Suzuki Method

What is the Suzuki Method?

The Suzuki method grew out of the Mother Tongue Approach, which was developed and used by Japanese violinist and pedagogue Dr. Shinichi Suzuki within his own teaching studio and then spread internationally. After noticing how easily and naturally children learned their mother tongue, he sought to apply the same principles of language acquisition (including immersion in a positive environment, listening, imitation, and review) to the skill of learning an instrument. By applying these concepts from a young age, he believed that talent is not born, but instead that every child can successfully learn to create music at a high level within an encouraging learning environment. He formed a step-by-step sequence of repertoire that gradually adds new skills and continually reinforces the music ‘vocabulary’ already learned. He does this within the context of real music, not just exercises, so that students immediately learn how to express themselves through music. The desired end result is not that all students will become professional musicians, but instead that the process will help change and shape them into beautiful people and lifelong learners. As Dr. Suzuki stated, “Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.”

More information about Dr. Suzuki and the Suzuki Method can be found here: https://suzukiassociation.org/about/suzuki-method/

Benefits of the Suzuki Method

Learning a new skill is always challenging, but within this method, students are taught as naturally as possible by immersing them in music (ideally from a young age), surrounding them with positive reinforcement, as well as opportunities for listening, imitating, and reviewing.
Student is not just learning how to play notes, but how to make a beautiful sound! First focus is always tone from the very first lesson.
It is made up of a step by step curriculum of “real” music which builds on itself. Each new piece has 80% review material to support student in continually reinforcing their learned skills, while also contributing something new for student to enjoy learning.
Every child can learn the cello, by addressing each specific student at the pace they need in a positive learning environment.
Provides intentional time for parent to spend time with their child, learning together.
Presents an opportunity for student to learn how to focus on something, persevere through a task, and learn a challenging, new skill over time.
Student is exposed to music and gains a creative outlet to discover and express themselves in.
Student spends time weekly growing in relationship with a trusted adult, outside of parents, gaining a mentor and friend for life.
Student able to tangibly feel and see their progress (the product of consistent work) in the short term and the long term, as the skills that they work on grow each day.

Expectations within Suzuki

Parent and student both attend and actively engage in lessons (and group classes).
Parent facilitates practice as the ‘home teacher.’
Carve out a space in your schedule and your house for focused practice time
Spend consistent time in practice each day, doing the specific assignments from the teacher. (As a beginner, during the first several months, practice will probably take less than 15 minutes). Having a consistent practice schedule will lead to productive lessons and visible progress, which will be encouraging for both parent and student.
Listen to Suzuki CD regularly and have music playing in the home.

Common Misconceptions about the Suzuki

“Parent has to spend large amounts of time directing student’s practice.” This is specific to each student and changes over time. The amount of direct focus the parent will need to spend helping students practice depends on many variables, including the age and maturity of the student and their experience with the cello. Most beginning students, no matter the age, will need and greatly benefit from having an extra set of eyes (and ears) helping them get used to the setup. Younger students will need help managing their practice time and staying on task. Older students who have a comfortable setup will need less direct interaction from parents over time, but it is still helpful to keep an ear in and check that the students are understanding and practicing their assignments.
“Suzuki is only for families with a stay at home parent.” The home teacher does not need to be a parent. We live in a very different context than when Dr. Suzuki began this method in Japan in the 1940s and every home situation is unique, so I will do my best to adjust for each family’s needs. For the sake of consistency and continuity, it is ideal if the adult who attends the lesson also acts as the main person supervising the practicing, but I understand that might not always be possible. In some families, that means a grandparent or nanny might take students to the lesson and/or be the main home teacher. Through keeping an up to date notebook of lesson assignments and utilizing tools like videoing parts of lessons or teacher demonstrations, everyone can be on the same page.
“Parent needs to have played an instrument or be musical.” Parents do not need to have any prior exposure to music before their child begins Suzuki lessons. Any parent is qualified to do this and will be taught everything they need to know to help their child succeed! I will provide tools and resources for parents and be teaching both parent and student together. Lessons are not just for the student, but also to help prepare the parent for what and how they will be helping the student practice each week.
“My student won’t learn how to read music.” Learning to read music is an important part of learning an instrument and something that we will be working towards throughout all of our lessons. As a student learns an instrument, their attention is split into many directions as they have to learn how to hold the instrument, how to make a good tone, how to listen and hear the notes that they will play, and then how to create those notes. On top of that, they also need to learn how to read the music that tells them what notes to play. At first, our focus will be on setting up a comfortable, natural setup, while working on developing their listening abiliary and finger ear connection. As these develop, we will begin to more directly cover learning to read music. Depending on the age and maturity of the student, this may be able to be introduced earlier, as it takes many of the same skills needed when learning to read. Once students start reading, their attention ends up being directed entirely to the sheet music and pulled away from their posture and listening to their sound, so it is best to delay until the fundamentals are secure.
“Suzuki is only for small children.” While Dr. Suzuki developed this with specifically young children in mind, the main concepts apply for everyone seeking to learn this new skill. Anyone of any age can learn to play and enjoy the cello! I adjust the pace and depth of concepts of the lesson content for the maturity and experience of each student. I still highly recommend applying the main principles of the Suzuki method, as well as using the repertoire sequence, for adult students.
“This is for students who want to become professional musicians.” This is actually the reverse of Dr. Suzuki’s beliefs (and mine). Dr. Suzuki believed that training students in learning an instrument and how to create a beautiful sound will help them become good humans. It will teach them how to work at something even when it’s hard and to care about beauty. He specifically did not want his students to all become professional musicians, but instead to take these qualities and love for music into all different careers, which will help change how they view and interact with the world. I’ll share the same quote from above in which Dr. Suzuki directly addresses this issue. “Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.”
“Private lessons cost too much money.” Yes, lessons do cost money, as well as procuring an instrument for your student. However, every activity costs time and money. Your tuition covers weekly private lessons and access to this local Suzuki community. This is an investment for your child (or yourself) in a skill that they will be able to enjoy for the rest of their lives, along with the listed benefits above. My goal is that lessons are as accessible as possible, while still compensating me for my time and training. There are ways to save money. If you choose to rent, then you will be able to change sizes easily as the student grows. Also, if you choose to buy an instrument instead, most instrument shops will ‘buy back’ the old size from you as your child grows and credit that amount towards the next instrument you buy from them. Please still reach out if cost is a concern.

What if you do not want your child to do Suzuki lessons?

Please still reach out! Let’s have a phone conversation, so I can hear your concerns and what you would like in a teacher for your student, so we can see if we might still be a good fit.