Suzuki Department
Suzuki Department - Core Philosophy
The Suzuki Method is a process of teaching children based on how they develop language. In our Suzuki program students have two lessons a week, one private lesson and one lesson in a group comprised of musicians of similar age and ability. Just as parents play an active role in teaching children their mother-tongue, parents here too, play an active role in their child's development. By attending lessons and working with the teachers, parents are instructed on how to help their children practice at home. In addition to daily practice, students also have a daily listening assignment which help develop their ear and learn the repertoire. Suzuki students and parents participate in a community which includes play-ins, concerts, and parent meetings to celebrate their children's progress.
The Conservatory offers Suzuki training in violin, viola, cello, flute, guitar, piano and bass for students four and up. Also called the "Mother Tongue" method, Suzuki instruction is modeled on the way children learn to speak their native tongue. The method’s philosophy includes the belief that talent is not inherited, but nurtured by a child’s environment. The instruction, which encourages active parental involvement, aims to envelop the entire family unit, to help unfold the child’s natural potential to learn and become a happy, productive person.
Key program components that differ from traditional instruction include, significant parental involvement, daily listening, and regular group lessons in addition to weekly private lessons.
Parents wishing to enroll their child in the Suzuki Program must observe a private and a group Suzuki lesson before enrolling their child, and must attend a parent orientation meeting before their child begins lessons.
Suzuki Department Chair - George Little
George A. Little is a classical guitarist living on the North Shore. He holds a B.A. in music from UMass Dartmouth, where he studied with William Riley, and is currently pursuing an M.M. from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA where he has studied with David Patterson (New World Guitar Trio).
As a performer, he has been enthusiastically received by audiences throughout New England, and has a series of performance awards to his credit including the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra/Lillian B. Lamaroux award for excellence in music. He was the first music student to be awarded the Emil “Smokey” Ameen scholarship for excellence in art and academics at UMass Dartmouth. At Longy, George has advocated the guitar’s role in chamber music through numerous collaborations including using the guitar to accompany Schubert art songs originally composed for voice and piano.
He has taught guitar for over 10 years and has had teacher training as part of his graduate degree from the Longy School of Music. He is a registered Suzuki instructor and received his Suzuki training from Frank Longay at the Hartt Suzuki Institute. He teaches all styles of guitar for the young at Musical Arts Academy in Exeter, NH and privately in the Greater Boston and North Shore areas. He joined South Shore Conservatory in 2008.
Suzuki String Coordinator - Katherine Roussopoulos
Katherine received her first 10 years of violin instruction from Madeleine van Rooyen at the Hugo Lambrechts Music Center in Cape Town, South Africa. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in violin performance, from the University of Cape Town, in 2004, where she received the highest string practical grade for her year, as well as graduating with distinctions in chamber music, orchestration, and violin performance. She was placed on the Dean’s Merit List for all of her academic years. In 2005 Katherine completed her Honors degree in violin performance with distinction. From 2001 – 2005 Katherine was a member of the UCT orchestras, and was concertmaster from 2003 through 2005. As well as receiving a bursary from SAMRO, Katherine has been awarded the Gerry Meyer and Alfred Libochowitz String Prizes, and is currently a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society.
She has studied under Prof. Jack de Wet, Prof. Jurgen Schwietering, Prof. Farida Bacharova, and most recenlty Prof. Bayla Keyes at Boston University where she completed her Masters degree in violin performance, graduating Summa Cum Laude in May 2008.
As well as teaching violin and piano in the greater Boston area and New Hampshire, Katherine performs regularly with Atlantic Strings, a Boston based string quartet, Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and the Indian Hill Symphony Orchestra. She has performed extensively throughout South Africa, toured Europe with the Hugo Lambrechts Symphony Orchestra, and has performed solo and chamber music recitals in the Seychelles, and the USA.
Katherine has been sponsored by Skye International Foundation, the National Arts Council of South Africa, and the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust.
Private Lessons
Students may start lessons on violin, viola, cello, flute, guitar, and bass as young as age four.
Suzuki Instruction:
Our lesson prices are based on two 17-week semesters. If you choose to pay in full for a full year, you will receive 34 lessons at the 32 week price.
| 17 weeks | 34 weeks (if paid in full by 9/11/09) | |
| 30 minutes | $820 | $1556 |
| 45 minutes | $1188 | $2260 |
| 60 minutes | $1470 | $2580 |
Fall Suzuki Orientation
Thursday, September 10, 7:30 pm in Hingham.
Suzuki Strings Monthly Play-ins
A play-in is a large group class made up of all of Suzuki string group classes at both campuses. Students of all ages observe each other play, the younger students inspired by and learning from the older students. The primary focus of this event is to impart the idea of musical performance being joyous.
No fee.
Hingham: December 5, 3 pm
Duxbury: October 25, 4 pm
Suzuki Strings
Ashleigh Gordon - violin and viola
Connie Hagen - violin
Chris Rathbun - cello & bass
Katherine Roussopoulos - violin
Cynthia Weller - viola
(781) 749-7565 ext. 10
Suzuki Guitar
(781) 749-7565 ext. 10
Suzuki Flute
(781) 749-7565 ext. 10
Ten Suzuki Students Finish the 30- Day Challenge
When South Shore Conservatory Suzuki Guitar Instructor George Little presented his students with a special 30-day challenge, he was delighted to find that ten of them accomplished this with flying colors. Roy and Rose Cataudella, Eli and Josh Peters, Nicolas Harati, Jack Warren, Eli Webber, Brän James, Tyler Schnauck and Larry Ogola were among the students to have completed the challenge. According to Little, the rules were simple: 30 days no misses. The amount of time students needed to practice depended upon their age. The formula was three times their age in minutes for a minimum to equal 1 day of practice. For example a four-year-old, needed to practice 12 minutes minimum per day, a seven-year-old needed to practice 21 minutes per day. The Conservatory congratulates these students on their impressive accomplishment!
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| Roy Cataudella | Rose Cataudella | Eli Peters | Josh Peters | Nicolas Harati |
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| Jack Warren | Eli Webber | Brän James | Tyler Schnauck | Larry Ogola |
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available for private lessons for children whose families can document financial need. Application forms are available in the office and as a downloadable Word Document and must be filled out and returned prior to the first week of the semester. All applications will be considered by the Scholarship Committee, which meets before each semester to grant assistance. Recipients of scholarship aid must reapply each semester.
South Shore Conservatory admits students of any race, color, nationality, and ethnic origin to all rights and privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.