Monetizing Scrambled Thoughts

The Suzuki method believes that musical ability can be developed in all children. Even though your child shows no signs of being musical, do you believe that he or she will suddenly pick up an instrument and play?

Let’s attend the private violin class for children, although some students are not musical geniuses. Some are so active and restless we couldn’t imagine that they would make good violinists. But once they picked up the violin or any instrument and played, the children looked happy and proud with the tune they have produced.

The music method, also known as the Suzuki approach, was initiated more than 40 years ago by Shinichi Suzuki, a Japanese violinist and educator, who based his approach on the belief that “Musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed” - just like children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue.

Here are a few special features of the Suzuki approach:

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

When a child learns to talk, it is the parents who are involved.

“It’s a rule that parents must attend every lesson with the child and serve as home teachers - to watch over their child practising during the week. Parents play an important role here. They have to work with the teacher to create an enjoyable learning environment for their child.

At home, teacher urges the parents get their child to practice twice a day, morning and evening, for at least five to 10 minutes each time.

EARLY BEGINNING

The sooner the better. The early years are crucial for developing mental processes and muscle coordination. Listening to music should begin at birth while formal training may begin at the ages of three or four. However, it is never too late to begin.

“For the kids who are too small, parents may start playing music while the children are doing something else, to make them feel music everywhere around them.

LISTENING

Children learn words after hearing adults speak them many times. Listen to music every day is important, especially listening to the pieces in the Suzuki repertoire so the child knows them intimately.

“Get them to listen to any musical piece that does not sound too heavy. Play back the music in a car or while they are eating, to guide them to distinguish the rhythm or feelings of the songs, but remember do not force them.

REPETITION

Constant repetition is essential in learning to play an instrument. Children do not learn a word and then not use it. They add it to their vocabulary or repertoire, gradually using it in new and more sophisticated ways.

Learning music is the same. It should go step by step, from the fundamentals such as the playing posture, how to stand, how to place the violin on their shoulder, how to control the bow. Children may not do it right the first time, but after repeating it again and again, they will finally master the skills.

ENCOURAGEMENT

The child’s efforts to learn an instrument should be met with sincere praise and encouragement.

Praise them any time they perform well or make an advanced step in learning. Do not place over-expectations on them. Remember that every child learns at his or her own pace.

LEARNING WITH OTHER CHILDREN

In addition to private lessons, children need to participate in regular group lessons and performances, where they can learn from each other and are motivated by each other.

GRADED REPERTOIRE

Pieces in the Suzuki repertoire are designed to present technical problems, to be learned in the context of the music, rather than through dry technical exercises, which could bore the young students.

DELAYED READING

Children learn to read after their ability to talk has been well established. In the same way, children should develop basic technical competence with their instruments before being taught to read music.

WHY THE VIOLIN?

Suzuki originally developed the method with his own instrument, the violin. Later on in countries such as the US, the Suzuki approach has been applied to other instruments, including piano, guitar, viola, cello, bass, flute and harp. However, in Thailand where the method is popular, the number of teachers who master this technique are few, with materials available mostly for violin.

WHAT’S THE BENEFIT?

Suzuki approach helps little children the most.

Some kids was throwing a tantrum at the beginning of the class, which made the parents believe that their kids could not do it. But finally they managed to play the violin and we have seen many developments since then.

From what has been observed, the Suzuki method helps children to enjoy music as well as develop confidence, self-discipline, concentration and the determination to try difficult things.

The Suzuki philosophy is that ‘every child can learn’, and the goal is to make students enjoy playing music with the good fundamentals.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 27th, 2008 at 10:56 am and is filed under Music, Personal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.