Practice as Connection: Supporting your Child during the holidays
Sunday, 6 July 2025 at 7pm (UK time)
🎶 Practice as Connection: Supporting Your Child During the Holidays 🎶
Keep music joyful, focused, and connected—even when your routine shifts
What helps children stay motivated and musically connected during the holidays?
Summer routines change, and so does practice. So how can we adapt while supporting well-being, joy, and progress? Imagine learning in a more relaxed environment—with smiles instead of stress.
In this inspiring conversation, violin teacher trainer Guillem Calvo was joined by Suzuki teacher trainers Daniel Fajardo(piano) and Carey Beth Hockett (cello) to explore how families can approach practice over the summer with greater flexibility, creativity, and warmth.
Whether you’re navigating travel, downtime, or wobbly routines, this session is full of encouragement, insight, and grounded support for nurturing music as a source of connection—not just correction.
Speakers Bios
Daniel Fajardo – Suzuki Piano Teacher Trainer
Daniel Fajardo combines being a Suzuki Piano Teacher Trainer with a deep background in music composition, piano performance, and music education. Based in Madrid, he teaches at the Anna Magdalena Bach School, where he also leads the Orquesta de Pianos Isaac Albéniz, a creative ensemble project for advanced students.
In addition to his studio teaching, Daniel is the piano pedagogy lecturer at UAX University and regularly leads teacher training courses across Europe, with a focus on creativity, improvisation, and pedagogy. His work blends classical and jazz influences, and his students range from beginners to post-Suzuki levels. Daniel brings warmth, innovation, and deep musical insight to his teaching and training.
Carey Beth Hockett – Suzuki Cello Teacher Trainer
Carey Beth Hockett brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role as an educator in the Suzuki Method. With a background spanning from the Eastman School of Music to leadership roles in international Suzuki associations, Carey has dedicated her career to refining group class techniques and fostering community among Suzuki teachers worldwide. Her compositions, including 'Amusements for String Quartet' and 'Diversions for Cello Ensemble,' reflect her deep commitment to music education. Carey continues to inspire through her innovative teaching methods and advocacy for inclusive, effective music instruction.
Guillem Calvo - Suzuki Violin Teacher and Trainer
Guillem’s journey as a Suzuki violin teacher has been inspired by his own experiences as a young Suzuki student, developing into a passion for music education. His teaching spans workshops and group lessons across the UK, Europe, and Central Asia, as well as online, with a focus on creating supportive, engaging environments for his students and their parents. Guillem is also a co-founder of Insight Suzuki, an initiative aimed at bringing Suzuki teachers and parents together for training and community. His teaching is rooted in fostering both musical skills and personal development, emphasizing the transformative power of consistent practice and mindful listening.
What We Explored (Session Highlights)
-
🧠 Practice as connection, not correction
🎵 Enjoying already-learned pieces and listening deeply
🏡 Creating rhythms and rituals that work for your family
🌞 Ideas for joyful, short, and flexible summer practice
🎹 Insights from piano, cello, and violin across ages and levels
🎲 Creative strategies: “lucky dip” games, playdates, musical storytelling
🎧 Mental practice techniques for travel or off days
💬 The importance of emotional safety, presence, and celebrationEven five minutes of joyful, connected practice can nurture resilience and love for music.
✨ A Note for Suzuki Teachers
You're warmly invited to our next brainstorm session for Suzuki Teachers series:
"Suzuki Teachers Are the Environment"
📅 Tuesday, 8th July
🕖 7:00 PM (UK time) | 💻 Online via ZoomCome reflect on how our language, energy, and habits shape the environment our students grow in—both in lessons and at home. Let’s explore how we model the very connection we want families to build
send me an email to [email protected] if interested!
