Congratulations to string specialist Catherine Michelsen

Congratulations to Patel Conservatory’s string specialist, Dr. Catherine Michelsen, for recently completing the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Arizona.

Michelsen has been teaching at the Patel Conservatory since 2005 and coordinates our Suzuki violin and chamber programs. Under her direction, the Suzuki violin program has flourished in the past few years.

The Suzuki method of teaching violin is based on the teaching philosophy of Shinichi Suzuki. It is a parent/child approach which is based upon the way in which young children learn language.

Michelsen received a bachelor of music from Florida State University, a master of music in violin performance from The Boston Conservatory, and a Master of Music in Chamber Music from the University of South Florida. She completed her doctorate in May.

We are honored to have such distinguished faculty on our team.

Congratulations Dr. Michelsen!

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Patel Conservatory offers Suzuki violin to student ages three and up, and Suzuki cello to students ages six and up.

There will be an informational meeting for all those interested in learning more about Suzuki violin on Mon., Aug. 18, 2014 from 5 to 6 p.m.

To RSVP, please call 813.222.1002.

Spotlight on Josh Chung

Josh Chung

Congratulations to Patel Conservatory violin student Josh Chung who recently celebrated his book one graduation in the Suzuki program.

The Suzuki violin program is a parent-child approach to learning the instrument based on the Japanese violin teacher Shinichi Suzuki's beliefs that every child has talent.

“There are 10 Suzuki Violin School books,” explained Patel Conservatory Suzuki instructor Catherine Michelsen. 

“Dr. Suzuki incorporated a graduation system in which students, upon achieving certain playing levels, would record several polished pieces of music...This was a celebration of accomplishment.”

Josh has been a Suzuki student at the Conservatory for two years, and he is the first Conservatory student to complete the first violin book.

“He and his family have been amazing to work with. Disciplined, dedicated, and supportive, Josh and his family really exemplify the Suzuki philosophy,” said Michelsen.

Josh developed a passion for music at an early age.

“He’s the one who asked to take violin lessons,” said Josh’s mom, Sue Chung. “We really love the whole program and the facility. I just love the environment [at the Patel Conservatory], it’s not only violin, but it’s Rock School and dance, and you just feel that when you enter the building...I walk in, and I just feel calm.”

To celebrate his recent accomplishment, Josh performed selections from the first Suzuki violin book in a recital for family and friends last week in the TECO Theater.

“I feel pretty good and proud,” said Josh.

Learning how to figure out the notes in practice was a challenge as he progressed through more difficult pieces. He’s learning how to play by ear and work through it on his own.

“It was kind of hard, but I persevered and I did it,” he said.

Josh will continue his Suzuki journey and start on the next book this year. The skills he gains from Suzuki - discipline, patience and teamwork - will serve him throughout all areas of his life.

“I’m so extremely proud of him...He’ll always have this love and passion for music,” said Sue.

For more information about Suzuki violin lessons or other instrumental private lessons at the Conservatory, click here.

Look who made it BIG!

Patel Conservatory Suzuki violin student Soraya Keaton-Baldwin recently got to see herself larger than life at OAI Corp.

OAI Corp is the Patel Conservatory and Straz Center’s printing partner who produces our billboards, banners, signs and more.

From on-site signage to billboards around the community, OAI has been a supporter of the Straz Center for more than 20 years.

Michael Garcia founded OAI in 1989 to provide hand-painted signs, billboards and blank banners to companies around Florida. He started with a $5,000 credit card in a 200-sqare-foot room.

Now the company is the largest grand-format printer in the Southeast and known throughout the nation. Its 40,000 square-foot Tampa facility houses a variety of digital and screenprinting machines.

OAI uses one of the world's largest ink-jet printers to create multi-media for its clients.

It’s pretty cool when our students get to see themselves on those giant billboards and enjoy a bit of fame, at least in the Tampa Bay area.

Dylan Riveiro is a longtime theater student at the
Patel Conservatory who enjoyed seeing his own face on
a Conservatory billboard in Brandon.

Baldwin, 6, a student at Cambridge Christian School, has been taking violin lessons at the Patel Conservatory for nearly three years. She also takes dance classes here. She was impressed when she saw herself on the enormous 50-foot billboard before it went up.

