“Where love is deep, much can be accomplished.” - Dr. Suzuki
WHAT IS THE SUZUKI METHOD?
Dr. Suzuki created a method to teach music as a language.
You do not have to be a musician to be a successful Suzuki Parent.
The “Suzuki Triangle” of Parent, Child and Teacher is integral to the process. I will regularly check-in to make sure you are confident in your home practice.
Suzuki offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strengthen the parent-child relationship. Your child will gain many skills as they strive for excellence in music and life. It teaches ownership, self identity, creativity, concentration, perseverance, time management, brain development, and self-discipline. Character first, ability second. In Suzuki, you learn so much more than just music. If you are there with your child in practice time, you will see this.
Essentially, I am teaching your child a language. It takes time and commitment. Breathe in the language of music. They will be able to express themselves in a very healthy way at the end of this journey. We go slowly as to not make mistakes or form a bad habit, as well as to drive each point home. Often we focus on one thing at a time. Ear training is almost necessary for them to learn this language, but it does not develop overnight. It takes time, and we can always grow.
Children naturally learn their mother-tongue easily with a few ingredients:
Begin Early
When a child’s brain is scientifically proven to be most open to acquiring new languages. This is the same area of the brain that processes music. Can older children and adult students learn the Suzuki way? Certainly, just like an older student or adult can learn to speak French.
Parental Involvement
Positive feedback and encouragement inspire children to continue. The parent must attend each lesson and actively take notes. A small child cannot be expected to practice on their own until age eight or older, depending on the maturity of the child. As the child progresses, parent involvement evolves into a less active and more supporting role, until the child is playing and practicing on his or her own as a teenager. Be involved. The days are long, but the years are short. This is an incredible opportunity for you to bond with your child, and you will never get this time back. If you’re interested, they’ll be interested. Remember when your child was very young, and they yell “look at me! Mom! Look at me run! Keep watching!” They want your interest, they want you to care! You sitting in and helping will never hurt, only help. This is your opportunity to learn so much about your child, as well!
Repetition
Repeating new skills while reviewing old ones builds ability and confidence. In learning to speak, children learn a word and then use it many, many times. It becomes part of their vocabulary, and a building block for their communication. Similarly, children continue to play their "old" Suzuki songs long after they first learned them, so that they become part of their musical vocabulary. "Old" pieces are used to teach new skills.
Step by Step
Learn songs that are singable and gradually get more difficult; build upon acquired skills, adding vocabulary. "Start young, go slow, and don't stop!" is another Suzuki saying. Children go at their own, individual pace. The Suzuki way is thorough, challenging, but not pushy, and certainly not abusive. Parents should never measure their child's progress by their book level or their peers. Focus on the details of making beautiful music at every stage, and the progress will come.
Weekly Private Lessons
Regularly see a certified Suzuki teacher to fine-tune and personalize the learning process.
Listening
Surround the child with beautiful representations of music (daily listening); listen as often as you hear people speak. Students will need to listen to recordings of the music they learn, so be prepared to listen to the Suzuki recordings many, many, many times: in the car, at breakfast, after school -- and for long after the point when you'd like to chuck them into a dumpster. (Please don't tell your child you want to chuck any of their music into the dumpster.)
Delay Reading
We learn to read after we learn to speak. Once the child’s foundation of beautiful posture and tone are strong, we'll start learning to read music.
Whole Person
Suzuki felt a higher purpose in teaching music, and that rubbed off on a lot of us Suzuki teachers. Some of the other things we try to instill while teaching "Twinkle" and trying to get kids to hold their fiddles higher than their belly buttons include: confidence, love of learning, goal-setting, perseverance, team work, memorization abilities, improved concentration, coordination, appreciation of others, and more.
"Music is a language that goes beyond speech and letters - a living art that is almost mystical. This is where its emotional impact comes in. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven - without exception they live clearly and palpably in their music, and speak forcefully to us, purifying us, refining us, and awakening in us the highest joy and emotion." - Suzuki
WHAT IS THE SUZUKI METHOD?
