"Beautiful tone, beautiful heart." - Dr. Shinichi Suzuki
About the Studio
The studio is located in the heart of Southington, at the brand new Southington Community Cultural Arts building (SoCCA).
Ariana's students are presented with many opportunities to perform, including: yearly studio recitals, graduation recitals, and community outreach performances. Students are encouraged and supported in their pursuit of additional performance outlets. Many of Ariana's students win auditions to perform in Connecticut Music Educator's Association (CMEA) regional and all-state festivals, CT youth symphonies, and participate in Suzuki summer institutes and music camps.
October 2014 - The Suzuki Book 1 group class celebrates a successful performance at the Southington Apple Harvest Festival.
My Pedagogical Style
Since I began teaching over a decade ago, I have developed a unique pedagogical style. I am well-versed in 3 distinct methods which give me a set of incredible tools to help me work with a variety of students (of all ages and learning types). My in-depth teacher training and experience as a professional performer allows me to take on beginning students, offer them a solid foundation, and build upon that for over a decade. It is not uncommon for my students to take lessons with me from kindergarten through high school.
It is my aim to go above and beyond to make your child’s musical experience fun, supportive, and individually tailored to their needs. I seek to cultivate a positive environment for my students' to embrace challenges and to allow their creativity to blossom. We all know the well-documented benefits of music lessons, and I specifically make sure that our lesson time emphasizes not only musical growth, but personal growth.
For a brand new student with no violin experience, I'd start by teaching Kaleidoscopes Method and later step into the Suzuki Method repertoire. After graduating Suzuki Books 2-5, I'd supplement with traditional repertoire like the Mozart Violin Concerti, Bach Solo Sonatas and Partitas, and Handel Sonatas. Read more about these methods below.
Kaleidoscopes Method Lessons
Kaleidoscopes Method is relatively new in the music education world, but it is nothing short of revolutionary. It blends three of the world's most famous pedagogies for early childhood education and music: Suzuki, Montessori, and Kodaly. By taking the greatest pieces from those 3 methods and by using bright, fun, child-friendly books, students learn to become well-rounded musicians and phenomenal violinists.
Kaleidoscopes balances independent learning (a Montessori principle) and parental involvement (a Suzuki principle), which motivates children to practice, to enjoy learning, and have the invaluable support of a home guide. It is unlike any other method as they get to make music right away and even learn to play piano! Students master complex skills through bite-sized pieces (called Violin Movement Building Blocks), dramatically improve their fine motor skills, learn to read sheet music (through the accompanying book series, "Lines and Spaces"), learn to play in 1st and 3rd position and in 5 different keys all in Book 1.
Kaleidoscopes Method is best for children ages 4+ who have no experience in violin. Prospective families are warmly invited to visit the studio and should plan on observing lessons and interviewing/auditioning for before formally enrolling.
Suzuki Method Lessons
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki's world-famous method has revolutionized the way children learn to play the violin. Also known as, "The Mother Tongue Method," Dr. Suzuki recognized a distinct connection between learning language and music. Emphasizing encouragement, positive correction, persistence, and intensive involvement of parents, teachers, and their peers, the Suzuki Method delivers a solid musical foundation while acting as a tool for children to develop good character. Dr. Suzuki's method is accompanied by a series of ten books which build the student's technique and repertoire. Each piece builds upon information learned from that of the previous. Suzuki teachers encourage mastery by routinely reviewing old pieces and simultaneously building upon them by introducing the techniques needed for playing newer and more difficult pieces. Ariana trained at The Hartt School's renowned Suzuki long-term training program. There, she trained with some of the world's most famous Suzuki pedagogues, Teri Einfeldt and Ed Kreitman and she is certified to teach the entire Suzuki repertoire (PreTwinkle through Book 8).
I start brand-new violin students on Kaleidoscopes and then bring them into the Suzuki Method books. To learn more, click here.
For transfer students (those who already have a background in Suzuki Method), I will incorporate some of the Kaleidoscopes Violin Movement Building Blocks and continue with the piece that they last studied. Prospective families are warmly invited to visit the studio and should plan on observing lessons and interviewing/auditioning for before formally enrolling. If you're a transfer student, please click here.
Traditional Lessons
Traditional is not a formal method, like Kaleidoscopes or Suzuki. Rather, lessons are tailored to match each student's needs and goals. Learning independently or with light parental guidance as needed, this method is best for students who have already begun their violin studies, who can read music already, and are ages 9+. Traditional students are welcome to audition for the studio. To get started, click below.
"Ariana was Rose's first violin teacher, starting at age 5. We ere so lucky to find her! She is fun and energetic and so kind, but make no mistake, she is teaching technical and musical rigor all the while. ...
We credit Ariana with instilling in Rose the pure joy in playing violin and making music, a positive work and practice ethic, and a commitment to technical rigor."
- Kathryn, Suzuki mom
 Girl playing the violin |  Suzuki foot chart |
|---|---|
 Violin recital |  Straznicky recital (40 of 48) |
 Apple_Harvest_Festival014 |  Straznicky recital (44 of 48) |
 Violin_Holiday_Recital086 |  Violin_Holiday_Recital122 |