Spot our Patel Conservatory billboards around Tampa Bay and tell us if you know someone who’s made it BIG!

And if you're actually on one of our summer camps and classes billboards, take a picture of yourself in front of it and post it to our Facebook page!

Suzuki students earn prizes for practice

Nitya Katwala opens her prize.

Congratulations to Patel Conservatory Suzuki violin students who recently received prizes for their hard work and dedication!

Students in Hollis Hammond’s and Catherine Michelsen’s Suzuki violin classes recently were rewarded for months of practice.

“We started keeping track of the student’s progress with a marble incentive in January,” said Michelsen.

Parents were asked to keep notes and keep track of how often the students practiced at home.

“For every day they practiced, they got a marble in their jar,” said Michelsen. “The idea is that they are competing with themselves, not each other.”

After months of watching their marble jars fill up, the students were rewarded with an in-class prize party.

Antonio Velazquez, left, and Josh Chung

Kids who practiced an average of 5 days a week received a prize, and kids who practiced 6 to 7 days a week received two tickets to the Florida Orchestra!

“We’re always trying new things to motivate the students. For some students, it was a wonderful motivator. The visual helped them.”

An added bonus of the marble incentive is that it helped instructors keep track of how the kids were progressing.

“I want to know what’s happening at home,” said Michelsen.

“The parents have enjoyed it and I’ve enjoyed it. I’m really proud of all of our students.”

Soraya Baldwin, left, and Sudenaz Koksal

How to get your kids to practice

Practice makes perfect, or so the saying goes. When it comes to learning an instrument, perfection may not be the goal, but practice is certainly a sure path to success. 

But even kids who love music don’t always love to practice, as Sue Chung can attest.

Sue’s son Josh is an 8-year-old Suzuki violin student at the Patel Conservatory in Tampa.

When Josh was in kindergarten, he got the opportunity to try violin in school, which prompted him to ask him mom for violin lessons. He started private lessons at the Conservatory last summer and enjoyed it so much that they continued through the school year.

“I’m just thrilled because I want him to love and appreciate music and art,” said Sue. And she knows that his violin lessons have academic and social benefits. The Suzuki program incorporates both a private lesson and a group lesson once a week. “It’s a fun time for them...They make friends and it’s a great motivator.”

But even Josh, who genuinely enjoys violin lessons, doesn’t always stay on track when it comes to practice. Here are some things Sue does to keep him focused.

Get involved

A large part of the Suzuki teaching method is parental involvement. Sue actually took a couple of violin lessons herself so she could help Josh with his technique and practice at home.

“That was really nice, just learning how to hold the violin. It’s helpful to learn the basics so we can prevent them from creating bad habits,” she said.

Practice is bonding time for Sue and her kids, including her two-year-old daughter Hana who enjoys humming along to the music.

"The little ones really benefit from listening in."

Set specific goals

Josh’s Suzuki instructor Catherine Michelsen created a chart which outlines goals for the week, said Sue.

The instructor notes things she wants him to do, and Sue take notes during lessons to keep track of what new things he went over and what he should practice. She keeps the chart on Josh's bedroom door so he can check it himself and stay on track.

Make it fun

Josh practices while younger sister Hana
pretends to play along.

“I don’t want to burn him out from practice early, so we try to keep it fun,” said Sue, who plays lots of games to encourage practice.

One game she plays with Josh is a point system. If he loses his concentration, mom gets a point. Then she takes a turn on the violin and gives Josh a chance to win a point.

“Another thing we do is a coloring chart,” she said. She created a pyramid, and for every practice, he colors in a piece of the pyramid. “When he fills in all the pieces of the pyramid, he gets a treat.”

She and other Suzuki parents are constantly exchanging ideas.

"You just have to see what works best for your child," she said.

Be patient

While getting your kids to practice may be frustrating, staying patient and consistent helps kids achieve the long-term success and benefits of music education.

Sue says Josh’s teacher truly exemplifies that.

“Catherine’s so good with the kids. She really represents Suzuki teaching, that’s just who she is,” said Sue. “It’s all about teaching them through a nurturing environment. It’s all about kindness.”