All About The Suzuki Method – Learning Music Through Positive Reinforcement

If you’re looking into beginner music lessons for your student, you may have heard of the Suzuki Method! Thousands of music educators across the U.S. use the Suzuki method to teach their students, and many Suzuki-trained students go on to become professional musicians! This blog will help you to understand exactly what this method is, how it differs from traditional music methods, and how it can greatly benefit you and your student!

What is the Suzuki Method?

The Suzuki method was developed by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki in mid-20th century Japan, and is also called the “mother tongue method”. The philosophy of the Suzuki method is that every child can learn a musical instrument, just like they learn to speak. When you’re learning how to speak, the majority of it is done through exposure and repetition, instead of learning the meaning of each individual word. By learning music beginning at a very young age, kids can easily learn the instrument as they would their native language, through learning the instrument by ear. Learning or playing “by ear” is when a musician can reproduce a song that they’ve heard, without seeing the notes written as sheet music.  

Many legendary musicians originally learned music by ear, including Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley, and even Taylor Swift!

Though the Suzuki method was originally developed for violin, there are now versions for:

• Viola & cello
• Piano & organ
• Bass & guitar
• Flute, recorder, & trumpet
• Harp
• Voice

…which gives your student so many options! 

Core Principles of the Suzuki Method

The Suzuki method is intended to begin at a very young age, with students often starting as young as 3–5 years old. It encourages students to listen first, with an emphasis on ear training (learning to play by ear) before learning how to read music. Music skills are built through repetition and reinforcement, and the Suzuki method also values encouragement over critique! 

The Suzuki method also encourages:

• Parental Involvement: Parents attend lessons, practice with the child at home.
• Step-by-Step Mastery: New skills build gradually on previous ones.
• Group Learning and Solo Performance: Both private lessons and group classes.

Role of the Parent

Let’s dive a little bit deeper into the role of the parent throughout the student’s Suzuki lessons! A certified Suzuki teacher will encourage the parent to act as the home teacher and practice partner. In order to do this successfully,  the parent will attend the lessons with the students and take notes, to make sure they also understand the methods and goals of the lessons. This connection between the student, parent, and teacher helps to create a positive home practice environment—not to mention building a strong parent-child bond!

Step-By-Step Mastery: Learning an Instrument by Gradually Building Skills

The Suzuki method prioritizes building on skills that the student already has. It breaks down their learning process into smaller steps, so the student can aim to master each technique before learning a new one. 

For example, in Suzuki violin Book 1, students focus on learning basic finger patterns and bowing techniques, which are gradually expanded into more advanced techniques in later books. 

Gradually learning and building on skills will help your child feel more confident in their playing abilities from the very beginning. It’s like learning to spell “phone” before you spell “symphony”—you have to master the basics first! 

Group & Solo Performances: Get Excited to Share Your Progress! 

Doing formal or semi-formal performances is a great way to share your progress and feel more confident about playing your instrument. The Suzuki method includes regular performances because performing is a skill that needs to be built on to become the best performer and instrumentalist possible.

Talk with your students’ Suzuki teacher about performance opportunities! You may even be able to duet with your student! 

What to Look for in a Suzuki Program or Teacher

If you’ve landed on finding a Suzuki teacher to teach your student, here are a few things to keep in mind while you’re shopping around:

• Look for a Certified Suzuki Association teacher. 
• Find someone who’s teaching style is warm, communicative, and encouraging. They may offer free or reduced-cost trial lessons! 
• Make sure the teacher is willing to let you sit in on lessons, so that you know how to better support your student’s progress at home.
• Structured program with group and solo opportunities. Performances are a great way for your student to become a well-rounded musician!
  

How to Know if It’s Right for Your Child

Every student learns differently, so it’s important to consider your child’s temperament and learning style when considering whether or not to go with the Suzuki method. You’ll have to be honest with yourself on your own availability and commitment level; if you work a busy job and don’t have the extra time to commit to essentially learning an instrument yourself, the Suzuki method might not be the best fit. You can always talk to other families who are currently taking Suzuki classes, or even visit a class or sit in on a lesson if possible!

If you come from a more formal musical background, try not to stress about the slower start to note-reading—the Suzuki method is a proven success for thousands of students worldwide! 

Conclusion

The Suzuki Method offers a nurturing, structured path to music education. It develops discipline and focus from a young age, fosters musicality and confidence, and encourages collaboration and social learning through group classes. With the right support, it can be a rewarding journey for the whole family! Check out local Suzuki teachers or talk to music schools about observing a class!