Just as they guide their children in learning to speak, Suzuki parents attend lessons and act as “home teachers,” helping their children to learn in daily home lessons, which are based on their weekly lesson with a trained Suzuki teacher. Parents of beginners are given instruction in a special parent class, which takes the place of their child’s eventual Group Lessons for the first 8 weeks of instruction.
Starting Early — Children are uniquely prepared to absorb information from a very early age. Music should be in their daily environment from birth and instruction may begin as early as 3 or 4.
Listening — Children learn to speak by hearing words and phrases over and over. In the same way, listening is an important part of how they learn to play. Daily listening to recordings creates a musical environment.
Repetition — Children make immediate and regular use of new words, leading to the natural development of a mature vocabulary. Suzuki students keep their ever-growing repertoire alive through constant review and performance. As they develop musically, so does the sophistication of their playing.
Encouragement — Children are encouraged to take regular small steps, developing greater and greater ability at a pace that is both natural and regular.
Group Lessons — Group classes are central to Suzuki’s methods. Children are placed in a setting with others at the same level, playing the same repertoire. They learn by both showing and observing others, all while learning important lessons about playing and performing music with others.
Suzuki Repertoire — The music taught in the Suzuki method includes folk music and classical works which are carefully arranged to present new skills and abilities in ways that are easily understood and absorbed by children. Each selection in the repertoire prepares children for a skill or technique found in future pieces.
Reading Music — Children learn to read literature after they have developed the ability to talk. Suzuki students learn to read music after they have developed basic technical skills. It is important to introduce reading at an appropriate reading ready point in a child’s development.
The main concern for parents should be to bring up their children as noble human beings. That is sufficient. If this is not their greatest hope, in the end the child may take a road contrary to their expectations. Children can play very well. We must try to make them splendid in mind and heart also.
Suzuki based his approach on the belief that “Musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed. Any child who is properly trained can develop musical ability, just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential of every child is unlimited.”