Whether you're a brand-new teacher or a seasoned pro, Suzuki Unit 1 training will transform your teaching, deepen your impact, and reignite your love for guiding students—one Twinkle at a time.

How to Prevent Left-Hand Collapse in Young Cello Students 🎻

When young cello students learn a new piece, their focus shifts to new challenges, often causing previously established techniques—like a well-supported “C” shaped left hand—to weaken. In this blog, I share a simple yet effective left-hand game using a coffee stirrer to help students maintain proper hand shape without feeling like they’re being corrected. This engaging approach turns a frustrating struggle into an exciting refinement tool, making left-hand setup feel fresh and fun! Read on to learn this powerful teaching secret.

Two Raving Testimonials for Learning in Motion: Cello Bow Hold (Part 1...

After 300+ hours of production, the long-awaited Part 1: Cello Bow Hold Course is finally here! This course offers a unique approach using fun games and simple toys to teach bow hold naturally—perfect for all ages. With 35+ activities, step-by-step videos, and downloadable PDFs, you’ll gain the tools to teach with confidence.

Enjoy 365-day access, monthly live meetings, and community support. Don’t miss the special $50 discount—use the code scottcellostudiothankyou at checkout!

Austin Cello Festival – A New Celebration of Cello in ATX! 🎻

The first-ever Austin Cello Festival is designed for beginner to advanced high school cellists, with adult learners welcome. This unique event features technique classes, masterclasses, and a cello choir, led by an outstanding faculty including Professor Horacio Contreras (UNT), Dr. Daniel Saenz (SHSU), and Shu-Yi Scott. Highlights include Contreras’ first-ever ATX technique class based on his renowned book and Scott’s interactive "Tension-Release: Learning in Motion" course. Join us for a day of learning, inspiration, and community-building through the joy of cello!

2024 student recital

As a teacher, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing your students shine—and that’s exactly what happened recently during an online workshop. My 13-year-old student took center stage in a masterclass with a prominent teacher, and let me tell you, he exceeded all expectations.

Bringing the Celebration Back to Music
Teaching is about more than technique—it’s about creating joy. In this post, I share a client’s journey from struggling with self-confidence to rediscovering joy in her cello practice. Plus, I offer my top three tips for bringing joy back to your own playing, especially when teaching children.

Teaching siblings can be both rewarding and challenging, especially when they have different learning styles. Recently, I had a breakthrough with H, the younger of two brothers I teach. It wasn't about perfecting technique—it was about helping him step out of his brother’s shadow and find his own voice. Sometimes, the best lessons are the ones that break from the routine.

Three students from Shu-Yi Scott Cello Studio were selected to participate in the SAA Conference 2024 Student Orchestra (SAA= Suzuki Association of the Americas) in March.

A while ago before I decided to apply for the Teacher Trainer status for the Suzuki Method, I asked one of the prominent master teacher trainers in that field that I questioned my readiness to do so.

Even though the focus on distinguishing the left and right hand is generally for the very beginners, even the higher level students enjoyed it so much that they had a hard time moving on to the next game!

I was both of my daughters’ first cello teacher. They are now 20 and 15, but I still have their first practice charts saved in a binder.

In this segment, Dr. Merlin Thompson and I discussed the mother tongue approach with several string teachers.