Thompson's Music
Virginia Thompson holds a BA in News Editing and studied Music Education at University of South Florida. As a performer she has played with the Tampa Bay Symphony, Summit Music Society, Pinellas Park Orchestra and many other venues as well.
She plays for churches and performs pop music locally in the Tampa Bay area.
As a teacher, Thompson teaches every child absolute perfect technique from the very first lesson. She specializes in teaching the Suzuki Method and children as young as three years old may study and learn with their parent or guardian.
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Private lessons
Studio Lessons
Students have the wonderful opportunity to learn music with a teacher who believes what Dr. Suzuki said, "Never hurt the heart of a child." This means that all lessons are taught with love and kindness.
Music students have the unique opportunity to learn music in an environment that brings out their natural learning abilities. No student is ever pushed beyond what they are ready to do. Parents also get free lessons because they are required to attend and practice daily with their child. It's important that all students keep a calendar to mark with stickers every day that they practice. Those students who practice 100 days in a row will receive a medal at their recital. Recitals are held twice a year, one just before the Christmas holidays, and one at the end of the school year. All students must wash their hands before every lesson. Doing it at home doesn't count. This is vitally important to help keep colds and flus from spreading. Students who are sick are asked not to attend lessons that week. They may have an online lesson if they are up to the task. If they are not then a makeup lesson will be given at the student and teacher's convenience. Parents, siblings and all attendees to a child's lesson must not speak during a child's lesson. This can be disruptive to anyone having a lesson. Music lessons are quiet time for observers. Any outside noises will affect the child's learning and concentration abilities. There is a living room that guest may use but again quietly. All phone calls must be taken outside as that is very disruptive as well. If you have to take a call that certainly is understandable, so please go outside where you may speak freely without disturbing your child's lesson. Online Lessons Students may study with Ms Thompson no matter how far away they live. However, online lessons are not always the best choice because the student doesn't always have the capabilities to comprehend things that may need to be shown in a more three dimensional world. Online lessons are always another way of learning when in-person lessons just aren't possible due to illness, proximity, or time constraints. In Home Lessons These lessons are for those who have more than one child and just can't make private lessons. However, these lessons do cost a little more than online or at the studio. Lessons are only offered for a minimum of one hour. Ms. Thompson may drive as far one half hour from her studio to teach students. However, if it's a little bit farther that might also be possible. In home lessons are mostly for students who are "home schooled." After school hours are reserved for lessons in the studio only. However, there may be some exceptions. The requirements for in home lessons is that pianos as well as hands must be clean before a lesson is to begin that day and time. Please try to keep the house quiet as your child will get more benefit when there are fewer distractions. ALL LESSONS Practice requirements: All students need to practice enough days of the week with enough time spent doing the required homework. Dr. Suzuki says, "Students only have to practice on the days that they eat." And that is every day. Assignments will be given according to the students age. If they are five they only have to do the assignment five times. Adults only have to practice assignments ten times, because they work and it's often hard to do all the assignments regularly due to work schedules and other life commitments. Students must keep a calendar and mark every day they practice. This helps the student to see how they are doing with their practices. Sometimes a student may become disappointed in their lack of success and that is where the calendar is helpful. The teacher will ask the student to show their calendar. Often times the calendar has only one or two days a week of practice and this is where the teacher shows the student the problem was practicing and not ability. This teaches the student to practice more when the teacher is always asking them how much they practiced that week. Incentives are given to all students who practice 100 days in a row. First of all they will see great achievements in their ability to play music and they shall receive a medal at the following recital. Showing the child why they're not able to play well at that moment in time, helps them to understand what they need to do to fix it. The short answer is they didn't do the work to get better. I like to say, "Repetition is the best teacher," and repetition is practice! So, Practice! Practice! Practice! As the teacher teaches the parent may observe and take notes. This helps create excellent practices at home and the child excels at a greater rate. When the parent or guardian attends the lessons and takes notes they also learn to play that instrument. In a way, the parent gets free lessons. Parents do need to practice with their child to insure they understand the homework assignment. Parents are asked not to speak to their child during the lesson because the child only needs one teacher at a time. Otherwise, a lesson may become overwhelming and a child may refuse to play at all. However, should the child not be able to concentrate or pay attention the teacher may stop the lesson. The child may have a small snack, get a drink of water to break that concentration level of too much concentrating at one time then come back to the lesson. Our philosophy is "Never hurt the heart of a child." Your child will learn important life skills and use their sixth sense as if born with a natural ability to play music. Parents are required to play the recordings for their child regularly. This will teach your child how to use that sixth sense. The ear hears and the mind tells the body where the notes are as if they were born with a natural ability to play music. Dr. Suzuki states, that it's the parents duty to create a good practice environment. If you can get your child to eat their veggies than you can get them to practice. However, never force the issue. I suggest that if your child doesn't want to practice this is when the parents goes to the instrument and start practicing. This often helps the child to understand that they don't have to do the task, but mom loves doing the homework and wants to learn also. Most children, when relieved of the feeling of being forced to do something will naturally come and practice with mom as a rule. Mom needs to practice with enthusiam and that will definitely draw the child to the instrument. Keep in mind, children love to test their parents to see how far they can go when it comes to any life tasks. Children want their parents to show them the disciplines of life, but in a loving way. A child's lack of doing a task is their way of asking you to lead them and show them what happens if they don't do a task. This is so important that your child will learn more quickly and proficiently when the parent understands how to reach their child in a loving way. So, let's have that first lesson!
