I am thinking about suzuki violin lessons for my daughter. She has some attention issues and can be really subborn so I am wondering if she is really going to practice. I am also wondering (after reading here) about her very mild coordination issues affecting her ability to get the hang of the 2 different hands. I am planning on exposing her to the violin at the suzuki picnic on thursday and will only sign her up if she is interested, but I am trying to decide if I should even try it. She is very motivated to do things with me so I like the suzuki method for that reason. I just don`t know about the violin! She wanted to do a parent/child piano suzuki style class but they didn`t have enough sign ups. I always wanted to learn violin, but my parents had said no. I played the clarinet and piano. Thanks for any thoughts.

yes you should because i was gifted when i eas little beacase i expanded my mind. I played baseball, piano, flute, trumpet, baritone, euphonium, trumpet. Piano could help her out

If she seems interested, impress upon her the need to practice. The great thing about Suzuki is that you`ll be learning the violin right along with her. You can coordinate and assist with her practice sessions, and try to find ways to motivate her. Hey, it`s worth a try! I wish my parents had started me when I was that young.

Absolutely go for it!!! Make sure that YOU take the lesson right along with her. Have your own violin and make violin games a part of your day at home. Make it fun... have fun yourself... and you`ll both enjoy it!
Best wishes to you!
Katie
http://www.folkfiddle.com

I started playing when I was 6. I never took it seriously...meaning I never practiced. But that changed a couple years ago, and I just became a college music major. So, if she wants to try it I say go for it. I want to caution you about suzuki though. It`s good for young kids in the first couple years(it`s good for getting them playing), but I would recommend getting off it if she gets more serious. There are many differing opinions of suzuki, but my own experience with it was a very negative one.

Thank you all for your replies. I went to the information night tonight. Now I wish we did it last year. With half day kindergarten it would have been easier than full day first grade. The private lesson during the week might be hard, but the saturday group lesson is perfect. Tomorrow we go and see a group play and then we`ll see if she is interested. One interesting thing they mentioned is they do teach music reading. I know that is one complaint about the suzuki method.

I`m glad you`re getting her started, Michele! Keep us posted as to how it goes. And.... be sure that YOU start playing, too!
Katie

i started 2 years ago i am 12 now the violin is very fun and challenging you should at least let her try it and if she does not like it then at least she tryed. but it really is a fun instrument.

OH GOSH YES DO IT!!!!!!

Ok i have atenton (sp?) isues too lol but i do suzuki and it works great!! DO IT!! lol

And playing the violin might actually help the coordination probs you mentioned. I was COMPLETELY right-handed when I started, but now I can use both hands for most things, after just a few years of playing.

I started when I was 4, but 6 is still young enough to start. When I started in Suzuki, I tought it was all a fun hobby and nothing serious, but since I played a Vivaldi concerto in Italy at the age of 8 I started to take it more seriously. If your daughter thinks it`s actually a serious thing, even if it`s fun to do, she`s gonna be a little disapointed and won`t want to study. So keep up the fun until she gets a little older.

I would go ahead and start her, but I would make sure for the first couple years that it is as much music appreciation and fun as it is discipline and practice.

Yes, definitely go for it, as logn as she agrees. I learnt when I was about 6, and I`ve been playing half my life, as I turn 12 in a couple of days.

I really only joined for fun. One of my two best friends knew someone who taught violin. So the three of us started. It was only for a sorta hobby for the three of us to do togather, but two of us have gone on to take Grade 1, and plan to go on much further!

It`s certainly changed my life! i`ve learnt to stick at things, even when it looks dull. My teacher wasn`t exactly...Nice. We also took lessons at school, and when our first teacher moved, that was the only way I could go on learning. It was the school teacher who we didn`t liek. Telling us to do this one week, and then to do it differently the next.

But even though I hated her, I stuck at it and it`s been worth it!

And.... what happened? Did you get her started with the lessons? Hope so!
Katie
http://www.folkfiddle.com

my 5 year old niece wants to play the violin.. i can tell that she really likes the instrument coz when she saw my violin... she grabbed it from me and wont give it back! lol.. her mom told her that she`ll buy her a smaller size for her.. thank god it`s only my $90 violin! lol..
she`ll be starting her lessons next week..