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Support a student today by donating to our scholarship fund! 🎻
All contributions are tax-deductible and directly benefit the students in the program!
Ways to Give
1) Write a Check:
Make your check payable to ‘Lakewood Board of Education’ with ‘Lakewood Suzuki Strings’ in the memo line.
Send it to our office: 1257 Warren Road, Lakewood, OH 44107
2) Online Donations:
Visit our website lakewoodsuzukistrings.com/scholarship and select the button “Donate Online”. Select your donation level & make sure to write “Lakewood Suzuki Strings” in the comment box!
Thank you for supporting a child’s musical education! 🌟
We are so excited that the Lakewood Suzuki Strings group class students will perform a short program of Christmas tunes and Suzuki pieces for Light Up Lakewood! ✨
After our performance, stick around to hear other Lakewood musical groups and participate in festive acitvities such as a hot cocoa bar, photos with Santa, craft tables, and more! 🎅🏼
📍 Lakewood High School, Gynasium
🗓️ December 6th, 11am
(call time for musicians is 10:30am)
Photo credit: Ohio Grown Photography
Donate to support student scholarships and music education at Lakewood Suzuki Strings! All contributions are tax-deductible and directly benefit the students in the program! 🎻
Ways to Give
1) Write a Check:
Make your check payable to ‘Lakewood Board of Education’ with ‘Lakewood Suzuki Strings’ in the memo line.
Send it to our office: 1257 Warren Road, Lakewood, OH 44107
2) Online Donations:
Visit our website lakewoodsuzukistrings.com/scholarship and select the button "Donate Online". Select your donation level & make sure to write "Lakewood Suzuki Strings" in the comment box!
Thank you for supporting a child's musical education! 🌟
Happy Thanksgiving from Lakewood Suzuki Strings! 🍂
As we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the incredible community that surrounds us.
🍂 To our students, thank you for your curiosity, dedication, and the joy you bring to every note you play.
🍂 To our families, thank you for your constant support, encouragement, and belief in the Suzuki philosophy of learning with love.
🍂 To our teachers, thank you for your passion, patience, and the beautiful way you nurture each child’s musical journey.
It is an honor to make music together and to watch our students grow not only as musicians, but as kind, confident, and compassionate people. From our family to yours, we wish you a peaceful and joyful Thanksgiving filled with warmth, laughter, and maybe even a little music. 🎻🧡
With love,
Micaela and Clara 🧡
Reasons we love group class!! ⤵️
✨ Builds confidence: students feel part of something bigger and gain self-esteem through playing together.
🎻 Encourages review: revisiting familiar pieces keeps skills fresh and fun.
👂 Develops ensemble skills: learning to listen, follow cues, and blend sound as a team.
🤝 Creates community: students, families, and teachers all support one another on the musical journey.
🌱 Inspires growth: seeing peers play motivates everyone to keep learning.
🎨 Fosters creativity: a safe space to experiment, make mistakes, and grow together.
💬 Connects parents: families share in the joy of progress and community.
Group class reminds us that music is meant to be shared and that learning is more joyful when we do it together. 🎵💕
At Lakewood Suzuki Strings, learning an instrument happens within a supportive, encouraging community!
In addition to private lessons, all students participate in group classes designed to match their age and level, from our youngest “Twinkle” students to our advanced high schoolers.
Group classes are a core part of the Suzuki experience, helping students build teamwork, listening, and cooperation skills while celebrating each other’s progress and feeling inspired by their peers.
When children learn together, they grow as musicians and as humans!✨
"So.... what's the difference between the Suzuki Method and other types of music education?"
Have you ever wondered what the answer is to this question? If so, we're here to help!
The Suzuki Method has many differnet elements that set it apart and we are sharing our top 3.
1. The Suzuki Method as a Philosophy (and not just lessons!)
2. The Power of Group Class
3. Parental Support
The combination of these elements gives children a musical foundation that goes beyond notes and rhythms, and helps them develop the skills to become confident, joyful musicians.
Congratulations to our student Lillian for being selected for the Suzuki Association of America's Viola Ensemble at the 2026 SAA/ASTA Conference!
A select group of violists from across the country will come together to perform under the direction of Dr. Raphael Videira.
