Practice & learning
Jacqueline Whittemore shares practical ideas for learning music together, keeping practice joyful, and preparing for the stage.
August 20, 2026
As feared in my last column, summer did indeed hurtle past at high speeds. However, as with most things, that brings a gift – the start of another year of Suzuki! Because we have been away for a time, let us recall: 1. P
Read this issueMay 29, 2026
In anticipation of summer break and the chaos it can wreak on daily practice, I spent my last column problem-solving return to practice after a prolonged break.
Read this issueMay 2, 2026
Welcome to another edition of From the Practice Files! It was lovely to share so many pearls from great teachers in my last column. As a reminder, my two defining tenets for the Suzuki method are:
Read this issueMarch 20, 2026
Welcome back! Last month, I explored the benefits of group classes and music camps. Today, instead of diving into a new topic of my own, I decided to share my favorite pearls I collected from the stand-out faculty at th
Read this issueFebruary 15, 2026
It is great to be back for another episode of the practice files! Last month we plumbed the many benefits of practice logs in focusing practice, limiting conflict, and tracking growth. Today, I would like to explore anot
Read this issueJanuary 5, 2026
Welcome to a new year of practice tips! In my last column, we explored the importance of performance for the Suzuki student’s growth. Research has compellingly shown that using calendar milestones, such as the start of
Read this issueNovember 7, 2025
The end of Daylight Savings Time and turning of the leaves brings with it another joy – fall recitals. For many Suzuki students, academy performances are only the first of a cornucopia of musical events. Some may wonder
Read this issueOctober 16, 2025
Welcome back! It is hard to believe that we are now entering our 4th month of parent practice tips. In my first column, I proposed two core tenets for a successful Suzuki journey:
Read this issueSeptember 15, 2025
Welcome to the third column on optimizing the parent’s role in the Suzuki triangle. So far, we have been exploring ways to avoid degradation of practice quality during repetitive work. We discussed using variations on th
Read this issueAugust 15, 2025
From the Practice Files
Read this issueJuly 10, 2025
When Marguerite first started cello, my ‘homework’ was to read three texts on the Suzuki method:
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