Decisions

de·ci·sion
a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration.
• the action or process of deciding something or of resolving a question.
• a formal judgment.

“Choice are the hinges of destiny” ~ Pythagoras

Enrolling in music lessons, singing and the Suzuki method.

We all make hundreds and hundreds of decisions every day. Some decisions require considerable, conscious thought, weighing out the potential consequences of our options, while other decisions are made unconsciously, where we are completely unaware that we even made a decision. These types of decisions are so habitual and routine that they don’t take any thought. Do you remember making the choice to brush your teeth this morning? To shower? Sometimes, we just find ourselves in the shower not even realizing how we got there. Other decisions are made after much thought and careful deliberation. Should I buy a new car, where should we go on our family vacation this summer? Is now a good time to refinance our home? Regardless if a decision is one that was well examined and contemplated or one that was hardly noticed, every and all decisions have a consequence and impact our lives in various degrees of importance. One decision that I made in 2000 completely, 100%, changed the course and direction of my life and that of my family’s.

Music has always been a big part of my life. I grew up in Salt Lake City and took violin music lessons from a neighbor. This was before the Suzuki Method had taken root in the area, so my lessons were more traditionally focused. My mother drove me to my teacher’s house, dropped me off then picked me up 30 minutes later or I just walked. Regardless, the point is, my mother was not involved in my lessons or my practicing at all. She just paid the lesson bill, thank goodness!

Fast forward to 2000, I was married with 4 children, all boys, ranging in ages between 12 and 3 and was expecting my 5th child, a girl! My husband was self-employed, and we were in the frantic craziness of parenting and family life. A sister of a friend had moved in my neighborhood in the small town of Brigham City and was offering Suzuki Violin lessons. My friend called and wondered if I wanted to put my oldest son in private violin lessons since he was already in the Intermediate school’s orchestra. I thought this was an excellent idea so I enrolled him in my neighbor’s studio. Small, seemingly inconsequential decision #1. 

He was able to walk to his own music lessons, which was fantastic, since I was so busy with 3 other children and very pregnant. One day his teacher called me and suggested that I come to his music lessons to watch and take notes. I thought the idea was absurd! Why would I do that? My mom never did that with me and I turned out fine! And besides, I was too busy for that! She also had the strange suggestion that I should practice with him! “He is 12 years old, he can practice on his own”, I thought. “That is crazy”! She could see that she was not succeeding in her attempts, so she tried a 
different approach. She knew that I also played the violin, so she suggested that I could maybe take this opportunity to learn how to teach violin lessons myself. Brigham City could use a permanent violin teacher since she knew that she was not going to be there for long. 

I was intrigued with that idea and began taking lessons from her myself. Very small, quick and easy decision #2. I still was not sold on the idea of the importance of attending my son’s lessons, but after a few lessons of my own, I began to catch the vision of the Suzuki Method of teaching and made the conscious, well-thought-out decision to become a Suzuki Parent. Very, very consequential decision #3. 

I spent the next 22 years teaching violin lessons in my home and driving 3-4 times a week to Salt Lake City so my two younger children could take Suzuki Violin lessons from the master Suzuki Teacher, Debbie Moench. Major, life altering decision #4. Both of my children were in the original Gifted Music School orchestra in 2009 (another life changing decision #5) and ended up studying music in college. My son discovered his love and talent for singing (another series of what seemed like small decisions that had major life altering outcomes for him) and received his bachelors degree in Vocal performance at the University of Utah and my daughter is preparing to graduate from Juilliard with a bachelors degree in violin performance. Her particular decision to attend Juilliard and move to New York City, resulted in her meeting her future husband there and they are now planning to be married in May. Does it get more life altering than that?!

Just like a switch at a railroad station where a small piece of steel is moved only three inches to change the path and direction of a train and its eventual destination, so do everyday decisions have the same ability to alter the direction and path of our lives thus dramatically changing our trajectory. I never imagined when I enrolled my son in violin music lessons with a small town Suzuki Teacher, that our lives would be intertwined with music and that this would be the journey for my family and me. It has been an extraordinary, unforeseen adventure, all set in motion with what seemed like one, small, insignificant decision made 22 years ago. 

Today’s decisions are tomorrow’s realities, life today is a collection of 
choices made yesterday. ~ Author unknown. 

Interested in the best music lessons in the state?
​Music lessons in Salt lake City are available in Violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, flute, clarinet, and singing. Simply register, and we will be in touch to customize a music lesson program for your child.