Teddy Bear Rhythms

Ann West's initial involvement as a parent in Teddy Bear Rhythms led her to study with early music specialists to learn the pedagogical methods of Orff, Delcroze, Kodaly, and Gordon, all leaders in the development of preschool music education. Since 1985 Ms. West's approach to teaching preschool music & movement has been greatly influenced by her training in the Suzuki Method.

INCREASE YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING POTENTIAL
through the Power of Music!

University research has concluded that Early Music Education improves preschoolers' spatial reasoning, motor skills, language development, concentration, and social abilities. It also furthers later success in math, science & sports.

What is the Suzuki Method?
The Suzuki Method is a philosophy of education. Often called the "mother-tongue method," it teaches very young children to learn music in small positive steps, as they would learn their native language - through listening, repetition and imitation.

Shinichi Suzuki was the son of a Japanese violin maker. While studying violin in Europe, he was struck by the ability of young children to learn their mother tongue. He thought this early ability could also be used to learn the language of music.

Suzuki's greatest contribution to music education has been to dispel the belief that we must be born with musical talent. Thousands of children world wide studying music by the Suzuki Method have proven that every child has the ability to develop musical skills given the proper environment.

Gail Etter, teacher, holds a BA from the University of Northern Colorado in Special Education and music with concentrations in voice and piano.  She teaches Teddy Bear Rhythms, having been trained by the program's founder, Ann West.  Gail studied voice with Martha Oneppo and is a long-standing member of the New Haven Chorale.  With her experience in teaching, music, and being a mother, Gail thoroughly enjoys teaching young children. 

Ann West, cellist and Founder of TBR is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Oberlin College. She studied with Mischa Schneider of the Budapest Quartet, Paul Katz of the Cleveland Quartet, and with George Neikrug in Boston. She is a co-founder of the new School for Strings & Piano, and was the Founding Director of Tabor Arts Center. She is a former member of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and is the principal cellist at Goodspeed Opera House.  Ms. West performs throughout CT with the Twylyte Trio (oboe flute cello) and the School for Strings & Piano Premiere Faculty Trio.