Policies and Expectations
Policies
Expectations
Policies
Suzuki Lessons
Lessons are around 30, 45, or 60 minutes once weekly. Lesson lengths will be determined by your teacher. If you feel your lesson should be a different length, please schedule a consultation. Students ages 4 and up are accepted, but younger students will be considered on a case by case basis. If you would like your child to start their education earlier, check out our Suzuki Early Years program!
Group Class
Group class is a vital part of the student’s development. It is for all students and the parent or grown-up. Active participation (taking notes, watching) on the part of the parent or grown-up is just as important as the child’s attention during group class.
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Please limit cell phone use to emergencies or recordings for home practice purposes only.
Early Years
For babies and toddlers ages 0-4
1 hr class
1:1 ratio (parent:child)
If you are bringing multiple children, we highly encourage bringing enough caregivers for each child.
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Please do not bring shoes, bags, snacks, or any toys/stuffies into the classroom.
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No cell phones (except during particular periods your teacher will announce).
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Keep conversations in the lobby. The classroom is for observing and interacting with the children.
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Babies & toddlers learn from examples. Parents are expected to participate in the SECE classes to the best of their ability by singing, moving, and playing rhythm instruments.
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If a child is quietly observing the class, great! They learn through observation, and there is no rush to participate. Please don’t add pressure by over-prompting them.
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If a child is becoming distracting or not able to stay in the circle, please take a little walk in the lobby and come back when they are ready. This is not a punishment! You are respecting your child’s need to take a break and try again.
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More information about the Suzuki Method: All parents are encouraged to read "Nurtured By Love" by Dr. Suzuki. There are also many useful resources about Suzuki and SECE philosophy at suzukiassociation.org
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The Home Teacher (Parents/Grown-ups)
Success in Suzuki study depends upon active and enthusiastic participation of the grownup, and better yet, the entire family! The parent/grownup attends every lesson with the child and functions at home as a surrogate teacher (I call them the home teacher), supervising the child's daily practice. The child's accomplishment rests upon a cooperative pyramid formed by the teacher, the child, the parent, and the peers. The home teacher is solely responsible for daily listening and practice.​
Parent Education
Just as your teacher continually expands their education to be the best teacher they can be, so should the home teacher continue their education of the Suzuki Method so that they can be the best home teachers they can be.
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The child’s guardians are their FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHER.
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Required reading includes Nurtured by Love, by Dr. Suzuki, and all are highly encouraged to read the other books listed.
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Nurtured by Love by Dr. Suzuki
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Teaching from the Balance Point by Edward Kreitman
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To Learn with Love by William and Constance Starr
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They're Rarely Too Young...and Never Too Old to Twinkle by Kay Collier Slone
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A Suzuki Parent's Diary or How I Survived My First 10,000 Twinkles by Carroll Morris
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Helping Parents Practice, Ideas for Making it Easier by Edmund Sprunger
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Beyond the Music Lesson: Habits of Successful Suzuki Families by Christine Goodner
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Positive Practice: 5 Steps to Help Your Child Develop a Love of Music by Christine Goodner
Recitals/Performances
There will be 2 studio recitals per year, and all students are highly encouraged to perform. Specifics will be provided closer to date, but include workshops, community-wide play-ins, and public group performances. Some of these events will have a ‘dress code’- either our SMSSJ T-shirt ($15 youth or $20 adult to purchase, $5/event to rent) and jeans/black pants, dressy, or black and white.
Make-Ups/Cancellations
There are no make-ups provided for students’ absences. Your lesson time is reserved for you for the whole year by your registration fee and tuition payments (after 3 no-shows with no contact, you are removed from the schedule). Please make every effort to be at your lessons. There are 2 built-in make-up days/year in case of the teacher’s absence.
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In the event of an additional teacher absence, every effort will be made to schedule a make-up lesson. If that make-up lesson can’t be scheduled/agreed upon, refunds or credits will be reviewed and determined depending on whether:
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your general availability includes a day other than your regularly scheduled lesson
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(make-up lessons cannot occur on the student’s regular lesson days in addition to their regular lesson)
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you have been provided 3 separate days/times for make-ups
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your make-up lesson options were at age-appropriate times​
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To cancel or withdraw from a program, a 30-day written notice to admin@smssj.com is required. A Temporary Travel Pause is also available.
