About the Suzuki Method

Every Child Can Learn

More than fifty years ago, Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki realized the
implications of the fact that children the world over learn to speak their
native language with ease. He began to apply the basic principles of
language acquisition to the learning of music, and called his method
the mother-tongue approach. The ideas of parent responsibility, loving
encouragement, constant repetition, etc., are some of the special features
of the Suzuki approach.

Parent Involvement
As when a child learns to talk, parents are involved in the musical learning
of their child. They attend lessons with the child and serve as home
teachers during the week. One parent often learns to play before the child,
so that s/he understands what the child is expected to do. Parents work
with the teacher to create an enjoyable learning environment.

Early Beginning
The early years are crucial for developing mental processes and muscle
coordination. Listening to music should begin at birth; formal training may
begin at age three or four, but it is never too late to begin.

Listening
Children 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 child knows them immediately.

Repetition
Constant repetition is essential in learning to play an instrument. Children
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 childs effort to learn an instrument should be met
with sincere praise and encouragement. Each child learns at his/her own
rate, building on small steps so that each one can be mastered. Children
are also encouraged to support each others efforts, fostering an attitude of
generosity and cooperation.

Learning with Other Children

In addition to private lessons, children participate in regular group lessons
and performance at which they learn from and are motivated by each other.

Graded Repertoire
Children 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
Children learn to read after their ability to talk has been well established. in
the same way, children should develop basic technical competence on their
instruments before being taught to read music.

Video Overview

Introductory Course
The SAA has an introductory course designed for prospective Suzuki
parents and teachers.
If you are interested in the Suzuki Method, the 6 hour Every Child Can!
class is the perfect opportunity to become educated in its principles.

Are Suzuki Kids Prodigies?

Are Suzuki students musical geniuses? Are they gifted children who have
a special talent for music? Are their parents professional musicians?

Fortunately, Suzuki students are normal children whose parents may have
little or no musical experience. Their parents have simply chosen to
introduce them to music through the Suzuki approach, a unique philosophy
of music education developed by Shinichi Suzuki.

The Suzuki Legacy

Shinichi Suzuki was a violinist, educator, philosopher and humanitarian.

Born in 1898, he studied violin in Japan for some years before going to
Germany in the 1920s 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 child who is
properly trained can develop musical ability, just as all children develop the
ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential of every child is
unlimited.

Dr. Suzukis goal was not simply to develop professional musicians, but to
nurture loving human beings and help develop each childs character
through the study of music.
Parent Perspective

Parents whose children are involved in Suzuki program throughout the

country are enthusiastic about the benefits for their children and their whole
families.

In Cleveland, Ohio, Jan McNair participates in Suzuki violin study with her
four-year-old son Ben. She points out that Ben is discovering the joy of
doing something because youve worked to do it. What hes doing right now
will be second nature to him. This is the way to learn.

In addition to instilling a love of music, the Suzuki approach puts emphasis

on the development of the childs character. Ben begins and ends every
lesson by bowing to his teacher and thanking her. His teacher, in turn,
thanks him: I learn something every time I teach you, she tells him.

Perhaps it is music that will save the world.

Pablo Casals

Charlotte Johnson of Papillon, Nebraska, participates in a Suzuki program

with her ten-year-old son Christopher. They learn really good music right
away, and they develop good memories, she says. Developing self-
esteem is another plus, she adds. He can get up in front of people and its
no big deal.

This is not just music education. The long-term effects on the family are
positive and far-reaching, says Pam Brasch, Executive Director of the SAA.
It teaches a child cooperation, self-esteemso many important qualities
that children are not getting otherwise.
 Children Agree!

Children also have positive comments about their participation in Suzuki

programs. In a survey conducted in Dallas, Texas, students provided their
opinions on a number of aspects of their Suzuki study. Overall the children
considered it fun and challenging. they felt that the benefits of playing an
instrument via the Suzuki method helped them learn discipline, goal setting
and constructive use of time.

Emily Louise Davis, a college student who has been involved with a Suzuki
program in North Carolina since the age of three, has experienced a sense
of camaraderie and the bond of a larger family. During a recent visit to
Suzuki programs in Europe, Emily observed the same sense of cooperation
and respect within families and groups there.

Students in many programs comment on the importance of friendships they

develop and the chance to share musical experiences with other Suzuki
students. They enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from
working at something worthwhile and doing it well.

FAQ

How does Talent Education differ from other methods of teaching

music to children?
Thoughtful teachers have often used some of the elements listed here, but
Suzuki has formulated them in a cohesive approach. Some basic
differences are:

Suzuki teachers believe that musical ability can be developed in all

children.
 Students begin at young ages.
Parents play an active role in the learning process.
Children become comfortable with the instrument before learning to read
music.
Technique is taught in the context of pieces rather than through dry
technical exercises.
Pieces are refined through constant review.
Students perform frequently, individually and in groups.

How do I choose a teacher for my child?

See our guide for more details on choosing a Suzuki teacher.

What instruments are taught through the Suzuki approach?

Suzuki originally developed his method for his own instrument, the violin.
Materials are now available for viola, cello, bass, piano, flute, harp, guitar,
recorder, organ and voice.

