Our Program
Learning to Play Violin at Peraza Music Workshop
Whether you are new to the Peraza Music Workshop (PMW) or are one of our long time families, we wish to welcome you to our studio. Founded in 2005, our studio has grown to become one of the finest and strongest studios in the Tri-County area. Students from Peraza Music Workshop have won numerous competitions in Ohio and across the country. Many have continued their musical studies at some of the finest schools of in the country,
Young beginner students at PMW learn to play violin with the Suzuki Method. They have weekly lessons and group classes and music theory. Advanced students transition to a traditional violin repertoire and learning style with a high emphasis in technique, solo repertoire and chamber music. These students have weekly chamber music rehearsals and music theory.
When children start their violin lessons at an early age, a parent participates by attending lessons, taking notes and practicing with the child at home. We teach the children to play by ear at first, allowing the student to focus on posture, tone, intonation and musicality. The important skill of reading music is added to the curriculum after the basic skills of playing the instrument are mastered. Many of the students who graduate from our program do choose to go into music and they have gone on to study at the major conservatories in this country. But that is not the primary goal. What we hope to achieve with our music instruction is the ability to learn to do something extremely well.
Music is an art form. If the students bring that art form to a very high level, it will affect everything else they do. Parents tell us all the time that since their child has learned to struggle with difficult tasks in music instruction, that carries over into their school work and all of their other life activities. Children who grow up in an environment that is rich in music will be able to develop musical skills. What we hope to achieve in our music instruction is to instill in all children a love of music and to develop a beautiful heart.
The Suzuki Method
Shinichi Suzuki was a violinist, educator, philosopher and humanitarian. Born in Japan in 1898, he studied violin for some years before going to Germany in the 1920s for further study. After the end of World War II, he devoted his life to the development of the method he calls Talent Education. Dr. Suzuki based his approach on the belief that “Musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed.
Any child who is properly trained can develop musical ability, just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential of every child is unlimited.”
Dr. Suzuki’s goal was not simply to develop professional musicians, but to nurture loving human beings and help develop each child’s character through the study of music. This is a very important point for us at Peraza Music Workshop.
We firmly believe that a sound music education develops young adults who can create balance in their life, manifest their visions, and become sensitive, caring members of their community. To that end, creating professional musicians is not our primary goal. For the students who have decided to pursue a career in music, our students have a long history of attending the finest music schools and conservatories in the country. The purpose of Suzuki training is not to produce great artists, but to help every child find the joy that comes through music making. Through the Suzuki growing process, children thrive in a total environment of support; they develop confidence and positive self esteem, determination to try difficult things, self-discipline and concentration, as well as a lasting enjoyment of music, and the sensitivity and skill for making music.
Shinichi Suzuki realized the implications of the fact that children the world over learn to speak their native language with ease. He began to apply the basic principles of language acquisition to the learning of music, and called his method the mother-tongue approach. The ideas of parent responsibility, loving encouragement, constant repetition, among others are some of the special features of the Suzuki approach. Here are a few:
Parent Involvement
As when a child learns to talk, parents are involved in the musical learning of their child. They attend lessons with the child and serve as “home teachers” during the week. One parent often learns to play before the child, so that s/he understands what the child is expected to do. Parents work with the teacher to create an enjoyable learning environment.
Early Beginning
The early years are crucial for developing mental processes and muscle coordination. Listening to music should begin at birth; formal training may begin at age three or four, but it is never too late to begin.
Listening
Children learn words after hearing them spoken hundreds of times by others. Listening to music every day is important, especially listening to pieces in the Suzuki repertoire so the child knows them immediately.
Repetition
Constant repetition is essential in learning to play an instrument. Children do not learn a word or piece of music and then discard it. They add it to their vocabulary or repertoire, gradually using it in new and more sophisticated ways.
Encouragement
As with language, the child’s effort to learn an instrument should be met with sincere praise and encouragement. Each child learns at his/her own rate, building on small steps so that each one can be mastered. Children are also encouraged to support each other’s efforts, fostering an attitude of generosity and cooperation.
Learning with Other Children
In addition to private lessons, children participate in regular group lessons and performance at which they learn from and are motivated by each other.
For more information about the Suzuki Method, visit the Suzuki Association of the Americas SSA:
https://suzukiassociation.org/about/suzuki-method/
Our Faculty
Marion Peraza- Violin lessons and Chamber Music
Dr. Ellen Harrison- Music Theory
Johan Bast- Chamber Music and Violin
Marissa Kerbel- Music Theory
Sujin Kim- Music Coach- Piano Accompanist
Pamela Daly- Professional Actress and Acting Coach
Schedule a Teacher or Student Observation
Interested to be part of our wonderful program? Contact us to schedule an observation and information session as a first step to start your journey with us!
Questions? Please contact us: marion@perazamusic.com