THE SUZUKI METHOD
The Suzuki Method or “Mother Tongue approach” to learning a musical instrument was developed over fifty years ago by Sinichi Suzuki, a Japanese violinist who wished to make people better and happier citizens through music.
Watching children learn to speak their mother tongue by constant listening and repetition, without apparent effort, convinced him that he could apply similar methods to learning to play music. And he was right! His system of musical philosophy works beautifully.
Two fundamental beliefs underpin the Suzuki Method :
All children have talent
Talent is not inborn but developed in a nurturing environment
Based on these two principals, children are never tested to see if they have talent before they are accepted into the program. Suzuki teachers believe that all children can learn to play an instrument at
their highest potential if they are raised in a supportive and nurturing environment where the Teacher-Parent-Child triangle works harmoniously.
THE SUZUKI TRIANGLE
The Teacher, Parent, and Child form a crucial triangle – all three must work in harmony to develop the child’s fullest ability:
Teacher - provides the instruction at the lesson and all the needed information and encouragement to both child and parent.
Parent - ensures that the child listens to the CD every day, spends time practicing with him/her on a regular basis, and offers a nurturing environment that focuses on developing the child’s desire to play
Child – practices, plays, learns, and enjoys