Suzuki music lessons?

[raksmama]

Could someone Please explain to me what Suzuki music lessons are?
I have seen Suzuki mentioned in these forums and I am curious. I would like my son 7 1/2 to learn a musical instrument. I think it is a good idea for all children to be able to play music.
But what makes Suzuki different from other types of lessons?
Why do so many attachment-parenting types chose it?
Thanks,
Lorraine

[dessismama]

The basic idea with the Suzuki philosophy is that every child can learn to play a musical instrument well, just like every child can learn how to communicate. This method was designed for young children (I have one that started at 5, one at 3.5, and my almost 4 year old is starting in January), and the idea is that the parent plays/practices with the child and demonstrates things at home. This method is done by ear until about the third book in the series (there are 10 for strings, and do not know about other instruments) and there are tapes/CDs that go with each volume that the child is supposed to listen to every single day.

Now I played the piano during most of my childhood but never a string instrument. I am also a busy working mama, so there was no way I was learning the strings past the middle of the first book due to lack of time. What I do instead is learn how the pieces are played (e.g. fingering, rhytm, etc.) without being able to execute them.

The really cool thing about this method is that every piece introduces new elements while reviewing what is already learned, and a child gets to play real music quite early in the process. For instance, a minuet is played on the strings at the end of book 1. Thus by the time kids are in book 4, they play whole sonatas, and in book 5 concerto movements.

Real Suzuki teachers have group lessons too, and these are a lot of fun!! There are also group concerts and play-offs. And there music camps in the summer that are very wonderful experiences for the whole family.

I love the Suzuki method; it has turned my children into capable musicians and I cannot wait to see how far they will go!! I think Suzuki was a true genius in selecting the pieces that make the process of learning an instrument into an unfolding beautiful process, with baby steps taken at each turn until you are right there, a true musician.

[raksmama]

Wow,Interesting I'd never heard of it before.
I hope you don't mind if I ask a few more questions.....
Is it only for younger children or can a 7 1/2 year old start?
Is it possible only to take the group classes? I'd like to start looking for a place.
DO all Suzuzi teachers have the same training?
Finally who was Suzuki?I know od David Suzuki oe the cars only.
Thanks,
Lorraine

[ilikethedesert]

I actually bought a tiny violin on Ebay with the idea of my 3yo learning it but now i cant find anyone to teach! how did you find lessons? or are you doing it yourself???????????

[singermom]

: , as dd#2 has expressed an interest in playing the violin (she's 3, and very gifted musically).

My brother took Suzuki classes years ago, and he was older when he started, so I would think that it would not be a problem for a 7.5 year old to start. I remember my mother would play with him on her accordian (please don't laugh--it sounds ludicrous, I know, but it was really cute, and it did help my brother stay involved!)

Like dessismama, I am a busy working mama as well, so I don't think that learning the violin is in the cards for me just now. I do play a little flute, so I might be able to accompany on that, if that is okay. We have also been talking about getting a piano, but I am not sure if that is in the cards for this year or not.

Both DH and I are singers, so the kids have got music going on around them all the time, and they both have excellent ears. I want to get them started on something, and since dd#2 has been the one to ask specifically for violin lessons, we'll probably look into it soon.

Thanks for starting this thread--I think it may have given me a necessary kick. Good luck to you with your search.

Mia

[ilikethedesert]

I see pianos being offered on Freecycle from time to time. You just might be able to score a free one someone else wants to get rid of.

[G&B'sMama]

I really want to put my daughter in Suzuki lessons. We are getting a piano from my parents next month. I think Suzuki would be great, but we probably won’t start until next year, or maybe the year after because we don’t want to push too hard at too young of an age. My DH is quite musically talented and was always pushed too hard by his parents, so he lost a lot of the enjoyment of playing music, and especially piano. We want to make sure that DD has an interest and desire.

The glowing recommendation above, though, makes me want to get her started today!

[michelle1k]

No, gosh, 7 1/2 is *not* too late to start! I am 35 and I am taking Suzuki violin lessons!

I started playing Suzuki violin alongside my son (then, aged 6). His teacher teaches only children, so I found my own teacher this year when my needs were no longer being met through sitting in and observing during my son's lessons.

