Master the Violin with Ryan
What is the Suzuki Method?
Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998) was a Japanese violinist, teacher, and philosopher. His father owned a violin factory, and early on Suzuki enjoyed the sound of the violin, learning to play by listening to recordings. After studying violin in Germany, Suzuki began to teach in Japan. His experiences working with young children developed into a teaching philosophy. He observed how children everywhere learn their native language, regardless of how complex. Children are surrounded by speech and acquire small words and phrases one at a time. These are repeated by the child to their parents' delight until mastery is achieved in what seems like a nearly effortless process. Suzuki developed "The Mother Tongue Method" for violin teaching, which mirrors a baby’s language-learning process. He believed, since all children learn their language naturally, all children can learn to play the violin.
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The Suzuki Method is a system for instrumental education that has grown out of Suzuki’s work. In the spirit of "The Mother Tongue Method," the following features work together to build a beautiful violin player:
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Talent is not inborn, but develops as the result of consistent work and loving support. An early start (as young as 3 years old) is typical, but not required.
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Listening daily to beautiful recordings in order to learn by ear first. Note-reading comes after good intonation, tone, and posture are established. (Babies learn to talk before they learn to read.)
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The parent participates in every lesson and home practice session. In a Suzuki program, parents learn how to practice with their child and how to attend lessons, taking notes and providing enthusiasm. (Think about how excited you were when your child said their first word. This is the kind of encouragement we need for violin!)
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In addition to weekly private lessons and daily home practice sessions, Suzuki students participate in regular group classes where they can learn by watching other children, as well as gain social and ensemble skills.
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Learning music develops the heart. While many Suzuki students go on to have careers as professional musicians, the primary purpose of the Suzuki Method is to grow wonderful human beings with the ability to listen, learn, and make the world a better place.
Suzuki teachers are trained in the philosophy that every child has a seed of talent and ability will grow when the teacher and parents create the most nurturing environment possible for the child. In training, teachers learn to play and teach important skills found in Suzuki’s ten-volume graded repertoire collection, expertly arranged to present the skills gradually and with ample opportunity for repetition and mastery. Ryan was trained by Susan Kempter in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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For more information about the Suzuki Method, visit:
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