The Suzuki Program, or "mother tongue" method of instruction, is now a well-established pedagogical method. It was developed in postwar Japan by Shinichi Suzuki, a Western-trained professional violinist, who wished to give musical instruction to the children of his war-torn country. The premise of the Suzuki method is that learning is the product of environment, and that any skill can be learned when broken into small, manageable steps. Suzuki's approach was to teach music in the same way children learn to speak their mother language.

Children study and perform common repertoire comprising folk songs, baroque dances, and standard works. Students listen daily to recordings of these works while learning the skills necessary to perform on their instruments.

Because children begin Suzuki instruction at a relatively young age (4-6 years of age) a parent must actively participate in the instructional process. In addition to weekly private lessons, students attend a weekly group class, as well as monthly "play-ins," solo recitals, and workshops. Parents attend each activity, take detailed notes, and are responsible for supervising at-home preparation and practice.

Visit the Suzuki Association of the Americas at www.suzukiassociation.org.

Please visit the pages below to learn more about the Suzuki program!

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