The Instrument	What type of guitar should I get? - Classical guitar nylon string guitars for young beginners. The size of the guitar will depend on the height of the player and his hands. As a general rule you can follow this chart Contact your teacher before deciding the purchase GUITAR STUDENT SIZE CHART AGE...........HEIGHT............SIZE OF GUITAR 4-6.........3’3” to 3’9”...............¼ size 5-8.........3’10" to 4’5”.............½ size 8-11.......4’6” to 4’11"..............¾ size 12-.........5’ or taller...............Full size Where can I find an appropriate guitar? - OFC carries the ARIA GUITARS AK-20 in 1/2 and 3/4 sizes and some other models in 1/4 size STEVE'S has some Yamahas How do we take care of the guitar? To avoid any problems from temperature or humidity you should always store your classical guitar in your home in a moderate temperature. Never store it in the attic, basement, or some other place that is not climate controlled. This is usually not a concern if you are playing the guitar on a regular basis but if you plan on putting it away for long periods of time find a place in your home to store it. When transporting your guitar be aware of changes in temperature and humidity. Keep it with you inside the car, do not transport it in the trunk, particularly if the weather outside is unusually cold or unusually warm. And when it has arrived at a new destination open the case and allow it to adjust to the new environment for at least an hour before tuning and playing it. One of the biggest concerns you should have is the risk of accidental breakage of the neck or tuning head of your guitar. One fall, even from ground level can break it literally in half and to avoid this you should always be aware of how you keep your instrument around the house. Keep it always in a stand when not being used with easy access to it for your child. Be sure to keep it in a corner of a room, and away from doorways and foot traffic. Change the strings every couple of months depending on how frequent it's used. When it's time to change the strings take a little time to inspect the instrument, fretboard, and tuning pegs for any signs of problems. And before re-stringing it be sure to wipe it down gently with a soft, lint free cloth. Never use any type of furniture polish on your guitar. Only use cleaning solutions specifically designed guitars. You can get them at any instrument shop for only a few dollars. How do I change the strings on my guitar?
Suzuki Parenting	What do I do to help my child progress? Creating a positive and nurturing musical environment Make sure they practice everyday, preferably at the same time. Take an interest in what they are doing and frequently ask them to play music for you. Make sure they have a quiet, private place to practice. Let your child play as much music as possible. Especially those pieces he/she particularly likes. What does the Suzuki method require of me as a parent? To attend your child’s private and group lessons. To play the recordings daily of pieces to be learned. Guide your child’s daily practice sessions at home. Support your child as he or she learns a new skill. How much practicing do we need to do? Learning the discipline of routine practice is an essential element of what we want to teach through the Suzuki Method. Practice schedules are agreed between the parent, the teacher, and child. Several short sessions during the day are better than one longer session. Generally speaking, the time of the session is limited by the parents creativity in making the lesson fun - (please refer to “how to make practice enjoyable”)
Methodology	How can I create a musical environment Creating a rich, loving, and enjoyable musical environment in the home as the basis of learning, is one of the key points for a successful learning process Listening helps the student to be familiar with the repertoire and thus the learning process is facilitated. Here are some ways to create a nurturing environment: Play daily the Suzuki Guitar CD especially the pieces the child is studying. Play other CDs of beautiful and eclectic music from greater artists and composers Attend concerts and recitals as frequently as possible What is the right age to start Guitar lessons? Each child is unique. Maturity, size, fine motor skills are different on each individual but as a general rule they at the age of 4 they are ready to start with formal guitar classes. Is the Suzuki Method just for preparing students for a career in music? Although some former Suzuki students are performing on concert stages and in major orchestras, the production of professional musicians is not the primary goal of Dr Suzuki’s method. Rather, it seeks to develop the hearts and minds of children with results beyond music itself including increased self-discipline, higher sensitivity, improved academic skills and a sense of confidence and self-esteem. When can I expect my child to play his first song? Applying the Suzuki Philosophy, we try to meet the child where he/she is at developmentally. This varies in all children. A child’s mental age does not necessarily coincide with his chronological age. We have to break down ability into smaller components. Suzuki books are organize in such manner that all the new elements to be learned are included in the song. Starting from the Twinkle Variations kids are introduced to a variate and rich repertoire of very known songs/melodies. Does my child need to take group lessons? The group class provides a social environment with regular to inspire children to always want to learn new pieces. Group classes are required as part of our school program. They are important to musical enrichment and act as aids to motivation in sharing time with other students and playing music. How do I register for lessons? Each instructor handles her or his own registration individually; to register please contact a guitar teacher. You can download a Registration form from here