The Suzuki Piano Method

Dr. Shinichi Suzuki was born in 1898 and spent the first part of his life devoted to studying the violin, first in Japan and then in 1920s Germany. After World War II however, he devoted his life to the development of a musical education philosophy which has since become known as the Suzuki Method. Dr. Suzuki based his method on the premise that musical aptitude is not an in-born talent, but a skill that any child can be taught using the same approach as learning to speak their native language. While Dr. Suzuki was himself a violinist, and the method was first applied to teaching the violin, the same principles can be applied when learning to play any musical instrument. The Suzuki Method is just one example.

Parent Involvement

Just as learning to speak requires a child’s parents to constantly reinforce key concepts, the Suzuki Method involves parents as an integral part of the education process. Parents are encouraged to attend lessons, and to guide and assist in home practice.

An Early Start

Even though everyone should be encouraged to pursue music, no matter their age, Dr. Suzuki recognized that music education is best started as soon as possible. Early exposure to music begins to influence the mind and makes learning musical concepts easier once formal training begins.

A Musical Community

The best way to learn a language is to be fully immersed in it, and the same is true for music. Dr. Suzuki was also a humanitarian who believed in the power of education and community to bring out the best in everyone, and this philosophy is reflected in the musical schools he founded. Being involved in a musical community is key to providing the encouragement and support a student needs to excel.

An Ear for Music

The Suzuki method is unique in that it favors developing a musical ear above learning musical notation. Dr. Suzuki even coined a term for this concept, which he called tonalization. Simply put, tonalization is the ability of a student to both create a beautiful and on-pitch tone, as well as recognize one when it is heard. Learning how to read music, and musical notation, is considered secondary and often comes after the student has attained a basic proficiency with tonalization.

Practice and Repetition

Repetition is one of the most important things we can do to forge new pathways in the brain, and learn new skills. The Suzuki Method utilizes this concept by encouraging practice, but also in structuring lessons so that early concepts are not simply learned and then discarded. Once a technique is added to a student’s repertoire, it is revisited again and again in future lessons as the student learns to apply it in more complex and sophisticated ways.

The Suzuki Method in particular utilizes a series of seven volumes of music, which begins with “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and gradually builds to longer and more complicated works by some of the best composers in the world. While the Suzuki Violin & Viola Method is ideal for young learners, students of any age can benefit from this approach.

If you are interested in having your child learn the violin or viola through the Suzuki Method, please contact us or call us at 626.445.5397.