Before we begin summer break and forget about the violin for a while, lets go through this list with a pencil and plan some violin fun for the summer! Put a :) by what you think would be a fun idea for you! As you do them, put the date next to it and report back to me in the fall!

Mom & Dad: Read a good book!

Shinichi Suzuki, Nurtured By Love
William Star, To Learn with Love
Kay Slone, They're Rarely Too Young and Never Too Old to Twinkle
Ed Kreitman, Teaching from the Balance Point
Craig Timmerman, Journey Down the Kreisler Highway
Daniel Coyle, The Talent Code

Set one day a week of your practicing aside to do only fun things. Use your imagination and be creative!
Have a party for your family to celebrate the end of another year of violin lessons. Do it up big with cake, and a concert!
Invite an old violin friend over for music, refreshments, and play!
Invite a new violin friend over for music, refreshments, and play!
Plan your own concert for someone special, complete with a written program.
Have one of your practices outside on a nice day
Have one of your practices in some other exotic location. Be creative and share pictures!
Have your own “Concert in the Park.” Pack a picnic, your violin, and plan to stay to play at the park
Invite a violin friend over to play duets. I'll provide some music if you ask!
Have a violin scavenger hunt for one of your practices
Go camping with another violin family and play songs around the campfire!
Go to a Suzuki Institute!
Anything else that you would like to try with your violin! Be creative! Let me know what you come up with. :)

Vary the practice location. During the summer, practicing outside can make both of you enjoy the practice a little more.
Pick a different location for each task on your practice list. (Example: Warmups in the laundry room, one review song in each bedroom, new song in the bathroom, etc.)
Play for stuffed animals, super heroes, favorite dolls, a blanket, etc. Serve refreshments after you perform.
PRACTICE EVERY DAY. If possile in several short sessions, especially for the young.
Surprise your child by telling him that you want him to pick 5 things off his practice list and just give you a concert that day instead of practice. Remember NOT to give any criticisms since its a concert.
Use something to count the number of times something is done perfectly such as rocks, colored paper clips, pennies, beans, buttons, popcorn, raisins, anything.
Keep a practice log. At the end of 25 hours do something special. For very young children you may want to make the goal achievable by the end of one week.
Number all the tasks on your practice list from 1-12. Roll the dice to see what number comes up and do whatever corresponds with that number.
Give young students a ticket each time you practice. Tickets may be cashed in later.
Make slips of paper to put in a hat and the child draws them out. The slips offer specific suggestions.
Occasionally have a treat after a good practice or before a practice session. Do it as a surprise. Don't bribe the child by saying “if you practice, we'll have some cookies.”
Prepare a concert for another parent or Grandparents. “Let's show them what you can do!” or “Let's surprise them!”
Take some time to plan your practice session
Be sure to take and keep good notes in your Lessons Notebook.
Praise, praise, praise! Specific, enthusiastic, and sincere!
Ask your teacher to borrow her violin version of the Chutes and Ladders game for a week.
Perform a concert for your video recorder and watch it afterwards.
Break up your practice session with exercises such as somersaults, sit-ups, cart wheels, jumping jacks, etc.
Check out books in your teacher's studio. These are on loan at any time and there is a wealth of information and motivation there.
Have a calendar that the child gets to draw something or glue something on each day after practice.
Do anything that works.
Nothing works forever.
Remember that YOU should control the practice.
Remember that your child is NOT likely to “take ownership” or responsibility of their own practice. Most children are not self motivated to work.
Listen, listen, listen, listen, listen! To your CD. It will solve many problems.

Tips for a Great Violin Summer!

25 Practice Tips for the Parent who has Run out of Ideas After the First Week of Practice