Suzuki method

The Suzuki method is a way of teaching most often used in learning to play music. The name is also sometimes used to refer solely to the sheet music books and/or audio recordings which have been published as part of the method. It was invented in the mid-20th century by Dr. Shin'ichi Suzuki. Dr. Suzuki noticed that all children pick up their native language very quickly, and even dialects which adults consider "difficult" to learn are spoken with ease by people of 5 or 6 years old. He reasoned that if a person has the skill to aquire their mother tongue, then they have the necessary ability to become proficient on a musical instrument. He modelled his method, which he called "Talent Education," after the process of natural language acquisition. Dr Suzuki believed that every child, if properly taught, was capable of a high level of musical achievement. He also made it clear that the goal of such musical education was to create a generation of children with "noble hearts" (as opposed to creating famous musical prodigies).

Historical Notes

In the late 19th century, Japan's borders were opened to trade with the outside world, and in particular to the importation of Western Culture. As a result of this, Suzuki's father, who had owned a company which manufactured the Koto, began to manufacture violins instead.

Related Topics:
19th century - Western Culture - Koto - Violin

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In his youth, Dr. Suzuki chanced to hear a record of Franz Schubert's Ave Maria, as played on violin by Mischa Elman. Gripped by the beauty of the music, he immediately picked up a violin from his father's factory and began to teach himself to play the instrument "by ear."

Related Topics:
Franz Schubert - Mischa Elman

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Later, Suzuki travelled to Germany to find a violin teacher to continue his studies. While there, he studied with Karl Klingler, and also met and became friends with Albert Einstein, who encouraged him in learning classical music. He also met, courted, and married his wife, Waltraud.

Related Topics:
Karl Klingler - Albert Einstein

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In 1945, Dr. Suzuki began his Talent Education movement in Matsumoto, Japan shortly after the end of World War II. Raising children with "noble hearts" (inspired by great music and diligent study) was one of his primary goals; he believed that people raised and "nurtured by love" in his method would grow up to achieve better things than war.

Related Topics:
1945 - Japan - World War II

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Eventually, the center of the Suzuki movement in education was established as the Talent Education Research Institute (TERI) in Matsumoto, Japan. TERI hosts thousands of people each year -- students, parents, teachers, (and teacher trainees). Other organizations have sprung up all over the world to help oversee the movement and train teachers. These include the Asia Suzuki Association, the Suzuki Association of the Americas, the European Suzuki Association, and the Pan-Pacific Suzuki Association. (Currently, the European Suzuki Association also oversees the beginings of the Suzuki movement in Africa).

Related Topics:
Matsumoto - Africa

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