“Virginia nurtures and inspires her students, motivating them to excel. You can’t ask for more in a teacher.”

Eddie Fays, parent of an atlanta suzuki violin student

THE BASICS

Classes

Students as young as three years old can learn to play the violin. The Suzuki method uses a combination of individual instruction and group lessons. Students participate in both. The parent is actively involved in all aspects of the child’s musical development, attends the lessons and is given instructions to be the home teacher. No prior musical experience is necessary. Buckhead classes take place at Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church.

Performances

Atlanta Suzuki Violin has performed in venues around Atlanta including The High Museum of Art and The Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Students showcase what they have learned by participating in two yearly solo recitals.

Enrollment

If you are interested in learning more about registering your child or have any questions, please contact Virginia Sloan, instructor and founder of Atlanta Suzuki Violin by clicking the CONTACT box below…………

EVERY CHILD CAN LEARN

More than fifty years ago, Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki realized the implications of the fact that children the world over learn to speak their native language with ease. He began to apply the basic principles of language acquisition to the learning of music, and called his method the mother-tongue approach. The ideas of parent responsibility, loving encouragement, constant repetition, etc., are some of the special features of the Suzuki approach.

Also included in this approach

Parent Involvement

As when a child learns to talk, parents are involved in the musical learning of their child. They attend lessons with the child and serve as “home teachers” during the week. One parent often learns to play before the child, so that s/he understands what the child is expected to do. Parents work with the teacher to create an enjoyable learning environment.

Early Beginning

The early years are crucial for developing mental processes and muscle coordination. Listening to music should begin at birth; formal training may begin at age three or four, but it is never too late to begin.

Violinist, Virginia Sloan, considers herself a specialist in Early Childhood Suzuki Method. While using other styles and approaches to learning, Virginia incorporates a wealth of performing experience, training and her love for children into her teaching. Though she instructs musicians of all levels, she has found her niche with younger children.

Virginia completed Suzuki Pedagogy training at the University of Tennessee and, over the years, has continued her training with world renowned teachers in the field including William Starr, Doris Preucil, Ed Kreitman and Linda Fiore.

Virginia became a section violinist with the Knoxville Symphony in 1985 and played with them for five years. She performed with such greats as Andy Williams, Joshua Bell, Midori, Nadjia Salerno Sonnenburg, Ray Charles, Dionne Warwick and Luciano Pavarotti. During that time she spent two summers at the Aspen Music Festival (‘87 and ‘88). In 1990 she moved back to her native Atlanta and began teaching and freelancing. She has played with area orchestras and ensembles including Cobb Symphony and the Dekalb Symphony.  Virginia has also worked as a studio recording artist and performed with Smokey Robinson and Bread at The Fred in Peachtree City. In 1993 Virginia founded and directed Atlanta Suzuki Violin in Buckhead where she also directed “Musical Mornings Summer Day Camp” and taught Kindermusik classes. In 1992 she was awarded the prestigious position of teacher to the grandson of Raphael Hillyer, founding member of the Juilliard String Quartet.

Virginia has served on the board of the Suzuki Association of Georgia  and is currently a member. In 2020 Virginia became a member of the board with the Atlanta Suzuki Institute. She is a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas.