Suzuki Institute {a.k.a Violin Camp}

Last week, Riley and I made our 1st tradition of hopefully many. We attended the International Suzuki Institute which was convenientally held in Draper at Juan Diego High School. Since Riley is just learning his Twinkles (the 1st song in the Suzuki Book 1), we attended a Twinkle Class and a Music and Movement Class all week long. When he didn't have classes, we attended concerts, ate lunch at the High School (Riley Loved School Lunch) and observed other violin classes.

His Twinkle Class was very helpful and the main thing that Riley learned was how to focus on playing and practicing his violin instead of just wandering and day dreaming. His teacher, Ms. Yong was great with him and he liked going to this class every day.

His Music and Movement class was full of singing songs, feeling the rhythm with musical instruments, and dancing. He absolutly loved this class and looked forward to it daily.

The highlight for me, as a violin player who attended Suzuki Institute since I was a little girl, and now as a Suzuki Parent was watching my little boy play all of the Twinkle Variations on the stage with everyone at Suzuki Institute. I even had tears because I was so touched by the sight. Let's just say that Riley stole the show! I have never felt like a celebrity until that final concert. Riley was on the front rown just playing his twinkles, but in between each one, the pianist would play an introduction and while she did that, Riley would start bending his knees to the beat and get so excited to play the next twinkle. The next thing I know, the whole entire audience, which consisted of 200 people started laughing so hard! At first I didn't know what they were laughing at since I was video taping, but then everyone around me started to point at Riley and saying, "look at that boy!". He was hilarious! He would be looking at the girl next to him as he was playing and really get into the music!

I didn't think much of it until a TON of people came up to Riley and I and said that he made the concert! The audience even gave the Twinklers a standing ovation and Riley had to bow 4 times! A guy even came up to me afterwards and said that they only reason why the audience gave the Twinklers a standing ovation was because of Riley! As we started walking to our car, tons of people stopped their cars to tell us that Riley did such a great job! Talk about feeling important!

All in all, Riley had a great experience and even was sad that it had to end! It was exactly what him and I needed for violin practicing! After this experience, he told me that he wanted me to continue being his teacher, and that he would "Never, Never, Never stop playing the Violin" just like Dr. Suzuki said!