Growing up as a Suzuki kid, my mom (also a Suzuki teacher), and many of the teachers at Suzuki Institutes we attended, made-up silly stories and words to the Suzuki repertoire.
As I see it, silly words and stories serve three purposes:
1.) They lighten up pieces your student may be struggling to learn.
2.) Words can often help students comprehend a new rhythm.
3.) They help your student memorize melodies and/or the form of a piece.
Here are some of my favorite words and stories for VOLUME 1:
Var. B Twinkle:
Doc-tor Su-zu-ki
Says ne-ver get la-zy
Just prac-tice and prac-tice
un-til you go cra-zy
(I think credit for these words goes to the STELR program in Lubbock, TX)
Allegretto:
Can I play Allegretto with beans in my nose?
Would there be any argument, do you suppose?
Can I play Allegretto with sticks in my hair?
Do you think that my teacher would care?
I don't care what you put in your hair or your nose
Just as long as you know where your fourth finger goes!
Can I play Allegretto with sticks in my hair?
Do you think that my teacher would care?
(as seen on Little Blue School)
Andantino:
Dynamite Dynamite Dynamite POW
(thanks to Stephanie Ezerman for those words)
Etude:
This story about hiking in the Grand Canyon helps students remember the form of this piece...
A1 section: You set out on the trail, but OOPS you forgot something and have to turn back (1 D 3 A)
A2 section: You set out again with everything you need and head up a small hill (1 3 1 3)
First descending scale: the trail leads you to a small waterfall
Second scale: now you see an even bigger waterfall
A3 section with final descending scale: time to head down the hill and return to the campsite
(I believe this story came from Barbara Barber)
Minuet 2:
to help teach the triplet sections...
choc-o-late ice cream cone
and
choc-o-late ice cream cone with a nut
(I'm pretty sure my mom, Joyce McGlaun, made those up!)
