The Suzuki Method: Why We Love it

Like any other aspect of life, musical ability is a skill that one needs to sharpen over time. The more time you spend practicing and learning music, the better you will become at it. Of course, there are many approaches to learning music. 

However, the best method of learning music for children is the Suzuki method. Even research has highlighted the fact that parent involvement is an essential component of a wholesome and successful music learning experience. These tenets are the heart of the Suzuki method, and one of the many reasons music teachers around the world love it. 

Here is everything you need to know to provide your students with a successful music learning experience. 

Origins Of The Suzuki Method 

Violinist Shinichi Suzuki devised the Suzuki method in the early 70s. When it was first developed, Suzuki only focused on teaching the violin. 

Now the method has been successfully applied to dozens of other instruments as well. The Suzuki method has proved promising, long-term results for many children all over the world. Dr. Suzuki's main goal was always to make children into loving and nurtured human beings through music and the learning process. His philosophy was that every child is born with equal ability.

Instruments Taught With The Suzuki Method 

Here are the many instruments that are taught through the help of the Suzuki method:

• Violin

• Guitar

• Piano

• Voice

• Flute

• Cello

• Bass

• Organ

• Brass

• Harp

• Recorder

What Is The Suzuki Method? 

The method is based on the premise of language acquisition and is applied to music learning. This is known as the "mother-tongue approach." This is not a one-step approach, as it involves many facets that come together to form a holistic approach to music teaching. 

Here are the many components of the Suzuki method that make it unique:

Early Years 

Childhood is the most crucial stage in everyone's life. It is the stage where your muscle coordination is developed as well as your cognitive processes. During that time, children are also much more open to learning as they are introduced to a new and fascinating world that they are exploring. 

During these years, they also acquire language skills, and so integrating it with music is essential to learning a skill that will last a lifetime. This is why it is encouraged to start teaching children an instrument from the age of three or four. 

Parental Involvement

When it comes to language acquisition skills, the biggest helpers are parents. They correct the language and pronunciation of the child, and this is how they learn. 

The same approach is extended to the Suzuki method. Parents learn with the child and usually learn the instrument before the child does to encourage practice every day at home. 

Apart from the teachers, the parents act as a guide as they encourage learning and motivate the child during this learning process. The parents are involved fully in the beginning because the child can't practice by themselves until they are at least eight years old.

When they reach this stage, the parents don't play a teaching role as much. Instead, they become focused on supporting and encouraging the child.

Repetition

Again, the entire principle of language skills is applied to this method. When children learn to speak, they hear a word repeated frequently, and after a while, understand it. They use this word many times, and it becomes a part of their vocabulary. In the same way, children learn one piece of music and then build on it. This means that they keep repeating the same piece. 

Listening 

Children imitate everything. They learn words by listening to them a hundred times before they start uttering it themselves. They take their time, and so this is why they must listen to music every day.

This doesn't mean just any music but music that includes the instrument they are learning and the music included in their Suzuki repertoire. This will help the child become familiar with the music until they can use this to play the music on their own. 

Nurturing Environment at school and at home

While it is great to give your child a private music education for the Suzuki method, it is also essential to let them participate in group lessons. This provides a fostering environment for them to learn as the children motivate each other.

The benefits of group music education are that they encourage motivation, help build a community, and provide the children the confidence they need. 

It is also a great way to let your kids socialize with other children who have the same interests. Sharing knowledge is the best way to learn and accomplish things.

Delayed Reading 

Once children have mastered their ability to talk, they move on to reading. In the same context, once children have learned how to play instruments with proper posture, they can learn how to read music. Depending on which Suzuki teacher you talk to, they will give you different answers on when exactly the student should start reading music on their instrument. Still, in many cases, students are introduced to the notes early in their music education. 

Graded Repertoire

The Suzuki method has its repertoire. This is designed to bring technical problems to the children that can be solved by learning the music and not relying so much on technical exercises at an early age. Learning this way helps them take their music education one step further as they learn by solving and doing.

Enhances The Cognitive Abilities Of Children 

Music learning is essential to developing strong cognitive abilities that benefit an individual for a lifetime. The Suzuki method takes this one step further by involving many functions that improve cognition, such as repetition, listening, and delayed reading.

All of this enhances the cognitive function of children making their brains healthy and strong. By the time they are older, they can recognize any piece of the instrument just by listening. It becomes something that comes naturally to them and their brain.

Why We Love The Suzuki Method 

The Suzuki method has not only produced some of the finest players such as Hillary Hahn, but it's essential to have parental involvement when students are learning an instrument at a young age. It will make your job easier as a teacher to have the parent guide them through their practice at home, but it also creates a fantastic bonding time with the parents and children that is invaluable. 

Final Words 

The Suzuki Method is perhaps one of the most well-known teaching methods that focus on the child's formative years, as that is when they can grasp everything. When they learn music through this method, it comes second nature to them when they grow up. 

While many private teachers are still working with their students online, it isn't easy to track their practice and give them assignments, especially young students! To help with this, we are offering a free 30-day trial to the Practice Space Teacher app. We guarantee that it won't only make it easier to work with your students remotely, but it will make practice more exciting for the student too. Sign up today!