The Suzuki Approach
to Instrumental Teaching
The Suzuki Method is based on the principle that all children
learn to
speak their own language, and that other skills can be
taught to them
in the same natural way. It is therefore also called the
‘mother tongue
method’.
Shinichi Suzuki, who was born in Japan in 1898 and who
studied
Western Music in Germany in the 1920s, began his studies
of how to
teach in this way in the 1930s and developed them in Japan
in the
1950s. He believes that all children can be taught and
that the earlier
they start the better; and this has been proved everywhere
in the world
where his method is used. Other important aspects of the
method are:
the emphasis on listening to music, the involvement of
the parent,
a nurturing environment, and the social interaction with
other children.
The early start
In this country many children start at the age of 3 or
4. At this age
they are very receptive and still have time away from
the pressures
of school work. Their eagerness to learn is great and
their aural
abilities are at their peak. They start by listening to
recordings of the
music they will play, and by observing the lessons of
other children.
In the first lessons the mother (or father) is taught
the basic principles
of playing the instrument, and the child becomes motivated
to emulate
not just the teacher, but the parent and the other children
as well.
The parent attends all lessons and learns from the teacher
how to
help her child at home.
Motivation
Teachers try to make the lessons as enjoyable as possible
for the
child and encourage parent and child to enjoy their home
practices.
Fun is important and at the beginning various games are
often used
to reinforce musical and technical skills. By always praising
the efforts
of the children, parents and teachers encourage them on
to the next
step.
Repertoire
The carefully graded repertoire makes each step easy to
achieve,
and teachers are taught how to let each child progress
at his or her
own pace. Just as the first words are retained in a child’s
vocabulary,
all the old pieces are still kept as part of the child’s
repertoire while he
learns the new ones. In this way he learns to achieve
an ever higher
standard of playing. By means of repetition, skills and
repertoire are
learnt thoroughly, and children feel secure in their own
achievements.
Confidence and social skills
The students get together in concerts and group lessons
and are
encouraged to watch the individual lessons of other children.
In this
way they become accustomed to playing in front of others
and with
each other. This adds to motivation and gives them confidence.
Later
on it is important to belong to a peer group consisting
of children who
all enjoy playing an instrument.
Technique
The Suzuki approach to all instruments is aimed at producing
a
beautiful tone in the simplest and most natural way. Young
children
have supple bodies, natural co-ordination and balance,
and the
knowledgeable teacher is able to make full use of these
qualities.
Reading music
Just as children learn to speak before they are taught
to read,
so Suzuki students of 3 or 4 first learn to listen to,
and produce,
sounds on their instrument, with guidance from their teacher.
When
their aural and digital skills are well established, usually
at 5 or 6,
they learn to read.
The aims of the Suzuki
Approach
There are now a number of Suzuki trained students beginning
to
enter the music profession in this country, while in other
countries,
where the method was started earlier, such as the USA,
a very large
proportion of those attending music colleges and academies
owe their
early training to Suzuki teachers. But while musical excellence
is
important, the training of professionals is not the main
aim. The
emphasis is on the whole child, on education through music.
Dr Suzuki
himself has always said that his wish is to develop the
human qualities
in the child, to create a good person and a good citizen;
and he has on
many occasions called on politicians and educators to
ensure that the
full potential of every child is developed.
Books and articles on the Suzuki Method are available
from the ESI
office, which also holds stock of all available Suzuki
repertoire music,
tapes and CDs
Observation and further information
The BSI welcomes observers at most of the courses at Oak
Lodge
School in Clapham, and especially at our Introductory
Seminars and
Open Days which are held regularly. In addition, many
of our teachers
around the country are happy to welcome interested teachers
or
musicians to observe some of their teaching. For further
information,
please contact Birte Kelly at the British Suzuki Institute’s office in
Wheathampstead.
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