Catherine Stewart teaches the Suzuki Violin Method.

The Program consists of five elements...

• Private Lessons
• Group Class
• Chamber Music
• Solo Recital
• Movement Class

All activities are required for all students, and are included in your tuition.

Additional Performance Opportunites: Community Involvement | Competitions

Suzuki Violin Method | return to top

• The young violinists range in age from 4 - 18 and most started violin training when they were 3 or 4 years old.
• They are all learning by the "Suzuki" method, whose emphasis is on small, success oriented steps, with positive reinforcement and nurturing the love of music.

• They begin their study by listening to music and playing by ear, as they would learn a language.
• As they progress, they learn to read music, just like traditional violin students.
• The end results are wonderful musicians who play with sensitivity, discipline, and beauty and who delight in sharing their gift of music with the community.

• There is a private lesson every week for all students.
• Lessons are taught with small, success oriented steps, in a nurturing, positive environment.
• Parents are required to attend and take notes during lessons for students younger than 11 years old, and practice with their child.
• Practice is required 6 days a week for at least the length of the lesson. (Half hour lesson = half hour daily practice)
• At the beginning, there is an emphasis on posture and music is learned by listening and rote. As students advance, they learn to read and cover the same material as "traditional" violin students.

Group Class | return to top

• Group class is an opportunity for students to focus on sharpening technical skills through review.
• In addition to review pieces from the Suzuki repertoire, fiddle tunes and reading pieces are added.
• Concentration, accuracy, dynamics, musicality, and ensemble are developed and nurtured.
• Students are divided into groups according to the repertoire they have mastered.
• A concert concludes the segment.
• At the concert, all students start with "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" (the first piece in the Suzuki repertoire) and progress through the music.
• As the repertoire becomes more advanced, the younger students stop playing and the advanced students continue.
• All the pieces sound great, because the advanced students are always playing with the beginners.
• This is a wonderful inspiration for all the students - younger students aspire to play like the "big kids" and the "big kids" get to be role models.

Chamber Music | return to top

• In January, we begin our Chamber Music study.
• Students are divided into ensembles ranging from 4 violin groups to string trio, quartets and quintets.
• There is a reading readiness class for less advanced students.
• Students are coached on their pieces and rehearse together.
• There is a recital at the end of the segment. We also participate in the Maryland State Music Teacher's "Strings Plus" Chamber Music Festival.
• Learn more...

Solo Recital | return to top

• All students perform a solo, by memory, on a formal recital, accompanied by a professional pianist. Students have rehearsals with the accompanist prior to the recital.

Movement Class | return to top

• Movement class is taught by Isiah Johnson, a professor at University of Maryland.
• This class is held three times in the Spring.
• Movement class integrates rhythm with body motions.
• Pattern recognition, concentration, expression of musical sounds, nuance and feelings are explored in a creative, fun environment.

• Stewart's Stellar Strings share their gift of music with the community.
• Book graduations: To graduate a book, students perform the entire book by memory, at their lesson. Then, they schedule and perform the graduation recital at a retirement home or other similar venue.
• These talented young artists have performed throughout the Washington area including Maplewood Park Place, The Olney Fall Festival, Leisure World, Chevy Chase Pavilion, Asbury Village, Ring House, Barnes & Noble, Practice-a-Thon fund raiser for Manna and benefit concerts for Shepherd's Table.

Competitions | return to top

• Stewart's Stellar Strings continue to have the opportunity to participate in many competitions such as the Gretchen Hood Competition, Brewster Competition, Weaver Competition, National Symphony Concerto Competition and the Catherine Shouse Competition.