Suzuki Parent Orientation Material
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998), the Suzuki Method's founder, believed that children can learn to play an instrument in the same way they learn to speak their native language: through repetition, the un-pressured encouragement, creativity and attention of caring adults, and through an environment saturated with the language they are learning - in this case, music. He was right!
Today there are over 8,000 trained Suzuki teachers and nearly a quarter of a million Suzuki pupils, worldwide; most of these children will never become professional musicians and don't come from families in which parents have a musical background. Why do families choose Suzuki Method music lessons? The method's emphasis is on music training as a way to strengthen family relationships and develop the whole child; the "Suzuki Triangle" (see below) provides a foundation for this.
Today there are over 8,000 trained Suzuki teachers and nearly a quarter of a million Suzuki pupils, worldwide; most of these children will never become professional musicians and don't come from families in which parents have a musical background. Why do families choose Suzuki Method music lessons? The method's emphasis is on music training as a way to strengthen family relationships and develop the whole child; the "Suzuki Triangle" (see below) provides a foundation for this.
What is the Suzuki Triangle?
What is the Suzuki Triangle?
The Suzuki Triangle is a picture of the relationships that make it possible for young children to learn to play a musical instrument well. The role of the parent, child and teacher are:
Parent
As a Suzuki parent, you will be your child's "home teacher." This simply means you:
Eventually, you will also:
Child
The child understands that the parent looks to the teacher for instruction. He understands that, during the lesson, he and his parent are learning exactly what to do each day during home practice sessions. He knows that the teacher relies on his parent to see that assignments are completed. Over time, he joyfully reaps the results of his and his parent’s daily hard work.
Teacher
The teacher models the tenants of the Suzuki philosophy to both child and parent. She and the parent focus on process, not product. She works hard to positively motivate and creatively engage the child; she gives the parent specific ideas about how to do the same at home. She is specific with parents about what and how to practice, and encourages parents to share creative ideas of their own. The teacher emphasizes open communication with the parent, and welcomes questions about struggles that arise during home practice.
She gives specific praise and specific suggestions for improvement to the child, values the child as an individual and wants him to thrive, and works with the parent to understand how their child best learns. She is clear that, in response, parent and child should demonstrate commitment and a willingness to work.
The teacher is committed to life-long learning. She attends teaching workshops and stays in conversation with other educators about best practices. She maintains a high level of proficiency on her instrument.
Here is a summary of the Suzuki Triangle from a Suzuki program located in Minneapolis:
"All of the members of the triangle need to understand themselves as parts of a whole, working together on an interesting and worthwhile project. Communication between all members always needs to be open, honest, and forthright. Everyone needs to feel comfortable in their role and needs to feel comfortable asking questions if something doesn’t seem right. This is fundamental in the Suzuki method, as it is based on the belief that young children can learn to play music in the same way they easily learn their native language – through listening, repetition, encouragement and parent involvement."
[Taken from the Macphail Suzuki Program website: http://www.macphail.org/index]
About Home Practice
Dr. Suzuki wrote, "Because of the wise leading of mothers, violin practice becomes a natural event of the day."
As a Suzuki parent, you will lead the effort of having practice become part of a daily rhythm in the home. Additionally, you will be your child's "home teacher;" the one who takes the exercises and learning games that the teacher demonstrates in the lesson, and repeats them at home with your child on a daily basis. Ten focused minutes a day is a great place to start!
In short, you have the hardest (but most rewarding and worthwhile) job in the Suzuki Triangle! The idea of practicing with your child may seem intimidating at first, and sometimes it will be hard. Daily home practice is an opportunity to have scheduled face-time with your child and to discover how he or she learns best. Remember that Suzuki parents do not need musical background, and that the rewards of practicing with your child exceed the challenges. Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, the man who developed the Suzuki Method, said, "Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens, noble human beings. If a child hears fine music from the day of his birth, and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline and endurance." Early music study is a framework for developing core life skills, and daily practice is the context in which those skills are honed.
Questions or concerns about practicing with your child? Always feel free to ask me! Open communication is what makes the Suzuki Triangle work!
Additionally, consider purchasing this excellent book: Helping Parents Practice, by Edmund Sprunger (available here)
Looking for inspiration from Dr. Suzuki himself? Check out the brand new revised version of his well-known book, Nutured by Love (available here). Or, for a start, read some of Dr. Suzuki’s quotes from Nutured by Love below:
On Education:
"I want - if I can - to get education changed from mere instruction to education in the real sense of the word - education that inculcates, brings out, develops, the human potential, based on the growing life of the child."
"Starting children off with the fun of playing a game, letting their spirit of fun lead them in the right direction, is the way all education of children should be started . . . This is the art of education at its best."
"Superior ability can be produced in anyone. For twenty years I have watched with my own eyes the education of thousands of children, as well as the effect on them of the superiority or inferiority of their parents and teachers, and I can say without any hesitation whatsoever that this is true."
On Practice:
"If you put it off until some other time, you will never get it done, because 'some other time' has its own tasks . . . the more you do it, the more of a habit [action] will become."
