Who are we Raising our Children to Be?

As Suzuki parents, our “to-do” list might be quite extensive. Practice every day. Go to Group Class. Listen to the recordings. Attend concerts. Sign up for the recital. It can be easy to focus on these tasks, and lose sight of the bigger picture. And when we lose sight of the bigger picture, we can grow weary.  Maybe instead of “to do’s” we could think of what we want our children “to be.”

It’s the long-term mindset that sets a successful Suzuki family apart from the rest. When we think about the bigger picture of the life lessons that we want our children to learn from this musical experience, those are the lessons that matter. The lessons that help develop the whole child and nurture the heart. And we can relax a little if our practice on Tuesday was cut short, because we know that our child is learning something from daily practice, even if we have a few bad days.  

The long-term commitment to mastery, listening for beauty, being part of a community and daily practice will all help us keep the bigger picture goals in mind. Your family has a beautiful picture of who you are raising your child to be, and we hope that you can keep that clear vision in mind for the long term.

Summary from Beyond the Music Lesson: Habits of Successful Suzuki Families by C.E. Goodner

---