The Northern Illinois University Suzuki Strings spent the summer playing, practicing, and performing in Wisconsin, St. Louis and DeKalb. 

The group of violinists performed the national anthem at the Cubs/Cardinals game at Busch Stadium on July 22 and many attended the American Suzuki Institute, an intensive music camp in Stevens Point, Wis., in early August. A performance on Corn Fest’s community stage on Aug. 26 capped off the summer.

 The Suzuki approach is a family-based program. Parents attend all lessons and help with practicing and listening throughout the week. Students begin learning as young as 4 years old. Music learning is patterned after the way we learn to speak, through repeated listening of music to be learned, breaking down skills into the smallest steps for understanding and mastery, all with parental encouragement.