It is such a huge honor to be selected for this viola ensemble and we are so proud of this student! Go Lillian!
Enjoy this beautiful performance of The Swan from Carnival of the Animals at our recent student recital! 🦢
This piece by Saint-Saëns is known for its lyrical beauty and graceful flow which is perfect to showcase the cello’s rich, expressive sound. This cellist captured that spirit beautifully, bringing out the warmth and depth that make the cello so special. 💫
Bravo to this wonderful cellist for sharing such a heartfelt performance with our community! 🎻
We are absolutely thrilled with the results from our photo session with the one and only Simplicity Photography! ✨
Amber perfectly captured the joy, focus, and connection that fill our studios every day, from our youngest beginners to our advanced students. We couldn’t be more grateful to have these beautiful images that reflect what Lakewood Suzuki Strings is all about: joy, community, and growth.
Swipe through to see the faces behind the music and the magic that happens in our lessons and group classes! 🎶
Raise your hand if you've ever struggled with practice! 🙋♀️
Sometimes practicing a musical instrument with your child can feel frustrating or slow-going. Even though *we* know that our children are making progress in the long run, it's sometimes hard for them to be patient with the daily routine. There are solutions though! If we can help shape our children's positive mindset about practice, we can empower them to enjoy the process of learning, instead of just focusing on the end result.
When practice is treated as a chance to grow, kids feel more capable, parents feel less stressed, and progress comes more naturally. Our mindset around practice can help us get away from perfectionism and build consistency, confidence, and joy through the learning process.
Enjoy a beautiful performance of Gavotte from Mignon from Suzuki Violin Book 2 during our recital dress rehearsals this past week! Just listen to this beautiful and ringing tone with crisp articulation on each note!! 🎻✨
Our Spooky Suzuki Recital is this Saturday and you won’t to miss it! 👻
Saturday, October 25th
3pm and 5pm
Church of the Ascension
13216 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Ohio
See you there!✨
A peek into our dress rehearsals for our upcoming Halloween Solo Recital!🎃
Our students have been practicing with focus and dedication on their recital pieces and we can’t wait to celebrate their progress this weekend.
LSS Halloween Recital
When: 10/25 at 3:00 PM & 5:00 PM
Location: Church of the Ascension
13216 Detroit Rd, Lakewood Ohio
We’d love to see you there!
7 tips for creating a consistent practice routine! 👏
Save this post to remember this list! 🌟
We discussed these tips in our September parent classes - thanks to Christine Goodner @suzukitriangle for all the inspiration in her book "Beyond the Music Lesson".
Which tip have you tried? Tell us in the comments! ⤵️
Enjoy a music clip from this violist’s Book 1 & 2 graduation recital! 🎻
We love hearing the rich sound of the viola, with clear articulation in every note. She did a wonderful job demonstrating the dramatic dynamic contrasts and expressive musical phrasing throughout the piece.
Bravo! 👏
Piece: Minuet by Boccherini, Suzuki Viola Book 2
Congrats to this little cellist for completing his 500-bowhold challenge!🎉
In the Suzuki Method, repetition is key. Practicing the same motions daily helps young students build comfort and muscle memory for good technique. Using a fun chart to color in each repetition lets students see their progress and makes practicing rewarding!
As Shinichi Suzuki said, “Knowledge is not skill. Knowledge plus ten thousand times is skill.” As students experience the results of repetition in their musical practice, they will begin to carry this mindset into everything they do.
In the Suzuki Method, parents play an essential role in their child’s musical journey. They have the unique opportunity to be the “home teacher,” learning alongside their child throughout the week.
Being a Suzuki parent is truly special. You’re not just helping your child play an instrument; you’re teaching discipline, the power of small steps, repetition, patience, perseverance, and positive self-talk. It takes dedication to manage weekly lessons, group classes, and daily practice, but the rewards are immeasurable: watching your child grow in confidence and skill is a gift.
Teacher tip from our violin faculty, Ms. Karen! 🎻
Her tip is all about working on posture in a way that’s fun and imaginative. By using creative approaches, Ms. Karen helps students remember their technique goals while keeping the learning process joyful and memorable. Teaching young children takes creativity, and Ms. Karen shines at making every lesson a positive experience!
