Suzuki Books

I am a "Suzuki kid" myself, now a Suzuki Violin teacher. This is Volume 8 of 10 in the Suzuki Method Violin repertoire. It is vital that you read Dr. Suzuki's book, "Nurtured By Love" before beginning any Suzuki program. Technique is nothing without a full understanding of the underlying philosophy here, so make sure you agree with Dr. Suzuki's ideas, then find a teacher who feels the same way. You and your child are in for the time of your lives!

I am a "Suzuki kid" myself, now a Suzuki Violin teacher. This is Volume 9 of 10 in the Suzuki Method Violin repertoire. It is vital that you read Dr. Suzuki's book, "Nurtured By Love" before beginning any Suzuki program. Technique is nothing without a full understanding of the underlying philosophy here, so make sure you agree with Dr. Suzuki's ideas, then find a teacher who feels the same way. You and your child are in for the time of your lives!

So far I have not had a problem with my bike that I could not fix myself with the help of this book.

This book adds a very lovely touch to students studying violin. The harmony parts are not difficult but true to the original sound of the music. The music goes with some of the songs in Book 1 and 2 violin solos. While the parts are not difficult, it probably would be better for a little more advanced student who actually reads music to play. I would think it would be more difficult for a student to learn it from memory as most students do in book 1 and 2. It was played by children in book 3 and 4 to accompany children in book 1 and 2 as they played for the teacher's recital and was a beautiful touch.

Bought my GSXR used with no manuals. Felt the need to be able to work on my own bike, change the oil, adjust the chain, change tires, the usual things a home handyman likes to do for his own vehicles. This book not only covered all those things, it made me feel that I could handle a complete tear down and rebuild of my bike. A very helpful and well written manual.

"Teaching from the Balance Point: A guide for Suzuki Parents, Teachers, and Students" is an excellent source of practical information for those studying music in the Suzuki Method. Organized around Edward Kreitman's "Priority Teaching", and drawn from his many years of Suzuki teaching experience, it provides in-depth explanations of how to teach (and learn!) effectively and with superior results. Kreitman's basic idea of "priority teaching" is that there are certain things a student needs in every piece of music, at every level of playing. He urges people to learn to think in terms of these priorities, rather than focusing on where they are in the curriculum. He sets out to explain his five priorities, spending chapter on each one, detailing what it is and giving tips on how to teach it.

The book is geared toward violinists, and as such the technical parts of the book (such as the discussion of teaching vibrato) are also highly applicable to violists (slightly less so to cellists), but will not apply to instruments such as the piano, flute, etc. Other 'how to' tips, such as teaching children to learn music "by ear", will work for every music student. Even with these tips, the book is not primarily a 'how to' manual, and it also provides a concise, simple, and accurate explanation of Suzuki philosophy, with fitting anecdotes scattered throughout.

The writing style is clear and readable, the layout and pictures are elegant, and the explanations are precise and easy to understand. Kreitman writes with enthusiasm and 'balance', and the content is sound and thorough. The book has been widely praised by Suzuki teachers and organizations. I am a Suzuki teacher and have recommended this book to students and their parents; the overwhelming reaction has always been very positive, especially from parents who do not already have a musical background.

This is a great book and should be read all over the world. After doing some research, after seeing the book on the bookshelf in a bookstore in Taiwan today, in Chinese, it seems that Japan put out a Japanese-language edition in 2003 without giving credit to Doubleday Canada, which published the book in 1993. Now Eurasian Press has published a Chinese-language edition for the Taiwan market, giving earlier publishing credit to the Japanese firm and not to Doubleday. Maybe Doubleday sold the rights to Japan and there was no need to credit the Canadian firm. The book was written when Severn, daughter of famous TV scientists David Suzuki in Canada, was just 12, althought she is now a Yale graduate and out on the big world in her mid-20s. A good book for the world, hopefully it will get translated into 25 languages or more. Nice job, Severn!

There's a Barnyard in My Bedroom is a children's picturebook with a surprisingly involved story about a boy and a girl who harness the power of imagination to go on incredible adventures. At home, they discover an ocean in the bathroom and a forest in the living room; in their backyard, they find rocks that have existed for millions of years. "'What is a smell, anyway?' 'Actually, what we smell are tiny pieces of something. The pieces are so tiny we can't see them. Dogs can even smell pieces left behind from a person or animal that was here yesterday. Some animals leave smells to mark their territory. And some of those smells smell pretty bad to us." A blend of education, adventure, and wonder, There's a Barnyard in My Bedroom is an enjoyable storybook detailed enough to be suitable for young readers who are almost ready to start chapter books.

By explaining the inter-connectedness of all things David Suzuki, best known for the TV show The Nature of Things, gives us not only an introductory ecological education but tells us why we should be concerned about the future. Suzuki says, "My primary concern continues to be to convince people that there is a real crisis affecting all of us and that every minute we continue to deny or ignore it, the fewer options we will have and the harder it will be to make the changes needed to bring us back into balance with the factors that sustain our lives." Much of the information given will be familiar to well-informed environmentalists, but it has been put together in an easy to read book that even a teenager would enjoy reading. And this is just the type of information that teenagers and the rest of us need if we are to make good decisions about our future. Another Suzuki quote, "Until everyone takes it for granted that the real 'bottom line' for survival and the quality of life is not economics but the state of air, water, soil, and biological diversity, we will continue to perceive the 'environment' as an issue that must compete with other pressing matters." If you are the type that likes to mark the especially good quotes in a book, than you better have a couple extra highlighters when you read this one.

I had been waiting for this book and wasn't disappointed - it's a great addition to the (as yet) relatively limited number of books which address QR and psychology. It combines some excellent chapters on methodological issues with examples of qualitative studies. The focus on the research process in each of these studies makes the book a welcome companion for researchers who, like me, find themselves in a minority in their field and/or are largely teaching themselves qualitative research. I found the book informative, accessible and inspiring - and I was especially glad to see an inclusion of multicultural issues and perspectives in both the philosophical and applied sections of the book.