Suzuki Philosophy
In order to become fully acquainted with Suzuki Method, I need to explain the philosophy behind it. You need to know not only the “how to” but the “why” of teaching this method. Since you are your child's home teacher, you will need a deep understanding of why this method works; so that your child has a firm basis, so you can have confidence in what you're doing, and so you can enjoy the process of teaching your child the language of music.
Also known as the Mother Tongue Method, Suzuki instruction is based upon the fact that all children learn to speak their mother tongue. This one idea sounds so incredibly simple that we tend to say, “sure, of course, so . . .” But a closer look shows us how direct the correlation is to leaning music.
When a child learns to speak, there are 5 important factors:
1. Starts at an early age
2. Learning by listening
3. Parents are highly involved
4. There is constant repetition
5. There is encouragement, not competition.
I'd like to go further in detail on each of these points.
1. Starts at an early age
From the moment of birth, a baby is surrounded by the sound of its native language. Every waking moment will include a listening lesson in what she will eventually be learning. The language she hears is spoken well, it is varied, it has nuance and rhythm, and it is repeated over and over. What a perfect age, birth, to create the same environment in which to learn the language of violin playing. Babies and young children approach everything in their environment through their senses, so why not take advantage of the receptiveness and begin playing music for them at birth? Which leads to the second point of learning by listening.
2. Learning by listening
Just as you don't expect your baby to start speaking at the age of one day, you don't expect your child to play the violin after one lesson. It takes months for a child to absorb the music she hears and then be able to reproduce it on the instrument. Can you imagine speaking a language you had never heard? Can you imagine your child playing a piece she had never heard?
The more listening a child does, the easier it is for her to play. Tone and musical expression are also absorbed. Playing the tape or CD is the parent’s job. The more the better. Children are not required to sit and listen, but the music can provide background for mealtimes or bedtimes, which usually happen on a fairly regular basis. Don't forget the advantages of having the parent listen too. The parent memorizes the pieces and becomes a more effective home teacher.
Often when a younger sibling starts on violin, their progress is much more rapid than the first child. Think of their double dose of listening: first the recording, and then their brother.
3. Parents are highly involved
Just as every parent is highly involved in their child's language development, Suzuki parents hold high status as home teacher. As a Suzuki parent you'll have to be in charge of these things:
1. Attending lessons with the child
2. Practicing every day
3. Making sure the CD is listened to every day
4. Attending parent meetings, concerts, and group lessons
5. Learning to play the violin.
Basically one parent should be in charge, although the partner can certainly help out. Consistency is the key here.
The Suzuki teacher shows you at the lesson how to teach the child at home. You take notes, tape record the lesson, ask question at the end of the lesson about anything you don't understand, and then practice those points at each practice session at home.
When you're an effective home teacher, consider that your child will get seven lessons per week instead of one!
4. There is constant repetition
When your toddler learned to say MAMA you didn't say "that's good, forget that one. Lets go on to cookie." No, you repeated those first words over and over and with JOY. Children like to do what they can already do. It’s us adults who succumb to impatience and burning desire to go on to the next piece.
Dr. Suzuki says that "ability breeds ability." If a child needs 3000 repetitions to learn a new technique, the next new one might take 200 repetitions. Your job as home teacher is to make the repetitions interesting. The child's interest must be engaged or else no progress is made. Practice is the correct repetition of a passage.
5. Encouragement not competition
DR. SUZUKI SAYS WE SHOULD SEE EACH CHILD AS A SEED. When we plant a seed we don't expect it to sprout immediately. We carefully nurture it with water and sun, pull weeds and tend to its needs. At its own right moment it will sprout and grow at its own pace. We cannot force, cajole, or threaten that seed to grow more quickly and the same goes for a child. We tend to the environment in which we raise our children by providing encouragement and unconditional love.
Hints to get Started
1. Start with short practices several times a day. One possibility is short 15-minute lessons after every meal.
2.Establish routine geared to your child. Would your child do best with morning lessons or afternoon lessons? Children do best with routines. A regular (predetermined) practice time means fewer interruptions and arguments.
3.Avoid negative criticism keep comments positive. If something sounds terrible you can say, “Thank you for playing that. Could we do it 5 more times and see if your bow can start down every time.”
Numbers are magic. They have a beginning and an end. If it’s not good after 5 times, check your child's attention span and either add 5 more or drop it and leave it for the next day. To illustrate the benefits of practice Dr. Suzuki tells this story:
If one child practices 15 minutes a day and another child practices 3 hours a day, it takes the second child 3 months to accomplish what the first accomplishes in 9 years. Most people would say the second child is more talented than the first but in reality she has simply practiced more.