Follow for more violin teacher tips. 🎶
We had the best time participating in Play Music on the Porch Day the last Saturday of August!
Play Music on the Porch Day is an annual, international event on the last Saturday of August. Over 1000 musicians participate worldwide and it's growing every year! The mission is to find common ground through music regardless of our differences, and to demonstrate the unifying power of music worldwide.
LSS students performed and cheered each other on from the audience at several porches around Lakewood. We love to see our students supporting each other and showing their community the beauty of music!
Favorite warm-up with Ms. Micaela! 🎻
Her go-to warm-up starts with focusing on sound quality, followed by left-hand finger dexterity using a Schradieck etude.
Ms. Micaela believes that strong technique is the key to loving your sound. When students feel proud of how they play, practicing becomes enjoyable and rewarding. With a solid foundation, they have the tools to tackle just about any piece of music!
Follow along for more violin and viola tips. 🎶
All smiles after having our first lesson with our REAL CELLO!!! ✨
All students younger than 6 years first start with a foam cello that allows them to work on their form, learn to respect the instrument, and feel accomplished when they move up to the real thing! 🎻
This little cellist is beaming with joy because he "graduated" from his foam cello and is now ready for the real instrument! 👏
Group class starts tomorrow! 🎶
We’re so excited to welcome everyone back to the Suzuki Program! After a summer of just private lessons, it’s wonderful to come together for group classes, solo performances, and concerts. Being part of the Suzuki community makes learning an instrument fun and motivating, and we can’t wait to see all our students again!
After a refreshing summer break, our Suzuki Group Program is starting back up for the school year! 🎶
Group classes and performances are such a special part of the Suzuki experience as they bring joy, motivation, and a strong sense of community to every student’s musical journey.
This is our favorite time of the year when we are all reunited after the summer! We’re excited to see our students back together in class, ready to learn, grow, and make music as a community.
We asked our violin and viola faculty, Mrs. Clara: "What is your favorite warm up?"
Her answer: Chorus from Judas Maccabaeus in Suzuki Book 2!
Mrs. Clara's approach to teaching is focused on creating a beautiful tone in students where they can warm up their sound and their vibrato! If a student loves how they sound, they they can fall more in love with the art of music and be more motivated for their daily practice.
Follow along for more Suzuki violin content!
We celebrated another twinkle graduation this month! 🌟
In the early stages of the Suzuki journey, students learn to play their first song, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” in several unique rhythms and styles, called variations. These variations build the foundation for confident, controlled playing. In Miss Micaela’s studio, we celebrate this achievement with a special challenge: performing all the Twinkle variations back-to-back in a single lesson. It takes focus, endurance, and lots of bow control. The best part is that it ends with a sweet reward: Oreos!
Congrats to this budding violinist! 🎻
Take a look at this timelapse showing 1.5 years of lessons and daily practice! Watch to see how this student's posture, technique, tone, and musicality has developed from the beginning to now!🎉
These small consistent steps of daily practice lead to expressive and confident playing. ✨
Remember that long term growth comes from showing up every day and find joy in the process! 💕
Twinkle graduation is a huge step in a little violinist's journey! ✨
It is where a student has to play through several different versions of the song of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star without stopping. Each version develops their fine motor skills, rhythm, bow arm, and their stamina. 💪
This little violinist is working on her graduation which is just around the corner! Stay tuned for the performance!💗
Look at this student's focus and concentration!
If you look closely, you will notice a little red fuzzy friend on his violin! This fuzzy friend is named "Razzmatazz", and he helps this student with practice. By balancing Razzmatazz on the violin, we can work on building focus, improving posture, and feeling more balanced while holding the instrument.
Plus it helps make learning fun and full of joy!
