THE SUZUKI METHOD

When Japanese violinist Dr. Shinichi Suzuki founded his string teaching method at the end of World War II, he vowed to bring happiness to the lives of children through music. His method is now world-renowned and taught around the globe. He believed that through teaching children to play beautiful music, you also teach them to have a beautiful heart. These children become good listeners, good communicators, team players, and sensitive human beings. In nurturing musical excellence, the Suzuki Method nurtures excellent citizens.

Start when they’re young, and they’ll learn to play music as naturally as they learn to speak their mother tongue. Dr. Suzuki developed his method (“talent education”) using the basic principles of how a child first learns to speak their native language: parent responsibility, starting early, listening, constant repetition, and loving encouragement. Every child learns to speak their first language, so therefore every child can learn to play music.​

Key principles of the Mother Tongue Approach that Suzuki observed were:

1. Parents repeat words to the baby every day;

2. Parents provide natural excitement and praise to the baby for even the smallest progress;

3. Performance opportunities are abundant (for relatives, neighbours, etc.);

4. Vocabulary builds on itself; the first words spoken are never discarded or forgotten;

5. Children learn to speak long before they learn to read.

Teaching music through the music Suzuki Method, therefore:

1. Children listen to recordings of Suzuki pieces on a daily basis;

2. Teachers and parents offer praise for successes with the instrument.

3. Children have ample performance opportunities through organized solo and group concerts as well as in the essential group lessons, where they play the repertoire with and for their friends and classmates.

4. Review pieces are used as the building blocks of learning and are returned to again and again for learning new technical points.

5. When the child is comfortable with the instrument and is able to make a beautiful sound, then he/she is ready to focus on note reading.

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A pillar of the Suzuki philosophy is that every child can. No one child is born with more natural talent than another. When given a supportive, nurturing environment, musical ability can be developed in all children. Parents, too, are supported with an orientation to the Suzuki approach and even learn the basics of the instrument themselves to support practicing at home. No musical ability required!

Our teachers are highly qualified, internationally certified, and trained specifically in this method of teaching music to children. They practice Dr. Suzuki’s principle of “nurturing by love” in their private and group teaching, with a patient, encouraging style.  The Suzuki Method fosters a nurturing environment through a well-rounded approach of individual and group experiences, and regular celebrations of their musical milestones through a variety of performance opportunities

The Suzuki Method is more than a drop-off private lesson once a week. It’s an immersive experience in string music education for the whole family. Parents play an active role in the learning process, by attending lessons and classes and helping at home during daily practice. It’s a lifestyle – learning the instrument, making beautiful music, and growing beautiful hearts takes place every day. Family life and the bond between child and parent in enrich through Suzuki Music Education. And an appreciation for music, in both child and parent, is instilled for life!

Children take both private & group lessons as part of the Suzuki Method. Children meet in a group class with peers their own age, playing the same instrument, at the same Suzuki book level. Thanks to core Suzuki reperotire, all children learn the same songs, which easily allows them to play together! Learning happens much more quickly when children are allowed to watch and play with others. They provide a motivating environment, growing more than musical skills, but social and emotional, too.