PRIVATE LESSONS are the bread and butter of learning an instrument. The individual attention at private lessons allows students to develop strong technique, excellent playing posture, and skills for both learning by ear and note reading. Parents attend with their young children to take notes, and act as the conduit between lessons and practicing at home. Private lessons occur weekly, and are 30, 45, or 60 minutes depending on the student's level and age.

GROUP CLASSES provide another essential part of the Suzuki curriculum, providing an opportunity for students in the program to play, learn, and review the material together. Group classes build ensemble skills, interpersonal skills, and provide opportunities to practice performing. 

CONCERTS give students opportunities to share their playing with family and friends, and celebrate the fruits of their hard work. Students perform both solo recitals and as a group. 

PRACTICING at home on a daily basis is essential. Violin is a complicated instrument requiring consistent practice to build the skills necessary to play. Parents of young beginners are expected to practice with their child, using their notes from the private lesson. Consistent daily practice builds not only strong skills but motivation and progress.

LISTENING to music at home surrounds students with music, and enables them to learn by ear from the beginning. The Suzuki material is available on CD and through online music services, and provides an excellent model of violin playing. Once students have learned the mechanics of the instrument, they learn their new songs by ear, before even learning to read music. As with practicing, consistent daily listening is essential and can not be substituted for or crammed.

COMMUNITY is one of the great assets of a Suzuki education. Group classes and performances foster a local community of parents, students, and families in the program. Students are encouraged and empowered to serve their greater community through performances. Suzuki families are also part of the international Suzuki community, which provides resources and common experience from the local level, to the Massachusetts Suzuki Association, the Suzuki Association of the Americas, and other global Suzuki associations. 

PARENT EDUCATION enables parents to be effective learning partners for their children. Parents provide an essential conduit from private lessons to home learning through practicing and listening with their children. Suzuki education requires a significant investment of time for parents, but it is an incredibly worthwhile investment in their parent-child relationships and enables very young children to build strong musical skills at an ideal developmental time (but before they have developed the executive functioning to practice on their own). Parent education begins with a parent-teacher meeting before lessons begin, covering the philosophy and practice of the Suzuki method and essential information for getting started. Thereafter, Lisa provides resources for continuing education, and hosts occasional events for parents.