Nurture With Love
Suzuki Music School
Welcome to Nurture with Love. We believe that every child can learn and enjoy music.
Our Suzuki teachers provide Suzuki music education programs in cello and piano. We also prepare older students for ABRSM Practical & Theory certification examinations.
We specialise in:
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Suzuki Music Learning environment for Children of all ages
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Suzuki Cello and Piano group & individual lessons for children aged 3 to teens and beyond
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Suzuki Early Childhood Music Education for newborns, babies, toddlers & pre-schoolers
SUZUKI EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECE)
Our young ones have an amazing desire to learn. They absorb things in their environment at an incredible pace. Our Suzuki ECE programs give opportunities for young children to experience the environment which will help them enjoy the music learning journey.
As parents play a key role in their child’s learning journey, we also equip parents to provide a successful environment at home. The earlier a child learns the satisfaction that comes with success, the earlier that child can move on the next skill development.
At Nurture with Love, we recognize that the learning potential in the first few years of life are especially vital. We endeavor to create a music environment that is joyous, calm, free from pressure, in which children can gain skills, a sense of purpose in life, an understanding of self-discipline and an appreciation of beauty - a strong foundation upon which they can build for a lifetime.
There are seven key concepts within the Suzuki Philosophy we use in our music education
1. Every child can learn
2. Ability develops early
3. Environment nurtures growth
4. Children learn from one another
5. Success breeds success (using achievable steps to build confidence for the next)
6. Parental involvement is critical
7. Encouragement is essential
SUZUKI PRE-TWINKLERS PROGRAM
This weekly 50-60 minute group class for children from birth to 4 years of age and their parents, is taught by two lead teachers. This is a preparatory program for instrumental learning by using the 7 key concepts within the Suzuki Method.
The children learn through an array of fun musical activities such as traditional nursery rhymes, catchy action songs, finger play, circle songs and story telling. Children have ample opportunities in each class to play various instruments including the xylophone, glockenspiel, drum, shakers and triangle.
Multi-age Learning Environment
Having a good spread of children of different ages in a class helps younger children learn quicker by observing the older children who model more sophisticated skills. An older child enjoys being the ‘role model’ which then develops their self-confidence, and the esteem shown from the younger children creates calm with no pressure on the older child. In this teaching class, parents are also guided to create a calm, quiet and respectful environment to encourage joyful learning through music.
Future Instrumental Learning
The structured Suzuki curriculum provides a nurturing environment in which children can achieve success, layer upon layer. It helps every child to be ready to learn their choice of instrument by helping them to learn how to take instructions. This helps to develop readiness for transition to instrumental learning.
Skillsets that we hope to achieve through our Suzuki Pre-Twinklers Program:
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Speech Acquisition
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Singing in Tune
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Rhythmic & Tempo (fast and slow) Awareness
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Dynamics (soft and loud)
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Sensitivity
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Good Coordination, Finger Control & Dexterity
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Comprehension of language & stories
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Counting
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Creativity
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Appreciation for music
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Self Confidence, Independence
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Memory Skills
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Listening Skills
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Social Skills & Patience in sharing, taking turns
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Ability to concentrate for long periods of time
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Desire / Readiness for instrumental learning
SUZUKI INSTRUMENTAL GROUPS
Beginners above the age of 4 start in a weekly small group of 3-5 and slowly transit to individual lessons. The foundation is laid at this stage for the chosen instrument in a group environment by incorporating lots of fun activities and establishing a strong cooperation with the parent before they are ready for individual lessons. When the child starts off with the right steps taken, it becomes a much more enjoyable and enriching journey.
Stage A - Parent Education and Lesson Observations
With the right foundation and environment, children will progress very quickly at later stages with good habits ingrained in their playing.
In this stage, we help parents to apply key Suzuki concepts to create an environment which sets the child up for success in his or her music learning journey. We partner with parents to set the practice and listening routine in a fun and achievable manner for the child to do daily. We also teach the parent to play the instrument and become the child's practice partner at home. We also encourage parents to observe lessons.
Stage B - Twinkle Foundations
At this stage, we have lots of fun in setting the foundational posture, handshape, tone awareness with many games and strategies. Learning in a small group regularly provides the child with an environment where they can observe and learn from others as well as being motivated. It also gives us the opportunity to know each child better before starting individual lessons. At end of each lesson, we have a dedicated parent time to understand the assignments and go through any questions they may have in accomplishing the assignments.
