I am putting the finishing touches on our newsletter as a big snow storm looms. It sounds like we've got lots of snow on the way, worrying drivers and making children happy with the opportunity to play in some fresh fluffy snow.

Our students are working hard in their lessons and group classes, getting ready for events we have planned in February and March.

This weekend is Family Day weekend and we'll be doing a special outreach event at Greenboro Branch of the OPL, (see below for details).

We hope you have the chance to enjoy a bit of extra family time this weekend!

with regards from your editor, Susan Wooltorton

This Saturday we'll be performing in an outreach event at the Greenboro Branch of the Ottawa Public Library. Come have a listen! We'll also have an instrument "petting zoo" for children to have the chance to see some of our music instruments up close. 

Groups will be performing from 10:30 to 1pm at the Greenboro Branch of the OPL, 363 Lorry Greenberg Dr, Ottawa, ON K1T 3P8.



Last November we gathered as a school for our annual Play In. Play Ins are a casual concert opportunity for all the students at our school to come together to make music and enjoy a potluck party afterwards. Many thanks to Jenna O'Connor for being the lead faculty volunteer for this event.

The Play In's theme was Seedlings: Celebrating Each Small Step!, honouring the journey of growth, where every small step matters. Much like a seed that needs water, sunlight, and patience to grow into a thriving plant, each small step in music nurtures our journey of growth and achievement.

Students were encouraged to dress according to the theme, dressing in green, or as a gardener or a plant!

These casual performance opportunities are a great chance for the students and faculty to have fun together.

Our ensembles concert is coming up on Sunday February 23rd, 2pm at Bells Corners United Church, 3955 Old Richmond Road.

Spread the word! All SuzukiMusic families and friends are invited.

Suggested donation, 5$



It's time to start planning for our annual Family and Friends recital!

The Family and Friends recital is one of our highlight events, where students can choose a piece to play and perform it with friends and/or family members. Experience is optional - parents can keep the beat with rhythm sticks or a tambourine for example, and students can choose non Suzuki book songs to perform - anything goes!

This is a great time to start talking with your teacher about musical selections to perform. 

Whether performing or not, this is a fun event to attend and we hope to see you there.

We will have a potluck along with a colouring activity and our photobooth following the concert! Please consider bringing snacks to add to our table! 

Date: Sunday, March 30, Bells Corners United Church

Doors open @ 1:30pm

Concert starts @2pm

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We offer various advertising packages for each school year, beginning with Viva Suzuki in May and ending the following April. We have different packages to suit different budgets. Our newsletters go out to a readership of over 300. Please click here for more information or contact Susan at volunteer@suzukimusic.ca if you have questions or would like more information. 

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• Congratulations to our cello faculty Margaret as she has her composer debut in Montreal this March!
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Her concert takes place on Sunday March 16th at 2:30PM, perfect timing for a day trip from Ottawa!

Bourgie Hall is at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1339 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3G 2C6

Please click here for details and to purchase tickeets.

We still have some spots available for Term 3 Headstart. Thank you for spreading the word among your families and friends with children between the age of 2 and 5 who may be interested in this wonderful introduction to music concepts and the instruments we teach at our school.

Please click here for more information and to register.

A term of Headstart makes an excellent gift for a toddler or preschooler in your life!



We are very excited to be running our Summer Camp this year, from Monday July 14th - Friday July 18th, 2025! 

Each student will receive 3 hours per day of high-level musical instruction from our experienced and highly-trained teachers (see the faculty page of our website) as well as time with their peers and our Teen Counsellors, doing crafts, games (indoors and outdoors) and some supervised free time. 

The Instrumental Camp for children aged 5 to 13 with at least one year of Suzuki music instruction in violin, viola, cello or guitar is a great way to keep musicianship skills fresh, learn new things, have fun and make memories with friends old and new.  

The Half-Day Intro to Violin Camp for children aged 2.5 to 5 with no previous musical experience is a great way to kick off your child’s musical journey! 

We will also be running a summer session of our popular Headstart program for children aged 2.5 to 5 and their guardians. 

Please click here for more information and to register. Spread the word among your family and friends with young children who may be interested in the half day intro camp!

OPL - Greenboro Branch Outreach

Saturday Feb 15th, 10:30AM to 1:00PM

363 Lorry Greenberg Dr, Ottawa, ON K1T 3P8.

Ensemble Concert

Sunday, February 23rd, 2 pm

Bells Corners United Church, 3955 Old Richmond Rd, Nepean, ON K2H 5C5.

March Break

No classes at Canterbury from March 1 to 15th

No private lessons week of March 10th

Family and Friends Recital

Sunday March 30th, 2 PM

Bells Corners United Church, 3955 Old Richmond Rd, Nepean, ON K2H 5C5.

Parent Talk: Practice and Overcoming Obstacles

by Graciela (Chela) Bruno

On January 18th our guitar faculty, Chela Bruno, hosted a session on Zoom talking about overcoming obstacles to music practice. As parents, even with the most motivated child, we have all experienced times when our children were doing their best to avoid practice.

Chela recorded her session which you can view here.

Chela says:

If you have any further questions or a specific topic you would like me to focus on in the next parent talk, please email me at guitarstepsmusic@gmail.com.