Here’s a little sneak peak of our photoshoot with Simplicity Photography! 📸
We had such a wonderful time capturing the joy of the Suzuki Method with our incredible faculty members and students! ✨
Stay tuned for the finished product!🎻
#brandingphotoshoot #smallbusiness #musicprogram #suzukiprogram #clevelandbusiness #lakewoodohio #suzukiviolin #suzukiviola #suzukicello
⚠️ Watch out! ⚠️ This kid just got their driver's license...with their cello bow of course!! 😉
After completing 500 bow holds, they're now ready to drive that cello bow like a pro. 🚙🎻
Huge shoutout to Miss Katie for making learning so joyful and motivating. Her creativity builds confident, happy cellists from the very first steps! ❤️
In the Suzuki Method, parents are not just observers. They are active practice partners throughout their child's musical journey. 🎻
This beautiful moment shows how the parent supports their child's learning through active participation in practice. Mom is moving the bow so her child can focus on her newest skill - putting fingers on the string!✨
When parents guide with love, children feel supported. They associate music with connection, giving them a strong foundation upon which to build resilience, discipline, and confidence. 💙
A beautiful performance of Perpetual Motion from this violinist's Suzuki Book 1 Recital! 🎻
With relaxed posture, curved fingers, and confident bow control, this soloist shows what focused practice and supportive instruction can achieve. Behind the clear articulation and resonant tone is steady progress and growing confidence.
Every note reflects this student’s dedication and we are so proud to celebrate their growth!
Isn’t this the cutest violin cover ever?! 🎻💛
This six year old walked into her lesson and said, “I figured out how to play Pink Pony Club by ear!” — and she nailed it.
In the Suzuki Method, we focus on ear training from day one so students can feel confident hearing and speaking the language of music. That strong ear training means it doesn’t take long before they can start figuring out songs just by listening—yes, even their favorite pop tunes!
It's incredibly empowering for a young child to realize that their musical skills can extend beyond their Suzuki book or their lesson assignments. This is the moment where a child first transforms from a student into a student-musician. As teachers we are so privileged to witness this transformation point in a child's musical development; it's completely magical and special every time! 🎻💛
It’s the little moments that make teaching so rewarding. ⭐
In this video you can hear Ms. Micaela celebrating every step of the learning process - big and small! Over time, the memories of these moments build up each student's self-confidence, focus, and resilience - qualities that will last a lifetime.👏
🌟Twinkle Graduation ALERT!!! 🌟
This young violinist recently celebrated her Twinkle graduation with Mrs. Clara!
In the Suzuki Method, one of the first pieces we play is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. We learn how to play it 6 different ways, called variations! In Mrs. Clara's studio, students celebrate the important milestone of learning Twinkle by performing all the variations straight through in one lesson, which develops their bow control, stamina, and focus. The prize for your Twinkle graduation? OREOS!
This is a huge accomplishment and we are so proud of our student! 👏
Playing music with your friends makes the experience 10 times more fun. 😉
It was such a joy to work with these outstanding students this past semester. Each week, they arrived eager to learn, connect with one another, and participate in our practice challenge! ✨
Group class offers a unique opportunity for students to develop their musicianship and build a sense of musical community, all while having fun in the process!👏
Save this video for a group class idea!✨🎻
This version of Musette is perfect for Suzuki group class of all levels.
➡️ Pretwinkle/Book 1 level taps: Twinkle Varation C Rhythm (Ta, ti-ti. Ta, ti-ti.)
➡️ Violas and cellos: drone the A and the D strings, changing bows on the half note or whole note beat.
➡️ Violins: Play the Musette melody. It's such a fun way to play Musette where everyone can participate!
Such a fun way to play this Suzuki piece for everyone! 🎻
🎻✨ At Lakewood Suzuki Strings, we believe every child deserves to begin their musical journey with confidence and joy. That’s why we start our youngest students on a foam cello!
Here’s why parents (and kids!) love beginning this way:
✅ They learn how to care for an instrument in a low-pressure, hands-on way
✅ They can develop relaxed posture and form without the weight of a real cello
✅ They focus on foundational skills without the distraction of creating sound with the bow or strings
✅ They can be motivated by working toward the goal of earning their real instrument
Ready to begin your child’s musical journey with encouragement and ease? 🎶 Contact us today! ⤵️
lakewoodsuzukistrings.com
Inspire your child's lifelong love of music. 🎻
Designed for children ages 3 and up, our three-month summer cello package offers a focused introduction to weekly cello lessons through the Suzuki Method. It’s the perfect way to start your child on an instrument before joining the Suzuki program in the fall.
🎻 No experience needed — just curiosity, joy, and a love of music!
📞 Call today to reserve your spot — space is limited! Lessons begin June 11th.