Dr. Suzuki created a method to teach music as a language.
You do not have to be a musician to be a successful Suzuki Parent.
The “Suzuki Triangle” of Parent, Child and Teacher is integral to the process. I will regularly check-in to make sure you are confident in your home practice.
Suzuki offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strengthen the parent-child relationship. Your child will gain many skills as they strive for excellence in music and life. It teaches ownership, self identity, creativity, concentration, perseverance, time management, brain development, and self-discipline. Character first, ability second. In Suzuki, you learn so much more than just music. If you are there with your child in practice time, you will see this.
Essentially, I am teaching your child a language. It takes time and commitment. Breathe in the language of music. They will be able to express themselves in a very healthy way at the end of this journey. We go slowly as to not make mistakes or form a bad habit, as well as to drive each point home. Often we focus on one thing at a time. Ear training is almost necessary for them to learn this language, but it does not develop overnight. It takes time, and we can always grow.
Children naturally learn their mother-tongue easily with a few ingredients:
Begin Early
When a child’s brain is scientifically proven to be most open to acquiring new languages. This is the same area of the brain that processes music. Can older children and adult students learn the Suzuki way? Certainly, just like an older student or adult can learn to speak French.
Parental Involvement
Positive feedback and encouragement inspire children to continue. The parent must attend each lesson and actively take notes. A small child cannot be expected to practice on their own until age eight or older, depending on the maturity of the child. As the child progresses, parent involvement evolves into a less active and more supporting role, until the child is playing and practicing on his or her own as a teenager. Be involved. The days are long, but the years are short. This is an incredible opportunity for you to bond with your child, and you will never get this time back. If you’re interested, they’ll be interested. Remember when your child was very young, and they yell “look at me! Mom! Look at me run! Keep watching!” They want your interest, they want you to care! You sitting in and helping will never hurt, only help. This is your opportunity to learn so much about your child, as well!
Repetition
Repeating new skills while reviewing old ones builds ability and confidence. In learning to speak, children learn a word and then use it many, many times. It becomes part of their vocabulary, and a building block for their communication. Similarly, children continue to play their "old" Suzuki songs long after they first learned them, so that they become part of their musical vocabulary. "Old" pieces are used to teach new skills.
Step by Step
Learn songs that are singable and gradually get more difficult; build upon acquired skills, adding vocabulary. "Start young, go slow, and don't stop!" is another Suzuki saying. Children go at their own, individual pace. The Suzuki way is thorough, challenging, but not pushy, and certainly not abusive. Parents should never measure their child's progress by their book level or their peers. Focus on the details of making beautiful music at every stage, and the progress will come.
Weekly Private Lessons
Regularly see a certified Suzuki teacher to fine-tune and personalize the learning process.
Listening
Surround the child with beautiful representations of music (daily listening); listen as often as you hear people speak. Students will need to listen to recordings of the music they learn, so be prepared to listen to the Suzuki recordings many, many, many times: in the car, at breakfast, after school -- and for long after the point when you'd like to chuck them into a dumpster. (Please don't tell your child you want to chuck any of their music into the dumpster.)
Delay Reading
We learn to read after we learn to speak. Once the child’s foundation of beautiful posture and tone are strong, we'll start learning to read music.
Whole Person
Suzuki felt a higher purpose in teaching music, and that rubbed off on a lot of us Suzuki teachers. Some of the other things we try to instill while teaching "Twinkle" and trying to get kids to hold their fiddles higher than their belly buttons include: confidence, love of learning, goal-setting, perseverance, team work, memorization abilities, improved concentration, coordination, appreciation of others, and more.
"Music is a language that goes beyond speech and letters - a living art that is almost mystical. This is where its emotional impact comes in. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven - without exception they live clearly and palpably in their music, and speak forcefully to us, purifying us, refining us, and awakening in us the highest joy and emotion." - Suzuki
