Fort Collins Suzuki Violin

I grew up in a Suzuki program, and it proved to be such a meaningful part of my childhood, that I went on to pursue Suzuki teacher training myself.  So, what is it that makes this method so special?

• Shinichi Suzuki based his method on the principle that every child can learn to play music, given the proper nurturing environment, parental support, and daily practice.

• Parent involvement: For children up through around 12 years old, the parent attends lessons, takes notes on what is covered in lessons, and practices together with the child every day at home.  It’s a great learning experience for the parent too, and an opportunity to learn more about how your child learns and how to best support their growth!

• Playing with others: Children learn from and are motivated by playing with other children.  Younger children look up to the older ones, and are inspired to play as they do.  Older children can serve as leaders, models, and helpers for the younger children.

• Early Beginning: Many mental and physical processes and abilities are developed in a child’s early years.  I start children as early as 3 years old, though it’s never too late to begin!

• Listening: Just as children learn language through hearing it, children learn music in the easiest and most natural way if they hear it first. Listening to fine music takes place every day at home.

• Delayed reading: Just like with spoken language, after developing a certain comfort and ease in the musical language of playing the violin, they will learn to read music.  This natural progression gives the child room to play first, listen, and explore- later, they begin to translate from the written language. 

• Repetition and Review: when a child learns a word, they do not then stop using it when they learn other words.  Similarly, Suzuki students maintain their review repertoire, and use that familiar material to build more skills as they advance.  Children thrive on repetition, and parent, teacher and child work together to find ways to make it fun and rewarding!

• Positive, nurturing environment: Each child learns at their own rate, and is supported and encouraged every step along the way, by both parent and teacher.  Through group lessons and activities, they also learn to support each other, fostering a spirit of cooperation and understanding, as well as building community.

 

What about older beginners, adult learners and advanced students? 

I have experience starting beginners of all ages- depending on their learning style and interests, we may use only parts of the Suzuki method, or take another approach altogether.  I have worked with advanced college music majors, adult beginners (parents often take some lessons when the child begins), retirees, adults returning to an instrument they played as a child, and professional musicians whose primary instrument is not the violin.