We had a wonderful time at our final group class of the spring semester last Wednesday! 👏
Over the past semester, these dedicated students have made remarkable progress—strengthening their musical skills and building meaningful friendships through practice challenges, technique games, and more. It's been so fun to watch them grow in confidence, focus, and teamwork—skills that will serve them well far beyond the music classroom! ✨
Enjoy this gorgeous solo piece for viola by the composer Vaughan Williams. This prelude movement shows just how many colors and emotions the viola can express—from calm and reflective to stormy and intense. It’s a moving and memorable piece that captures the soul of the instrument and makes you fall in love with its sound.✨
Performing is crucial to a child's musical education! Regular performance opportunities helps students:
• Build confidence and stage presence
• Strengthen focus and listening skills
• Encourage goal-setting and follow-through
• Deepen their musical expression
• Foster a sense of accomplishment
• Bring joy to family, friends, and community 🎶
Free family concert and instrument petting zoo! ✨
Join us this Sunday for a live string quartet concert set to the story of "Ferdinand the Bull". After the concert, your child will touch, feel, and hold a real stringed instrument. A perfect way to introduce your child to live music and to musical instruments!
When: Sun May 4th, 2pm
Location:
Lakewood Public Library
Main Branch
15425 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107
We can't wait to see you there!✨
We are beyond thrilled to announce that this high school senior violist has been accepted into all of her college viola programs! 🎻
This outstanding achievement is a testament to her incredible talent, dedication, and hard work. We couldn’t be prouder of all she has accomplished, and we can’t wait to see what her future holds!✨
🌟 Student Showcase! 🌟
We are excited to congratulate this awesome LSS viola student for earning second place in her division at the Ohio Viola Society competition! @ohioviolasociety
This remarkable achievement is a testament to her dedication, skill, and hard work. We are incredibly proud of her growth, and can’t wait to see where her musical journey takes her next!
Congrats!🎻👏
We were thrilled to celebrate another Book 1 Graduation Recital! 🎻
Congratulations to this dedicated student on successfully completing Suzuki Book 1 — a milestone that includes performing approximately 20 minutes of music from memory. This accomplishment reflects consistent daily practice, focus, and perseverance. We’re incredibly proud of her hard work and musical growth!🌟
Come join us for our annual Spring Solo Recitals! 🌸
These recitals are a celebration of all the hard work our students have put in throughout the past year and we are so excited to be celebrating them. 🎻
✨Spring Solo Recitals✨
3pm and 5pm
Church of the Ascension
13216 Detroit Ave.
Lakewood Ohio.
We would love to see you there!
Our students had a great time last night during their dress rehearsals! 👏
They each got a chance to play their recital piece with our studio pianist, in front of an audience of their Suzuki friends. 🎻
This rehearsal with piano helps each student feel even more prepared and confident for their big performance! 💫
We are so proud of all the work these students have put into polishing their pieces and we can't wait to celebrate them during the solo recitals this weekend! 🎻
Come join us for our annual Spring Solo Recitals! 🌸 🎵
These recitals are a celebration of all the hard work our students have put in throughout the past year and we are so excited to be celebrating them! 🥳
Spring Solo Recital
3pm and 5pm
Church of the Ascension
13216 Detroit Ave. Lakewood Ohio.
We would love to see you there! ✨
Vibrato is an exciting step in every violinist’s journey! 🤩
Here is the checklist for what we are listening and looking for when practicing vibrato:
🎵 Vibrating on the fingertips
🎵 Loose knuckles
🎵 Maintaining the hand shape
🎵 Clear pitch variation
🎵 Clear rhythm with the metronome
🎵 Bow control & distribution
What would YOU add to this list? ✨
Thank you to @rockyriverpublib for hosting us for our Storytime Concert Series! The children who attended this concert learned about the different instruments of the string family and then enjoyed a live string quartet performance set to the story of 'Ferdinand the Bull'. 🎻
After the concert, they participated in an instrument petting zoo, where they had the chance to try a real violin, viola, and cello. This was such a fun event, and we are incredibly grateful to our wonderful faculty for their performance and to Bowed String Shop for providing the instruments for the petting zoo! 💕
If you attended this concert and want to learn more, check out our website to schedule your free discovery call! 🌟
Lakewoodsuzukistrings.com
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