Suggested reading"Nutured By Love," by Dr. Suzuki for those who would like to understand what the Suzuki Method is all about."Helping Parents Practice," by Edmund Sprunger for those parents looking to understand better how to get your child to practice without problems.
Music students have the unique opportunity to learn music in an environment that brings out their natural learning abilities. No student is ever pushed beyond what they are ready to do. Parents also get free lessons because they are required to attend and practice daily with their child. It's important that all students keep a calendar to mark with stickers every day that they practice. Those students who practice 100 days in a row will receive a medal at their recital. Recitals are held twice a year, one just before the Christmas holidays, and one at the end of the school year. All students must wash their hands before every lesson. Doing it at home doesn't count. This is vitally important to help keep colds and flus from spreading. Students who are sick are asked not to attend lessons that week. They may have an online lesson if they are up to the task. If they are not then a makeup lesson will be given at the student and teacher's convenience. Parents, siblings and all attendees to a child's lesson must not speak during a child's lesson. This can be disruptive to anyone having a lesson. Music lessons are quiet time for observers. Any outside noises will affect the child's learning and concentration abilities. There is a living room that guest may use but again quietly. All phone calls must be taken outside as that is very disruptive as well. If you have to take a call that certainly is understandable, so please go outside where you may speak freely without disturbing your child's lesson. Online Lessons Students may study with Ms Thompson no matter how far away they live. However, online lessons are not always the best choice because the student doesn't always have the capabilities to comprehend things that may need to be shown in a more three dimensional world. Online lessons are always another way of learning when in-person lessons just aren't possible due to illness, proximity, or time constraints. In Home Lessons These lessons are for those who have more than one child and just can't make private lessons. However, these lessons do cost a little more than online or at the studio. Lessons are only offered for a minimum of one hour. Ms. Thompson may drive as far one half hour from her studio to teach students. However, if it's a little bit farther that might also be possible. In home lessons are mostly for students who are "home schooled." After school hours are reserved for lessons in the studio only. However, there may be some exceptions. The requirements for in home lessons is that pianos as well as hands must be clean before a lesson is to begin that day and time. Please try to keep the house quiet as your child will get more benefit when there are fewer distractions. ALL LESSONS Practice requirements: All students need to practice enough days of the week with enough time spent doing the required homework. Dr. Suzuki says, "Students only have to practice on the days that they eat." And that is every day. Assignments will be given according to the students age. If they are five they only have to do the assignment five times. Adults only have to practice assignments ten times, because they work and it's often hard to do all the assignments regularly due to work schedules and other life commitments. Students must keep a calendar and mark every day they practice. This helps the student to see how they are doing with their practices. Sometimes a student may become disappointed in their lack of success and that is where the calendar is helpful. The teacher will ask the student to show their calendar. Often times the calendar has only one or two days a week of practice and this is where the teacher shows the student the problem was practicing and not ability. This teaches the student to practice more when the teacher is always asking them how much they practiced that week. Incentives are given to all students who practice 100 days in a row. First of all they will see great achievements in their ability to play music and they shall receive a medal at the following recital. Showing the child why they're not able to play well at that moment in time, helps them to understand what they need to do to fix it. The short answer is they didn't do the work to get better. I like to say, "Repetition is the best teacher," and repetition is practice! So, Practice! Practice! Practice! As the teacher teaches the parent may observe and take notes. This helps create excellent practices at home and the child excels at a greater rate. When the parent or guardian attends the lessons and takes notes they also learn to play that instrument. In a way, the parent gets free lessons. Parents do need to practice with their child to insure they understand the homework assignment. Parents are asked not to speak to their child during the lesson because the child only needs one teacher at a time. Otherwise, a lesson may become overwhelming and a child may refuse to play at all. However, should the child not be able to concentrate or pay attention the teacher may stop the lesson. The child may have a small snack, get a drink of water to break that concentration level of too much concentrating at one time then come back to the lesson. Our philosophy is "Never hurt the heart of a child." Your child will learn important life skills and use their sixth sense as if born with a natural ability to play music. Parents are required to play the recordings for their child regularly. This will teach your child how to use that sixth sense. The ear hears and the mind tells the body where the notes are as if they were born with a natural ability to play music. Dr. Suzuki states, that it's the parents duty to create a good practice environment. If you can get your child to eat their veggies than you can get them to practice. However, never force the issue. I suggest that if your child doesn't want to practice this is when the parents goes to the instrument and start practicing. This often helps the child to understand that they don't have to do the task, but mom loves doing the homework and wants to learn also. Most children, when relieved of the feeling of being forced to do something will naturally come and practice with mom as a rule. Mom needs to practice with enthusiam and that will definitely draw the child to the instrument. Keep in mind, children love to test their parents to see how far they can go when it comes to any life tasks. Children want their parents to show them the disciplines of life, but in a loving way. A child's lack of doing a task is their way of asking you to lead them and show them what happens if they don't do a task. This is so important that your child will learn more quickly and proficiently when the parent understands how to reach their child in a loving way. So, let's have that first lesson!
Suggested reading"Nutured By Love," by Dr. Suzuki for those who would like to understand what the Suzuki Method is all about."Helping Parents Practice," by Edmund Sprunger for those parents looking to understand better how to get your child to practice without problems.
Music Life Skills learned Concentration Self-discipline Determination perseverance Spatial development Ability to use their Sixth sense