Suzuki method is a no-fail method. No child fails to learn to speak. Every child can learn to play the violin. But not every parent is cut out to be a Suzuki parent. It takes a big commitment, a large chunk of your time and effort, and it’s not easy. But it gives you and your child so many rewards; time spent together, lifelong skills in discipline, study, performance, and best of all, a sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with mastery of a skill.
Also known as the Mother Tongue Method, Suzuki instruction is based upon the fact that all children learn to speak their mother tongue. This one idea sounds so incredibly simple that we tend to say, “sure, of course, so . . .” But a closer look shows us how direct the correlation is to leaning music.
When a child learns to speak, there are 5 important factors:
1. Starts at an early age
2. Learning by listening
3. Parents are highly involved
4. There is constant repetition
5. There is encouragement, not competition.
I'd like to go further in detail on each of these points.
1. Starts at an early age
From the moment of birth, a baby is surrounded by the sound of its native language. Every waking moment will include a listening lesson in what she will eventually be learning. The language she hears is spoken well, it is varied, it has nuance and rhythm, and it is repeated over and over. What a perfect age, birth, to create the same environment in which to learn the language of violin playing. Babies and young children approach everything in their environment through their senses, so why not take advantage of the receptiveness and begin playing music for them at birth? Which leads to the second point of learning by listening.
2. Learning by listening
Just as you don't expect your baby to start speaking at the age of one day, you don't expect your child to play the violin after one lesson. It takes months for a child to absorb the music she hears and then be able to reproduce it on the instrument. Can you imagine speaking a language you had never heard? Can you imagine your child playing a piece she had never heard?
The more listening a child does, the easier it is for her to play. Tone and musical expression are also absorbed. Playing the tape or CD is the parent’s job. The more the better. Children are not required to sit and listen, but the music can provide background for mealtimes or bedtimes, which usually happen on a fairly regular basis. Don't forget the advantages of having the parent listen too. The parent memorizes the pieces and becomes a more effective home teacher.
Often when a younger sibling starts on violin, their progress is much more rapid than the first child. Think of their double dose of listening: first the recording, and then their brother.
3. Parents are highly involved
Just as every parent is highly involved in their child's language development, Suzuki parents hold high status as home teacher. As a Suzuki parent you'll have to be in charge of these things:
1. Attending lessons with the child
2. Practicing every day
3. Making sure the CD is listened to every day
4. Attending parent meetings, concerts, and group lessons
5. Learning to play the violin.
Basically one parent should be in charge, although the partner can certainly help out. Consistency is the key here.
The Suzuki teacher shows you at the lesson how to teach the child at home. You take notes, tape record the lesson, ask question at the end of the lesson about anything you don't understand, and then practice those points at each practice session at home.
When you're an effective home teacher, consider that your child will get seven lessons per week instead of one!
4. There is constant repetition
When your toddler learned to say MAMA you didn't say "that's good, forget that one. Lets go on to cookie." No, you repeated those first words over and over and with JOY. Children like to do what they can already do. It’s us adults who succumb to impatience and burning desire to go on to the next piece.
Dr. Suzuki says that "ability breeds ability." If a child needs 3000 repetitions to learn a new technique, the next new one might take 200 repetitions. Your job as home teacher is to make the repetitions interesting. The child's interest must be engaged or else no progress is made. Practice is the correct repetition of a passage.
5. Encouragement not competition
DR. SUZUKI SAYS WE SHOULD SEE EACH CHILD AS A SEED. When we plant a seed we don't expect it to sprout immediately. We carefully nurture it with water and sun, pull weeds and tend to its needs. At its own right moment it will sprout and grow at its own pace. We cannot force, cajole, or threaten that seed to grow more quickly and the same goes for a child. We tend to the environment in which we raise our children by providing encouragement and unconditional love.
Hints to get Started
1. Start with short practices several times a day. One possibility is short 15-minute lessons after every meal.
2.Establish routine geared to your child. Would your child do best with morning lessons or afternoon lessons? Children do best with routines. A regular (predetermined) practice time means fewer interruptions and arguments.
3.Avoid negative criticism keep comments positive. If something sounds terrible you can say, “Thank you for playing that. Could we do it 5 more times and see if your bow can start down every time.”
Numbers are magic. They have a beginning and an end. If it’s not good after 5 times, check your child's attention span and either add 5 more or drop it and leave it for the next day. To illustrate the benefits of practice Dr. Suzuki tells this story:
If one child practices 15 minutes a day and another child practices 3 hours a day, it takes the second child 3 months to accomplish what the first accomplishes in 9 years. Most people would say the second child is more talented than the first but in reality she has simply practiced more.
Suzuki method is a no-fail method. No child fails to learn to speak. Every child can learn to play the violin. But not every parent is cut out to be a Suzuki parent. It takes a big commitment, a large chunk of your time and effort, and it’s not easy. But it gives you and your child so many rewards; time spent together, lifelong skills in discipline, study, performance, and best of all, a sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with mastery of a skill.