light refreshments will be served, along with pizza and juice for the kids, and of course Birthday Cake. There will be a special performance by Suzuki faculty, followed by fun activities for…

Write for American Suzuki Journal

Suzuki parents! The American Suzuki Journal is looking to round out coverage and increase the number of articles we publish by parents, for parents. If you have been thinking about writing about Suzuki parenting or have article ideas, we’d love to hear from you! Please feel free to ask me any questions here in the…

Coloring Sheets

This is a great collection of coloring sheets, many music themed.    

Article: How Playing Music Changes the Learning Brain

Unpacking the Science: How Playing Music Changes the Learning Brain

Guitar studio at  AIG Latino ERG Art Exhibit

Guitar studio at AIG Latino ERG Art Exhibit

Suzuki string students perform Eleanor Rigby

Suzuki string students perform Eleanor Rigby

Suzuki school year calendar

PDF version of the 2016-2017-Suzuki School Year Calendar

Suzuki Recordings

iTunes Suzuki Bass School, Vol. 1 by Gary Karr Suzuki Cello School, Vols. 1 & 2 by Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi Suzuki Guitar School, Vol. 1 by William Kossler Suzuki Piano School, Vol. 1 by Seizo Azuma Suzuki Violin School, Vol. 1 by William Preucil Amazon Suzuki Bass School, Vol 1: Bass Part, Book & CD Revised…

Exploring Movement at Summer Camp

Exploring Movement at Summer Camp

During the Dalcroze portion of the BKCM Summer Strings and Piano workshop (our summer camp), students’ movements clue them in to nature of music – its tempo, dynamics, texture, phrase structure, and style.

Newtonian cello class

Newtonian cello class

Their cello teacher suggested an experiment with gravity…

Practice while on vacation

Practice while on vacation

Here is Gertrude practicing on a very old, completely out of tune piano on an estancia in San Antonio de Areco, Argentina. Bundled up against the cold, but happy to have found a piano.

Michele Horner’s groundbreaking book

Michele Horner’s groundbreaking book

Suzuki Guitar Coordinator Michele Horner will be teaching an 8 week course on her groundbreaking new book, Life Lens. Life Lens illuminates the learning style, pace, motivation and other critical elements that will inform and transform teaching and communication. Both teachers and parents will see the positive home practice results!

Practicing while on vacation

Practicing while on vacation

You can practice while on vacation! Here are Lou and Leo playing outside of Château Carcassone in France.

Concerts in Motion

Concerts in Motion

With Scott Tennant

With Scott Tennant

Piano Theory Class

Piano Theory Class

Piano Recitals – Spring 2016

Piano Recitals – Spring 2016

Spring String Festival Photos

Spring String Festival Photos

Summer workshop!

Summer workshop!

Brooklyn Conservatory Summer Strings Workshop July 18 – 22! Registration available now! This five-day workshop will take place from July 18 – July 22, for ages 8 to 16, with a focus on strengthening reading skills, exposure/experience playing ensemble repertoire, ensemble skills, and fun! Brooklyn Conservatory Summer Strings Workshop is a drop-off workshop open to…

Summer lessons

Summer lessons

2016 Summer Private Lessons Registration starting March 12 The Summer Semester will take place June 17-August 29, Mon-Thu 9am-9pm, Fr 9am-12pm, Sat 9am-3pm; closed Sundays. Suzuki Summer Policies: There is no minimum number of lessons and the lessons do not need to be consecutive. Students taking lessons with a different teacher must obtain permission from…

Music Moves 2016 Spring Gala

Music Moves 2016 Spring Gala

Enjoy an evening of dinner, dancing and special guests at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s Annual Spring Gala celebrating the transformative power of music. Monday April 11, 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, 11238 United States Event Category: Fundraiser Website: http://www.bkcm.org/gala2016

Latin American Cultural Week

Latin American Cultural Week

Piano Recital Photos

Piano Recital Photos

Musical Monkeys

Musical Monkeys

Ideas for daily practice! Practice with the help of The Musical Monkeys — a website with diverse and interesting practice challenges. http://www.themusicalmonkeys.com/practice-challenges.html

Practice for Winter Holidays

Christmas star~ A fun incentive/challenge for the weeks before Christmas: black and white star cutout glued on red card stock, cut out a tad bit larger around. Students color one facet of the star for every time they practice. Give them one focus area per week, split in three steps. When they prove they have…

Suzuki Guitars at Atlantic Antic

Suzuki Guitars at Atlantic Antic

Michele’s Advanced Guitar Group will perform onstage at Atlantic Antic Sunday September 27th from 3:45-4:15!

Suzuki Guitars at Latin American Culture Week

Suzuki Guitars at Latin American Culture Week

The Suzuki Guitars will play an all-Latin concert as part of Latin American Culture Week. Thursday Nov. 19, 5:30p-6:30p in the Brooklyn Conservatory Concert Hall

Coney Island Guitar Performance

Coney Island Guitar Performance

On May 31st, Suzuki Guitar department head Michele Horner and her students were asked to perform at Warbasse Cares at Coney Island in conjunction with Concerts in Motion. Concerts in Motion is an organization that provides concerts for homebound people in New York City. This performance was part of their Intergenerational Concert series.

The Amazing Slow Downer App

This app slows down any music on your phone or computer without changing the pitch! It’s called “The Amazing Slow Downer” ($15) https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/amazing-slow-downer/id308998718?mt=8