About the Suzuki Method
The Suzuki method of learning music (or as Dr. Suzuki preferred to have it called, Talent Education) is modeled on the "Mother Tongue" method, or in other words, how we all naturally learn to speak our native language. When Suzuki was a young man, living and studying in Germany, he was struck by the ease with which the very young children around him spoke the language which he, as an adult, was struggling to learn. That all children successfully master their own language is a phenomenon many take for granted. However, Suzuki became fascinated with this discovery, and began to study and observe the circumstances which occur naturally, in a child's environment when they are learning to speak.
He realized that if one were to apply these principles of this "perfect" learning method to other areas of education, there could be equally successful results. Since Suzuki was a professional musician, music seemed an obvious choice of field to which to apply his new ideas.
Among the principles of the Mother Tongue Method that Suzuki observed were:- Tireless repetition of words by the parents to the baby every day.
- Much natural excitement and praise is given to the baby for even the smallest bit of
progress.
- Performance opportunities are abundant (for relatives, neighbors, etc.)
- Vocabulary is built on itself; the first words spoken are never discarded or forgotten.
- We don't ask that a child learn to speak his language and learn to read it at the same time.
- Repetition of the songs the child is learning comes from the Suzuki recordings while the parent plays in the
home every day (and also from the parent playing the songs on their violins at home if they continue taking lessons
themselves, which is encouraged!)
- Praise is given by both teacher and parent for the smallest successes with the instrument.
- Performance opportunities are provided for the children as often as possible in organized
solo and group concerts as well as in the essential group lessons, where children play the
repertoire with and for their friends and classmates.
- Repertoire is built on itself and no piece is ever discarded or forgotten. "Review
pieces" are used as the building blocks of learning and are returned to again and
again for learning new technical points.
- Reading music is a skill which is taught only when the child is comfortable with the
instrument physically and is able to make a beautiful tone; only then is the child ready
to lift his focus to notes on a page.
Dr. Suzuki's ideas about learning are now widespread around the world. His Talent Education Method is an internationally-known and respected way to instruct children in music mainly because of its highly successful results both in producing wonderful musicians, and more importantly in Dr. Suzuki's opinion, wonderful human beings.