"Children who use the Suzuki approach learn to play music with enjoyment, competence and fearlessness."

The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green

Playing

Punk-style violinist Nigel Kennedy wrote a book called Always Playing. Passionate about playing, Kennedy brings his own style to the works he performs. He is quoted in the book's forward as saying, "We may play dead composers' works, but we don't have to look as if we're still at the funeral." Playing should be like singing or laughing, done for the pleasure it gives us, and those who hear us.

Devote time each week to playing for the sheer joy of it.

• Compose
  
  • Encourage your student to make up his or her own tunes. To get started, play a review piece starting on a different string. Or mix up the sections of a piece, such as playing the Twinkle sections in B A B order.
  • Make up a violin or viola part to go with a piece you or a family member can play on another instrument.
  • Play music to accompany the action of a TV show.
• Make New Sounds
  Fingers and bow can make a wide variety of sounds on the instrument. Experiment!

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