"Only the effort that is actually expended will bear results. There is no short cut. If the five-minute-a-day person wants to accomplish what the three-hour-a-day person does, it will take him nine years.”
On Music and Character:
"I just want to make good citizens. If a child hears good music from the day of his birth, and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline and endurance. He gets a beautiful heart."
What is the Suzuki Triangle?
The Suzuki Triangle is a picture of the relationships that make it possible for young children to learn to play a musical instrument well. The role of the parent, child and teacher are:
Parent
As a Suzuki parent, you will be your child's "home teacher." This simply means you:
- help create a positive, nurturing learning environment
- lead daily home practice sessions as guided by the teacher
- establish practice as a regular activity in the home
- attend lessons with your child
- take notes and/or observe with full attention in lessons
- play Suzuki recordings at home and in the car
- learn to play cello at a basic level as guided by the teacher
Eventually, you will also:
- attend group lessons with your child
- observe other children’s lessons occasionally
- attend Suzuki parent get-togethers
- attend studio and outside concerts with your child
Child
The child understands that the parent looks to the teacher for instruction. He understands that, during the lesson, he and his parent are learning exactly what to do each day during home practice sessions. He knows that the teacher relies on his parent to see that assignments are completed. Over time, he joyfully reaps the results of his and his parent’s daily hard work.
Teacher
The teacher models the tenants of the Suzuki philosophy to both child and parent. She and the parent focus on process, not product. She works hard to positively motivate and creatively engage the child; she gives the parent specific ideas about how to do the same at home. She is specific with parents about what and how to practice, and encourages parents to share creative ideas of their own. The teacher emphasizes open communication with the parent, and welcomes questions about struggles that arise during home practice.
She gives specific praise and specific suggestions for improvement to the child, values the child as an individual and wants him to thrive, and works with the parent to understand how their child best learns. She is clear that, in response, parent and child should demonstrate commitment and a willingness to work.
The teacher is committed to life-long learning. She attends teaching workshops and stays in conversation with other educators about best practices. She maintains a high level of proficiency on her instrument.
Here is a summary of the Suzuki Triangle from a Suzuki program located in Minneapolis:
"All of the members of the triangle need to understand themselves as parts of a whole, working together on an interesting and worthwhile project. Communication between all members always needs to be open, honest, and forthright. Everyone needs to feel comfortable in their role and needs to feel comfortable asking questions if something doesn’t seem right. This is fundamental in the Suzuki method, as it is based on the belief that young children can learn to play music in the same way they easily learn their native language – through listening, repetition, encouragement and parent involvement."
[Taken from the Macphail Suzuki Program website: http://www.macphail.org/index]
About Home Practice
Dr. Suzuki wrote, "Because of the wise leading of mothers, violin practice becomes a natural event of the day."
As a Suzuki parent, you will lead the effort of having practice become part of a daily rhythm in the home. Additionally, you will be your child's "home teacher;" the one who takes the exercises and learning games that the teacher demonstrates in the lesson, and repeats them at home with your child on a daily basis. Ten focused minutes a day is a great place to start!
In short, you have the hardest (but most rewarding and worthwhile) job in the Suzuki Triangle! The idea of practicing with your child may seem intimidating at first, and sometimes it will be hard. Daily home practice is an opportunity to have scheduled face-time with your child and to discover how he or she learns best. Remember that Suzuki parents do not need musical background, and that the rewards of practicing with your child exceed the challenges. Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, the man who developed the Suzuki Method, said, "Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens, noble human beings. If a child hears fine music from the day of his birth, and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline and endurance." Early music study is a framework for developing core life skills, and daily practice is the context in which those skills are honed.
Questions or concerns about practicing with your child? Always feel free to ask me! Open communication is what makes the Suzuki Triangle work!
Additionally, consider purchasing this excellent book: Helping Parents Practice, by Edmund Sprunger (available here)
Looking for inspiration from Dr. Suzuki himself? Check out the brand new revised version of his well-known book, Nutured by Love (available here). Or, for a start, read some of Dr. Suzuki’s quotes from Nutured by Love below:
On Education:
"I want - if I can - to get education changed from mere instruction to education in the real sense of the word - education that inculcates, brings out, develops, the human potential, based on the growing life of the child."
"Starting children off with the fun of playing a game, letting their spirit of fun lead them in the right direction, is the way all education of children should be started . . . This is the art of education at its best."
"Superior ability can be produced in anyone. For twenty years I have watched with my own eyes the education of thousands of children, as well as the effect on them of the superiority or inferiority of their parents and teachers, and I can say without any hesitation whatsoever that this is true."
On Practice:
"If you put it off until some other time, you will never get it done, because 'some other time' has its own tasks . . . the more you do it, the more of a habit [action] will become."
"Only the effort that is actually expended will bear results. There is no short cut. If the five-minute-a-day person wants to accomplish what the three-hour-a-day person does, it will take him nine years.”
On Music and Character:
"I just want to make good citizens. If a child hears good music from the day of his birth, and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline and endurance. He gets a beautiful heart."