Temporary Travel Pause
We recognize that our community schedules trips and seasonal getaways to spend time with loved ones throughout the year. To support this important aspect of family life, a Temporary Travel Pause is available. Opting for the Temporary Travel Pause allows you to hold your lesson time with no tuition payments during your travel time.
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One Temporary Travel Pause is available per year.
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- A deposit of one month of the student's current tuition is billed at the time of the Temporary Travel Pause submission.​
- This deposit is applied to the family account on the date the student returns to lessons.​
- If the student does not return to lessons, the tuition deposit is forfeited.
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- Temporary Travel Pause length is based on class type.
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Private lesson student: 3 weeks to 60 days​
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Early Years student: 3 weeks to 90 days
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Private Lesson Families
This is my first temporary travel pause submission
for August 2026 to July 2027
Travel Length is more than 3 weeks, less than 60 days.
Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather, lessons will be offered via Zoom. This is under the discretion of your teacher or, in rare instances, SMSSJ.
Illness
If you are ill (coughing, headache, itchy/sore throat, fever, aches/chills, productive cough, stomachache), have come in close contact with an individual positive for Covid-19, the flu, or RSV, or you yourself have one of these aforementioned illnesses, DO NOT ATTEND your lesson. Please inform us, and your lesson can be conducted via Zoom.
Expectations
Expectations for the Studio Space
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Be on time & be prepared.
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Ensure that hands are clean and fingernails are trimmed prior to lesson.
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Be well fed and well rested.
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Tired, hungry students (and home teachers!) do not function 100%.
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Take off shoes, apply hand sanitizer, and be respectful of the studio space.
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Masks are optional, though encouraged November-March.
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The restroom needs to be kept tidy. (Parents please accompany young children if this is done at home or while out and about.)
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Have all materials (music books, notebook, pencil and pen, shoulder rest, bow, violin, rosin, nail clippers, and any other materials requested by your teacher) organized and readily accessible at each lesson.
Expectations of the Teacher
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Individualize lesson materials and teaching style to suit each student’s needs.
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Provide an understanding and nurturing environment for learning.
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Continually praise and challenge each student to fulfill their potential.
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Provide performance opportunities.
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Continue Professional Education.
Expectations of the Student
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Develop a sense of personal responsibility for self.
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Attend all classes, events, and private instruction.
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Share a love of music.
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Listen DAILY.
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Practice! Even when you don’t feel like it.
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Work to achieve your own maximum potential.
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Be cooperative and do your best.
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Be respectful to others including parent, teacher, and other students.
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Try every day, even when it’s hard.
Expectations of the Grown-ups
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Remember what a great gift it is to share time, effort, and accomplishment with our children.
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Become a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas ($30/year per family).
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Accept the Suzuki Method as a way of life and have a “no quitting” policy.
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Attend all lessons, group classes, and recitals.
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Bring a notebook to all lessons and group classes and take effective notes for home practice.
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Notes should include date, scales and techniques to use with them, Etude (if applicable), Repertoire, Current piece, New Piece.
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Include specific measure numbers or sections assigned for practice.
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Include reminders about posture (straight wrist, bent thumb, feet position) and bow arm (rainbow pinky, strong thumb).
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Include any other info that is necessary to ensure effective and accurate practice sessions at home.
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Practice with or guide the student’s home practice. You are the Home Teacher and use the notes taken at lessons.
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Find a time each and every day that you can spend (around 30 minutes total) with your child for practicing.
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Positively encourage students to push past frustrating moments and overcome struggles.
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Ensure the student is listening to their Suzuki album and other classical music every day, about 3-5 hrs minimum/week.
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Continue their own Suzuki Parent Education
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Remember that practice must be a consistent collaborative effort to be effective. Five or ten minutes is better than none.
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Remember what a great gift it is to share time, effort, and accomplishment with our children.
Suzuki Teacher's Pledge
We realize the unlimited possibilities of early education.
We also realize that every child can be educated.
Our purpose is to develop this ability and present this fact to the world.
We are delighted to be teachers of the Suzuki Method and fully comprehend the responsibilities we have as teachers.
If you have read this document in its entirety, please email info@smssj.com with your thoughts on this quote
from Dr. Suzuki’s book, Nurtured By Love:
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“ Art is not in some far-off place. A work of art is the expression of a [person’s] whole personality, sensibility, and ability.” pg. 83