Suzuki Philosophy

Este extracto de Cuando el amor es profundo se tradujo en el Festival de Lima, Perú, 2011.

No solo en la música, sino en todas las áreas, el éxito o el fracaso de la educación dependen de si cumples o no el “principio de la fomentación de la habilidad”.

Después de que un estudiante aprendió a tocar una pieza, le digo durante la lección, “Ahora que tu preparación está completa, vamos a practicar para poder desarrollar tu habilidad. La lección recién comienza.” Lo dejo practicar comparando su interpretación con la grabación, o tocando junto con ella. Esto sirve para, gradualmente, fomentar el…

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As I reflect upon the continued influence of Suzuki-sensei (honored teacher) in my life, there are moments when I am keenly aware that seven long years have passed since he last walked among us. At other times it seems only yesterday when we took his presence almost for granted, and thought he would always be around to guide us. I know that I, for one, sincerely hoped he would be with us until his 110th birthday, something he always spoke hopefully about.

While this remarkable man, Shinichi Suzuki, remains a clear and vivid…

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Lifelong learning is an important value of the SAA. It was of utmost importance to Dr. Suzuki that we all continue to grow and acquire knowledge throughout our entire career. This is an easy goal to pursue as long as we allow ourselves to take the time to notice that no matter where we are there are things surrounding us waiting to be learned.

As I scan my 30-some years since being in a formal schooling environment, I appreciate how much I have come to absorb and learn from situations where I would expect to glean more expertise. Even more surprising are the situations in which I have learned things where I never would have anticipated taking away useful knowledge. Staying alert and observant allows one to expand one’s knowledge and apply readily available general information to personal situations and life endeavors.

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Last summer, focus groups at summer Institutes were asked to submit questions for a panel of “Suzuki Experts” to answer. This is the 9th installment.

What is the long-term teaching goal for all students?

In Nurtured by Love, Dr. Suzuki says: “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.”

So, the long-term teaching goal for Suzuki students is not to make them into professional musicians, but to help develop them into fine people through the study of music. An appreciation of beauty, a sense of self-control and discipline, concentration skills, and a kind, generous heart are what we aim to develop in our children. Dr. Suzuki goes on to say, “If nations cooperate in raising good children, perhaps there won’t be any war.”

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Excerpted from Nurtured by Love, pp 95-96.

We encourage them to think of violin training as fun

We begin by training the parent rather than the child. Although we accept infants, at first we do not have them play the violin. First we teach the mother to play one piece so that she will be a good teacher at home. As for the child, we first have him simply listen at home to a record of the piece he will be learning. Children are really educated in the home,…

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Although the following excerpt is from a brochure by Shinichi Suzuki titled “How to Teach Suzuki Piano,” it speaks to every parent and teacher, regardless of what instrument they may deal with, about the principles of the Suzuki method which form the foundation for all instruction. He expresses his own personal philosophy which then guides parents and teachers as they introduce the specific technical musical concepts applying to various instruments.

The Use of Musical…

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