Each child will work towards performing the four Suzuki Twinkle variations at the Twinkle Graduation Recital and receive a certificate at the end of their performance. Short individual sessions will be introduced during the group sessions at this stage for specific detailed instruction.
Stage C - Weekly Individual Lessons with a monthly group session
By the time the child commences individual lessons, they will have built a strong practice routine, ingrained handshape and a daily listening sequence in the book 1 repertoire. The child is motivated and ready to progress in a faster pace and has a long attention span.
SUZUKI CELLO
Nurture with Love offers weekly cello lessons to students aged 3 and above. Many of our beginners are graduates from our Early Childhood Music programme. Parents are required to be present at all lessons and to guide the daily home practice between lessons.
Described as an instrument that has the closest sound to a human voice, the cello is an expressive instrument that many composers have a soft spot for and have written beautiful music for it. It produces a mellow and soothing tone quality, even for a beginner.
The Suzuki method allows any child to start at a very young age to develop deep partnership with the instrument and for greater tone and expressiveness. There are appealing Pre-Twinkle (Pre-Book 1) exercises and songs specially designed for the young beginner that allows them to develop physical balance, while having loads of fun! A cellist with a free body will sound better & accomplish more physically on the cello in later years.
Suzuki’s mother tongue approach models to the child visually and aurally, how to produce a balanced resonant tone. This develops the ability of the child (and parent as the home teacher and practice partner) to recognize the clear ringing tone of such balance - a foundational key, along with daily listening to the recordings.
One of the many wonderful things regarding the structure of Suzuki Cello is the inclusion of group class practice as a regular part of instrumental learning. This creates a rich additional environment for nurturing communication skills student to student, and student to adult. Additionally, it emphasizes group problem solving and develop leadership skills. It is also just really fun!
SUZUKI PIANO
We offer weekly piano lessons to students aged 3 and above with a monthly group session. Many of our beginners are graduates from our Early Childhood Music programme. Parents are required to be present at all lessons and to guide the daily home practice between lessons.
Our private teaching studio is equipped with two pianos to enable the teacher to play along or demonstrate the exact tone, position to the student. The visual demonstration model of the teacher playing, with the student following the model, is an important part of the Suzuki method of teaching music and provides the best learning experience for students.
There are three advantages to teaching with two pianos:
1) The student is able to view the teacher's posture and hand position directly as the teaching point or posture is being corrected by the teacher.
2) The teacher can produce desired tone on the exact pitched note as the student on the other piano (not higher pitch) without having to reach over. The student can immediately play and attempt to imitate the teacher while the sound is still fresh.
3) The two pianos allow for rapid iteration and improvement without having to wait or breaking the focus.
SUZUKI PARENTS AS PARTNERS
In the Suzuki method, parents play a big part in the success of their child. We have found that the journey is smoother, especially with younger children, if we begin with the parent first. Although it may be seem more efficient to “just get on with it”, it ensures that we begin your child’s lessons on a reliable and solid foundation.
During the Parents As Partners sessions, we will equip parents with the skills to establish a positive learning environment for their child's successful music learning journey. The objectives of these sessions are:
1) Walk through the blueprint for creating a nurturing environment for your child to learn - We will provide parents with a clear understanding of the Suzuki principles to create an optimal learning environment at home and to prepare the child to enjoy lessons in the studio.
2) Strengthening the Parent-Teacher connection – This is a crucial component for establishing the positive learning environment in order for a child’s talent to grow and thrive. As the adults in the relationship, it is vitally important that we are on the same page and the younger the child, the more important it is. We like the way child psychiatrist (and violinist) Marjorie Macdonald puts it:
“The child’s relationship with the teacher must be built on the child’s relationship with the parent. The child does not easily permit the first transfers of authority over his life from parent to someone else, and he needs the assurance, through the parent-teacher relationship, that his parent fully approves of such a transfer. The parent must support and reflect the teacher’s interest if a functioning bridge is to be built up between child and teacher. In addition, the child must feel that the parent values not only the teacher but also the music.”
3) Developing the basic physical skills involved in practising the instrument with the child – Yes, you will get to learn the instrument too, but more importantly you will learn the very specific skills you will need in order to assist your child’s practising and skill development.
Parents also get to meet up with other Suzuki parents in the community. Both parents are encouraged to attend as it provides the foundation for knowing how to support each other at home in your child's music journey.