Check here for more information:

http://www.suzukiassociation.org/

In addition to the info on their website, there has been numerous threads on MDC (the homeschooling board, for one) about the Suzuki method. One of the unschooling-mamas there is a Suzuki teacher and she has written many eloquent and lovely posts about Suzuki and how it has enriched their lives.

I personally can't say enough good things about the methodology and the beautiful music we're making! Dr. Suzuki's legacy is truly a gift of love to humanity; it enables so many to play heavenly music and feel competent at it right from the start.

Warmly,
Michelle - homeschooling mama to ds (7) and dd (3)

[Stacymom]

Okay, one more plug!

I am a Suzuki trained violin teacher, and a Suzuki mom to a four year old budding violinist. I can't say enough good about it. It's wonderfully designed and put together, and it works so well when the parents, children and teacher all work together. I've been teaching lessons for a long time, but have just recently started Suzuki teacher training, and I wish I would have done it years and years ago because the stuff I am learning and working on is so practical and makes so much sense!

It's important to find a teacher that has done the Suzuki training courses and keeps their training updated. There are lots of teachers who claim they are Suzuki teachers that just use the music without ever having had any training. You can get recommendations from the Suzuki site (referenced above) or from a loval music store. You should probably go and visit as many as you can to get a feel for what the teacher is like, and if he or she would be a good fit for your family.

And I really don't htink it's possible to be too young, in a sense. What's been wonderful about my dd's lessons is that we started with 15 minute lessons, and practiced for five minutes two or so times a day. We are now doing half hour lessons, and frequently practice for 20-30 minutes, once sometimes twice a day. And she's just starting to put together "Twinkle Twinkle!" It's so exciting!

[dessismama]

[QUOTE=jalilah]Wow,Interesting I'd never heard of it before.
I hope you don't mind if I ask a few more questions.....
Is it only for younger children or can a 7 1/2 year old start?

You can start at any age!

Is it possible only to take the group classes?
No, I do not think so. The group classes are a nice addition to the individual lessons. Some teahers have the parents participate and some do not.

I'd like to start looking for a place.

Check the Suzuki site mentioned above or check with your local music store.

DO all Suzuzi teachers have the same training?

Absolutely not! My son's teacher teaches Suzuki teachers and has students all the way to Book 10. My daughter's teacher is still working on training past book 3.

Finally who was Suzuki?I know od David Suzuki oe the cars only.
He was a Japanese musician and music educator who believed that all humans become better beings by making/loving/being exposed to music. He created this incredible method for teaching various musical instruments that allows every child to be successful. I believe hir original method was for the violin, and then it was transfered to other instruments.

[lisac77]

My mother has been teaching Suzuki piano for 11 years. I love the process. I've been playing the Book 1 CD for my son since he was born. As soon as he is potty trained my mother will accept him as a student. I'm going to be on the lookout for a piano soon (if I can't convince my parents to give me their spare one!).

Some things you should be aware of: Suzuki views music acquisition to be similar to language acquisition. So you listen, practice, and then learn to read music. I have a natural ear for learning music, so this process worked really well for me. Don't expect your son's teacher to whip out a music book and have him reading in the first lesson! My mother is huge on playing the CD. So be prepared to make the commitment to listen to the CD and do a few minutes of practice daily.

I hope your son really enjoys his lessons. You're never too old to start Suzuki! My mom has several adult students.

[navygirl]

I love the Suzuki method. My oldest DD, who will be 6 in a couple of days, started her Suzuki violin lessons in Aug. She had been bugging me for 3 yrs to play the violin and I finally found somebody in my area who didn't think that she was too young. Her violin teacher is the the only one in our area to teach the suzuki method and she is awesome! Aubrey is currently working on her third twinkle and I never have to bug her to practice, she loves playing. You would really be surprised how little time it takes to practice nightly. I'm a very busy mommy that WOH and I can almost always find time to practice with her and the best part is that I'm learning to play the violin with my DD. My almost 2 yo will be starting lessons the end of Feb/ early March, once she is 2. She is already working on her concentration exercises with big sis's violin that is way to big for her but she loves it and smiles from ear to ear when she is "practicing". We're going to be starting with 5 min lessons and working up from there. Her violin teacher has been playing forever and her sister started when she was one and is now a professional violinist, so she knows that this is not too early to start learning.

OT does anybody know where I can find a 1/64 violin? The only place on the net that I can find is out of stock. Thanks and good luck!