The main concern for parents should be to bring up their children as noble
human beings. That is sufficient. If this is not their greatest hope, in the end
the child may take a road contrary to their expectations. Children can play
very well. We must try to make them splendid in mind and heart also.
Shinichi Suzuki

The Suzuki Twinkler is a copyrighted publication of the Suzuki Association

of the Americas, Inc. 1998

REFERENCE:
https://suzukiassociation.org/about/suzuki-method/
Personal History of Shinichi Suzuki
1898
On October 17, Shinichi Suzuki was born in Nagoya. His father,
Masakichi, was the first to make violins in Japan, and in 1888 founded a
violin factory in Nagoya.

1916 age 18
Graduated from the Nagoya Commercial School.

1920 age 22
Shinichi Suzuki went to Tokyo. He stayed at the home of Marquis
Tokugawa, and studied the violin under Koh Ando (younger sister of
Rohan Koda).
1921 age 23
Shinichi Suzuki left Japan with a group with Marquis Tokugawa to travel
around the world. He decided to stay in Germany, and this was the
beginning of his 8 year study in Berlin under Karl Klingler (instructor of
Hochschule f Musik).
Shinichi Suzuki left with TERI letters and a card from Karl Klingler that
were written to Suzuki when he was studying with Klingler. These were
messages about lesson dates and the pieces that he wanted Suzuki to
study with him.@@click to enlarge(@left / right@)

Dear Mr. Suzuki@@September 27, 1927

I also returned home yesterday.
And, I would be pleased if you could come to lesson at 9:00
on Thursday.
I look forward to seeing you.
 @@With my warm regards,
@@Karl Klingler

Shinichi
Suzuki
kept a
card he
receive
d from
Dr.
Albert
Einstein
.The
messag
e on the
card
says,
"Dear
Mr.
Shinichi
Suzuki,
For our
rememb
rance
Albert
Einstein
." click
to
enlarge

1928 age 30
Shinichi Suzuki married Waltraud Prange and returned to Japan. There in
Japan along with his three brothers the Suzuki String Quartet was
formed, and they started giving concerts in various places. From this time
on, Suzuki worked as an instructor at the Kunitachi Music School.

1931 age 33
With Alexander Mogilevsky, a famous Russian violinist, Suzuki assumed
the office of professor at The Imperial Music School established in Tokyo.
Later, Suzuki became the President of this Music School.
1937 age 39
Around this time, Suzuki gave violin lessons to Toshiya Eto, Koji Toyoda,
the Kobayashi brothers (Takeshi and Kenji), Hidetaro Suzuki, and Yoko
Arimatsu at his home.

1943 age 45
Shinichi Suzuki moved to Kiso Fukushima, Nagano-ken.

1946 age 48
The Matsumoto Music School was established in Shimoyokota,
Matsumoto. He was named director, and then moved to Matsumoto-shi.
The original name of the association was Zenkoku Yojikyoiku Doshikai.

1948 age 50
The Doshikai was renamed Talent Education Research Institute.

1949 age 51
There were 35 branches of violin classes all over Japan, and 1,500
children were studying.

1950 October, age 52

Talent Education Research Institute became a corporate organization
authorized by the Ministry of Education.

1951 August, age 53

. The first summer school was held in Kirigamine, Nagano-ken. 109
children and 11 instructors participated from 25 chapters nationwide.

1955 March, age 57

The first National Convention (Grand Concert) was held at Tokyo
Metropolitan Gymnasium. An ensemble of nearly 1,200 child-violinists
played in unison, in the presence of the Crown Prince and other royal
members, as well as foreign diplomatic corps.
1964 March, age 66
The first U.S. tour by 10 Suzuki children took place. They aroused the so-
called Suzuki Impact in the music education circle all over the United
States.

1966 October, age 68

The 2nd U.S. tour took place. The children visited 19 cities and were
received enthusiastically. Thereafter, this tour repeated 30 times until
1994. Also, Suzuki published Nurtured by Love this year through
Kodansha.

1967 age 69
Talent Education Research Institute was completed.

1975 age 77
The first World Convention was held in Hawaii. More than 870 people
from Japan, The United States, Australia, etc. participated.

1978 April, age 80

Suzuki took 100 Japanese children to the U.S., and on April 9, a
friendship concert was given with one hundred American children at the
Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C..President Carter, who was in the
audience, gave encouragement to the 200 children, and made every
possible effort to encourage international friendship.

1979 age 81
The City of Matsumoto honored Dr. Suzuki with honorary citizenship.

1983 July, age 85

The 6th World Convention was held in Matsumoto. 1,500 students,
parents, and instructors from 22 countries all over the world participated
and received lessons from Dr. Suzuki.

1986 December, age 88

To celebrate Shinichi Suzukis 88th birthday, a ceremonial concert
entitled Shinichi Suzuki and twinkle players was held in Suntory Hall.
 1991 age 93
A special issue of the British Sunday Times selected 10 Japanese for the
1,000 persons who made every possible effort to enrich the 20th Century.
Shinichi Suzuki was among them.

1994 age 96
A concert to celebrate Shinichi Suzukis 95th birthday, was held at
Suntory Hall.

1996 age 98
Shinichi Suzuki Museum opened in Matsumoto.

1997 age 99
The International Academy of the Suzuki Method opened.

1998 age 99
Shinichi Suzuki passed away on January the 26 th at the age of 99.

http://www.suzukimethod.or.jp/english/E_mthd20.html