The Suzuki Method: Teaching Music Through Natural Language Learning
Shinichi Suzuki, a Japanese violinist, developed the Suzuki Method during the mid-20th century. Suzuki struggled with learning German as a beginner, despite being a skilled violinist. However, he noticed that children quickly acquire their native language, while adults often find even dialects challenging to learn. This led Suzuki to conclude that children have the necessary ability to become proficient on a musical instrument, just as they learn their native language with ease.
Suzuki's Talent Education method was modeled after his theories of natural language acquisition, and he believed that every child, when taught correctly, could achieve a high level of musical proficiency. The goal of the musical education provided by the Suzuki Method was to develop "noble hearts" in children, rather than creating famous musical prodigies.
The central belief of the Suzuki Method is that all people can learn from their environment, and the essential components of the method aim to create the "right environment" for learning music. This includes an early start, with most countries beginning formal lessons at ages 3-4, and the importance of listening to music, attending concerts, developing friendships with other music students, and listening to recordings of professional musicians regularly.
The Suzuki Method also emphasizes learning to play before learning to read, to support learning by ear. Parents are heavily involved in the method, supervising instrument practice every day and attending and taking notes at every lesson to effectively coach their child. The method encourages collaboration and mutual encouragement, discourages competitive attitudes, and upholds a high standard of teaching by trained teachers.
Additionally, the Suzuki Method emphasizes producing a good sound in a natural and balanced way, using core repertoire for each instrument, adapting instruments to meet the demands of a child's body, and providing social interaction with other children.
Suzuki Institutes were established to create a musical community, train teachers, and spread ideas to the whole community of Suzuki students, teachers, and parents all around the world. In essence, the Suzuki Method is based on the belief that every child can learn to play music, just as every child is expected to learn their native language.
Playing music can be difficult if you have little experience reading classical notes. However, this book offers a solution with 58 familiar and easy-to-play familiar songs and melodies. Each song is simplified and transposed for one octave, and is written using color circles and letter notes, making it accessible to absolute beginners without any prior knowledge of reading music.
