Parental Involvement
As when a student learns to speak, parents are involved in the musical learning of their student. They attend lessons with the student and serve as "home teachers" during the week. Parents work with the instructor to create an enjoyable learning environment.
Listening
Students learn words after hearing them spoken hundreds of times by others. Listening to music every day is important, especially listening to pieces in the Suzuki repertoire so the student knows them immediately.
Repetition
Constant repetition is essential in learning to play an instrument. Students do not learn a word or piece of music and then discard it. They add it to their vocabulary or repertoire, gradually using it in new and more sophisticated ways.
Encouragement
As with language, the student’s effort to learn an instrument should be met with sincere praise and encouragement. Each student learns at his/her own rate, building on small steps so that each one can be mastered. Students are also encouraged to support each other’s efforts, fostering an attitude of generosity and cooperation.
Learning with Other Students
In addition to private lessons, students participate in regular group lessons and performances at which they learn from and are motivated by each other. Lessons in the Neenah Joint School District have students paired up with a partner for their lesson whenever possible and on like instruments.
Graded Repertoire
Students do not practice exercises to learn to talk, but use language for its natural purpose of communication and self-expression. Pieces in the Suzuki repertoire are designed to present technical problems to be learned in the context of the music rather than through dry technical exercises.
Delayed Reading
Students learn to read after their ability to talk has been well established. In the same way, students should develop basic technical competence on their instruments before being taught to read music.
About Dr. Suzuki
Shinichi Suzuki was a violinist, educator, philosopher, and humanitarian. Born in 1898, he studied violin in Japan for years before traveling to Germany in the 1920’s for further study. After the end of World War II, Dr. Suzuki devoted his life to the development of the method he calls Talent Education.
Suzuki based his approach on the belief that "Musical ability is not an inborn talent, but an ability which can be developed. Any student who is properly trained can develop musical ability, just as all students develop the ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential of every student is unlimited."
Dr. Suzuki’s goal was not simply to develop professional musicians, but to nurture loving human beings and help develop each student’s character through the study of music.
For more information, please visit the Suzuki Association of the America’s website at www.suzukiassociation.org.
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