Suzuki Method & Alexander Technique
Instruments
You can rent or purchase an instrument.
If purchasing, do your best to avoid instruments $200 or less, as low quality can make learning to play more difficult. Avoid big retailers like Amazon and Walmart, and scan local marketplaces for families selling used instruments. Instruments can last for many years with proper care.
Visiting instrument specific websites and stores can provide you more information on proper sizes, price ranges, and pros and cons of renting or purchasing.
- Johnson String Instrument, Newton, MA
- Carriage House Violins of Johnson String Instrument, Newton, MA
- Music & Arts, Newton, MA
(Chain, multiple locations) - New England Violins, Boston, MA
- Weinstein Violins, Waltham, MA
- Wood & Strings, Arlington, MA
- Bridges & Bows, Westford, MA
- Leonards Music, Bedford, MA
- Shar Music, Ann Arbor, MI
(not local, but big name)
Accessories
- Shoulder sponge or rest
- Rosin
- Cotton or microfiber cleaning cloth
- Music stand
- Suzuki Book & CD
- Tuner & Metronome
- Notebook
- Pencils
- Mute
Practice Aids
- The Suzuki Experience – A well organized blog by a Suzuki parent! Lots of additional resources to dig into.
- Suzuki Triangle – An active Suzuki teacher with frequent parent class offerings, books, and blogs.
- Bulletproof Musician – A blog cover various practice and performance points.
- Suzuki with Mahroo Hamedani – Piano accompaniment for most books.
- The Metronome by Soundbrenner – Free metronome app
- insTuner – Free tuner app
- TonalEnergy – Tuner, metronome, and a fun smiley face when you tune well.
- Amazing Slow Downer– Adjusts speed and pitch of for easy play along at home.
- Sight Reading Factory – Generate reading on demand for ASTACAP, audition, and orchestra practice.
- Music Mind Games – A creative system for learning music theory.
- Practice Charts – One of many sites with charts ready to print!
- Music for Young Violinists – Free and paid sheet music.
- International children’s arts network – 24-hour arts and music HD radio station.
- Christian Howes – string teacher at Berklee with lots of videos to play with.
Greater Boston Area
- Suzuki:MA – Local Suzuki chapter with a weekend festival in March, and occasional workshops.
- Massachusetts ASTA – Local American String Teachers Association that runs ASTACAP twice a year.
- MMEA Eastern & Northeastern Districts – Massachusetts Music Educators Association with auditions for Jr. & Sr. festival completed through your school.
- Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, Boston
- Newton Public Schools All City Orchestra, Newton
- Lexington Public Schools All Town Orchestra, Lexington
- The Rivers School Conservatory, Weston – Summer Suzuki, Rivers Youth & Symphony Orchestras
- Powers School of Music, Belmont – Suzuki on the Hill
- Suzuki School of Newton, Newton – August Music & Arts Camp
- New England Philharmonic Young Artist Competition, Boston
- The Philharmonic Society of Arlington Young Artists Competition, Arlington
- The Concord Orchestra Ehlers Young Artist Concerto Competition, Concord
- Quincy Symphony Orchestra Eleanor B. Nelson Concerto Competition, Quincy
- Lowell Philharmonic Jeanne Selander Memorial Concerto Competition, Lowell
Near & Far
- Suzuki Association of the Americas – Offers workshops, conferences, and summer festivals all over the country.
- Summer String Music Camps – A comprehensive list of USA and International camps on Johnson String Instrument’s website under the resources tab.
- Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Lenox, MA
- Hartt Suzuki Institute, West Hartford, CT
- Green Mountain Suzuki Institute, Rochester, VT
- Ogontz White Mountain Suzuki Institute, Lynam, NH
- New England Suzuki Institute, Waterville, ME
- Ithaca Suzuki Institute, Ithaca, NY
- Point Counterpoint, Leicester, VT
- Southern Maine String Camp, Winthrop, ME
- UMass Young Artist Awards, Amherst, MA
- Honor Performance Series, New York, NY
- Opus Music Competition
- Crescendo International Music Competitions
- Singapore International Music Competition
- Newport Virtuosi International Online Music Competition
