Artichoke Community Music Teachers

Tricia Snell

Music Bio

I teach flute and recorder in my SE Hawthorne area studio, focusing on children age four and up (though I also teach adults). Soprano recorders (and small-sized flutes with curved head-joints) are perfect for children because they fit their small hands easily. They also have a wonderful purity of sound, and they adapt flexibly to all musical styles.

I grew up singing and playing various instruments taught by my musician mother. In 1982, I graduated with honours in Flute Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music (www.rcmusic.ca) in Toronto, Canada. Since then I have performed as a classical flutist in chamber ensembles, orchestras, solo recitals, and gigs at restaurants and cafes. Currently I play in a flute duo in Portland. I continue to study the flute and other aspects of musicianship, such as correct body use for musicians.

Over the past six years I have developed an intense interest in young learners. I am a certified Music Together (R) teacher. Music Together (www.musictogether.com) is a research-based, developmentally-appropriate music and movement method for kids up to age five. I teach music and movement classes at six Portland area preschools, as well as for Music Together of Portland (www.musictogether-pdx.com).

I am Suzuki-trained, at the Colorado Suzuki Institute. My flute and and recorder teaching is based on Dr. Shinichi Suzuki's philosophy and repertoire (www.suzukiassociation.org). Parents play a vital role in Suzuki learning, and students learn real pieces by heart in the very first lessons, adding note-reading only as they are ready for it. (This is known as the "mother-tongue" approach, reflecting the natural process of learning a spoken language: listening > speaking > reading > writing.

Suzuki-style learning is comprehensive - I see myself as my students; all-round music teacher, not just their flute or recorder teacher. My teaching involves: * weekly lessons (for one or two children together, or parent & child together) * monthly group classes (when all my students come together to play) * parent education classes (four per year, to support at-home practice) * informal performances (at least two per year) * Suzuki's progressive repertoire, with books and CDs for daily listening * additional repertoire according to the student's interests * basic musicianship training (rhythm and tonal facility, and eventually, reading and writing of music) incorporated into lessons & classes

My credo is: Play with joy!

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