what is the suzuki method?
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki
was 17 when he heard a recording of Schubert’s Ave Maria and fell in love with the beautiful tone and sound that the violin could make. He began to teach himself violin, listening to recordings and emulating the sound he heard. Over the next several years he took lessons from a teacher in Tokyo and later studied with the famous teacher Karl Klingler in Germany where he would marry before returning to Japan.
Dr. Suzuki always had a love for children, and when he and his wife moved back to Japan, he began to teach young children. His premise was that children could learn how to play an instrument the same way they learn how to speak, so he began his work with young children by having them listen to music and recommended children hear music all around them from a very young age. His young students learned to play very well and listeners were amazed at what these children could do. Many thought that these children must have been born with innate music ability or were musical geniuses as it was not common for children to take music lessons before they were 10 or 11 years old unless they had exceptional musical talent. But Dr. Suzuki believed that all children have the talent to learn if they are taught well by loving parents and teachers.
Dr. Suzuki always had a love for children, and when he and his wife moved back to Japan, he began to teach young children. His premise was that children could learn how to play an instrument the same way they learn how to speak, so he began his work with young children by having them listen to music and recommended children hear music all around them from a very young age. His young students learned to play very well and listeners were amazed at what these children could do. Many thought that these children must have been born with innate music ability or were musical geniuses as it was not common for children to take music lessons before they were 10 or 11 years old unless they had exceptional musical talent. But Dr. Suzuki believed that all children have the talent to learn if they are taught well by loving parents and teachers.
Dr. Suzuki always had a love for children, and when he and his wife moved back to Japan, he began to teach young children. His premise was that children could learn how to play an instrument the same way they learn how to speak, so he began his work with young children by having them listen to music and recommended children hear music all around them from a very young age. His young students learned to play very well and listeners were amazed at what these children could do. Many thought that these children must have been born with innate music ability or were musical geniuses as it was not common for children to take music lessons before they were 10 or 11 years old unless they had exceptional musical talent. But Dr. Suzuki believed that all children have the talent to learn if they are taught well by loving parents and teachers.
As Dr. Suzuki continued to teach and refine his teaching method, he chose and wrote songs that helped children learn to play. Over the years, teachers and parents became increasingly interested in the method that Suzuki was creating and visited Japan to learn from him. Now there are thousands of children around the world that have learned to play an instrument using the Suzuki Method.
Although Dr. Suzuki is known for teaching young children to play music, he also believed that hearing and playing great music helped children become good people with “beautiful and peaceful hearts.” He hoped these children would bring peace and understanding to the world.
Parent Resources: More on the Suzuki Method
To Learn with Love: A Companion for Suzuki Parents
William Starr
Nurtured by Love: The Classic Approach to Talent Education
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki