You Make the Difference!

Mrs. Walls shared these meaningful words with her parents after the Solo Recitals, and we wanted to amplify this sentiment, and thank you for all you do with your Suzuki Student(s). 

Your work, parents, is key to their success. Thank you for nurturing your children so well in this skill development. Not only are your children growing in their character by learning patience and perseverance, you parents are modeling these things for your children. I see so many beautiful things each week when I’m with you all that I can’t even put into words at times. But if you’ll allow me, I will try:

I see moms gently urging a child to keep going through a frustrating moment not being able to find a note to a new song she’s on or squelching a meltdown with a funny comment to diffuse a situation; I see Dads that are right there beside their child, guiding elbow movements on the bow side, and shaping bow holds over and over and over, never getting angry, but quietly helping a child get it; I see grandmothers and grandfathers that are eagerly taking their grandkids to lessons and classes, aiding in many practice sessions over the years, driving miles back and forth so their grandchildren can learn how to play the violin. What gifts you are giving to your kids!
 
It’s hard when you’re in the thick of it to see the growth. So I’m just trying to encourage you parents that it IS worth it; keep going; I see the growth that’s happening!

I KNOW it’s hard though. I’ve lived through it. I urge you, when it’s hard, to not give up. I truly believe musical skills help the brain SO much. Even if your children don’t go on to pursue music, the skills they are learning now can, and will apply to so much that they’ll do. They can persevere when things get tough at a job; they are learning empathy by seeing others learning how to bow that difficult passage that they had such a hard time with; they are learning team-player skills in group class, that it’s not just about them and what song they’re on, but on what the whole class is learning together. They’re learning that tackling a big task can be most successful by breaking it down into smaller parts, getting successful little by little until the challenge is thoroughly learned and then able to produce a beautiful skill once it’s all put together. I hope you can see what I see eventually, if not now. 

Know that I truly am blessed by your children. It’s a joy and a privilege to teach them each week.