At ESM we offer a Core Instrumental Program for violin and cello students. All ESM students receive one private lesson and one group class every week. The Core Program also includes two annual concerts, a solo recital, book recitals when appropriate and an annual all day workshop (Calendar).

Lessons are arranged with the teacher and are held at various locations and times in Etobicoke, Brampton and West Toronto (see Faculty for more information). Students usually start with a 30 minute lesson and move to 45 and 60 minutes as they progress. Private lessons run from early - mid September to early June.

Group classes for ESM students vary according to student level. In addition to time with their instruments, classes for younger students include Music and Movement, where they continue their musical development with rhythmic and singing games. Classes for older students include instruction in reading skills and ensemble playing. Senior students may receive chamber music coaching as part of their group experience. Group classes run from mid September to late November and January to late April. They are held Wednesday evenings between 5:00 and 9:00 pm at Dixon Grove Junior Middle School in Etobicoke (315 The Westway at Kipling Ave).

These classes are part of the group class experience for the first couple of years. The children have half an hour instrumental group class and half an hour music and movement. These classes provide a setting for the children to learn various skills including singing, feeling rhythms with their bodies and group participation.

Parent Ed classes are provided for parents of beginners. After the children have settled in, these occur during the half hour of the Music and Movement class. Topics covered provide valuable information for new parents as well as motivation and support (see Parents for more information).

Two concerts are held in the late fall and spring and provide all the students (even the beginners) with an opportunity to play as part of a group and demonstrate what they have learned. These are generally held in a local high school auditorium, providing the students with the chance to play on a ‘big’ stage.

Solo recitals are held on a Saturday and Sunday in late May or early June. Each student prepares a piece to perform in a one hour recital of approximately ten to twenty students.

These are held three times per year and are for those students who have completed a level of their studies. They consist of one hour recitals in which the students play three pieces from the book they have completed. This is our way of celebrating the achievement of the students.

All students have a group lesson, an enrichment class and a group ‘play-in’. There are also extra activities such as crafts, games, a video, and a motivational parent talk, throughout the day. Students who wish to do so may also sign up for a semi-private lesson with one of the guest teachers.

The basic workshop fee is included in the regular ESM fees; there is an additional charge for those who wish to have semi-private lessons. Please note that any ESM student who wishes to participate in the workshop must register so that class schedules can be drawn up.  Occasionally ESM opens its workshop to outside students, depending on availability of space.

One of the strengths of ESM is the Enrichment Program that is also available to the students as they become more advanced. These classes support and broaden the musical experience of our students. There is an additional fee for these classes (click here for an Enrichment Registration form).

This class uses rhythmic reading exercises, singing, theory, games and various other activities to help develop the music reading skills of the students.

In addition to being fun, the orchestras provide an introduction to ensemble playing with both violin and cello, an introduction to orchestral repertoire, and an opportunity to improve music reading skills. The two senior orchestras present two concerts in the year. For more information on our orchestras, click here.

This class includes music reading and notation and the fundamentals of music theory such as keys, intervals, scale patterns and chords. This class is offered as demand makes it appropriate.

Our most senior students have the opportunity to participate in special events such as exchanges with other Suzuki schools, weekend music ‘retreats’ and masterclasses with guest teachers.  Some of our senior students participate in small ensembles throughout the year.

These two concerts, where the small ensembles, the orchestras and family ensembles perform, are highlights of the year.

Performing outside the context of ESSM gives students the sense of belonging to and having a responsibility to a broader community. These concerts also give students additional opportunities to perform in public. Our students perform at school fairs, nursing and retirement homes and for seasonal events.

Recognizing the importance of early childhood education and the need for a program for young children, ESM offers a ‘pre-instrumental’ class for two to four year olds. Following the philosophy of Talent Education developed by Dr. Suzuki, this program is based on imitation, praise and encouragement, repetition and parental involvement. It provides a musical experience that helps develop the physical, aural and mental skills that will help prepare these young children for insturmental study, making their initial instrumental learning easier.

Dr. Suzuki emphasized that the education of children should begin at a very young age. He argued that the infant/toddler period is a crucial time in which everything in the environment is effortlessly absorbed. He considered children to be like seedlings, and “…unless the seedlings are well cared for, beautiful flowers cannot be expected”.

Recent research supports Dr. Suzuki’s observations and beliefs in the potential of young children and the importance of nurturing that potential at an early stage. Scientists are finding that an enriched, nurturing environment with opportunities for exploration and learning contributes to cognitive and emotional development in young children and actually changes the growth of the brain. It has also been demonstrated that there are ‘windows of opportunity’ for much of this learning, some of them at very young ages. Brain connections related to music are most easily made at a young age (before the age of 8). Many repetitions in learning anything (as in language or music learning) strengthen brain growth, improving ability in other activities and thought processes.

“…Childhood is a particularly crucial time for the brain because of the neural sculpting that goes on; for many of our abilities, tendencies, talents, and reactions, those that get “hardwired” in childhood become the collective mental platform upon which we stand and grow for the rest of our lives”. (Magic Trees of the Mind, M. Diamond & J. Hopson; Plume: Penguin Putnam Inc. 1999:p57).

Suzuki Early Childhood Education (Suzuki ECE) aims to build on the child's natural delight in learning and to develop the abilities and natural potential of each child. The Suzuki ECE curriculum is based on the following concepts:

• Every child can learn
• Ability develops early
• Environment nurtures growth
• Children learn from one another 
• Success breeds success
• Encouragement is essential
• Parental involvement is critical

Skills and information such as pulse and rhythm recognition are introduced through songs, rhymes, games and other enjoyable activities in a way that helps to develop the self confidence and preparation for starting an instrument. The children will each develop at their own speed and when they are ready, if they so desire, can move on to a musical instrument. 

Schedule and Fee:  The class runs for 20 weeks and is an hour long.  Our Wednesday evening class is held from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Dixon Grove Junior Middle School, 315 The Westway.  This is the location of our instrumental group classes and offers a good opportunity to observe these classes.  Our Friday morning class is held from 10:00 - 11:00 in a private home setting.  The fee for each session is $260.  We accept new members throughout the year and the fees are pro-rated according to when you join us. 

Please contact ESM by email or at 416-239-4637 for more information or click here to download the Headstart Registration Form and/or Brochure.

There will be opportunities available for ESM's teen students who wish to mentor and help our younger students as well as to assist our teachers. Some of our teens have participated in a training session on working as practice buddies for our younger students. Students are able to earn community service hours for their help at special events. 

See the group class schedule for 'every other week' Senior group class dates. 

A new Teen Mentoring training workshop is planned for February 21, 2010, 1:30 - 6:30 p.m.  It will be held at the Miles Nadal jcc in Toronto and will be taught by Elayne Ras.  Participants must be 13 or older and in Suzuki Book 4 or higher.  The fee is $40 ($20 for MN jcc Suzuki program members).  Anyone interested in registering should contact ESM by email or phone.