To truly learn a language, as music is!, immersion is key.  The more children hear the music they will be learning, the easier it will be for them to "speak" it themselves.  Be sure to have your recordings playing as often as possible:  in the house, in the car, in their rooms, while playing, while eating, while brushing teeth!  This is a key element to your child picking up the nuances that make music a language-- we aim to teach them to speak fluently!  LISTEN & ENJOY!

Message from Shane: Integrating the Suzuki Method into your Child’s Daily Life

As many of you know, I recently went to the Suzuki institute in Bellevue, Washington for two weeks. I participated in innovative masterclasses, individual lessons, and group classes. These were led by a number of incredibly gifted and knowledgeable teachers to whom I was lucky enough to ask endless questions.

 I learned many tactics and techniques to help students develop. I believe most of it comes down to one essential concept - the idea of “letting the music do the talking.” Dr. Suzuki, the founder of the Suzuki method, once said "Just as a child learns their mother tongue by hearing the same words repeated thousands of times, they must hear the repertoire pieces every day until the music lives inside them." 

Imagine trying to learn how to speak another language but never hearing someone speak the actual words that you have been seeing or studying. My mother teaches English as a second language and speaks multiple languages. Both she and I strongly believe in learning via immersion. Rather than studying mostly conjugations and grammar, someone who seeks to learn Spanish would find that their time is better spent visiting Spanish speaking places and trying to communicate as much as possible. What does that mean for us as teachers and parents?

First, we must expose your child to the Suzuki repertoire as much as possible. This can be accomplished by putting the recording on while driving to school or while eating breakfast. This aspect of listening should be very low pressure and enjoyable. I also highly recommend that everyone in the family sings along when possible. 

The other key component in creating a fully-immersed environment is the “musical example.” We want your children to hear beautiful examples of the songs they will learn before they attempt to play them. The recording attached below provides an excellent musical example. Another key factor is the musical example that you as parents provide. The Suzuki Triangle (parent, student, teacher) relies on each parent providing examples and demonstrations of the repertoire. For example, being able to show your child how to play “Twinkle Twinkle” with the correct fingerings and phrasing will do wonders for their development. Since I see each student only weekly, their listening and practice at home are crucial. Kids absolutely love seeing their parents play!
 

I want to thank all of you for the tremendous support you provide and the effort that you give. I know that I am asking a lot of each of you and I want to let you know that I am available for your questions or concerns. Finally, I will leave you all with another quote from Dr. Suzuki. “First the ear, then the memory, then the fingers. Do not force a child to play what they have not yet heard and internalized."