Shinichi Suzuki
Shinichi SuzukiAbout the Suzuki Method
The Suzuki method is a way of learning to play music. It was invented in the mid-20th century by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. Dr. Suzuki noticed that children pick up their native language very quickly and seldom fail to learn it, so he modeled his method, which he called “Talent Education,” after the process of natural language acquisition. Dr. Suzuki believed that every child, if properly taught, was capable of a good level of musical achievement.
- The method emphasizes playing from a very young age. Scaled down instrument sizes are used for children studying stringed instruments in order to facilitate this.
- In the beginning, learning music by ear is emphasized over reading musical notation. The method also encourages, in addition to individual playing, frequent playing in groups (including playing in unison) and frequent public performance, so that playing becomes natural and enjoyable.
- The method discourages competitive attitudes between players, and advocates collaboration and mutual encouragement for those of every ability and at every level.
- The Suzuki method can be taught on any instrument, although it is most commonly taught on violin. Suzuki literature has also been published for viola, cello, piano, bass, flute, guitar, harp and voice.
About Shinichi Suzuki
Shinichi Suzuki was a violinist, educator, philosopher and humanitarian. He was born in 1898 in Nagoya, Japan as one of twelve children. His father was a violin maker so Shinichi attended Nagoya Commercial Arts School because his dad wanted him to take over the violin factory. After he graduated from high school, he began to appreciate the music of the violin. Shinichi then brought home a violin and began to teach himself.
A few years later Shinichi began taking violin lessons from a violin teacher who was so impressed that Shinichi was able to teach so much to himself. When Shinichi was 22 years old, he traveled to Germany, where he studied with a famous violin teacher, Karl Kinger. Often Shinichi and Albert Einstein would play the violin together during this time. While in Germany, Shinichi also met his wife, Waltraud.
Shinichi and Waltraud moved back to Japan where Shinichi began to teach violin and devoted his life to the development of the method he called Talent Education. Shinichi had always thought that young children could learn music just as they had learned to walk and talk. He thought that all children had the talent to play music as long as they had loving parents and teachers to teach and guide them.
Shinichi chose music that would help children learn how to play and he even wrote pieces himself, such as Twinkle variations, Allegro, and Etude. Teachers from around the world came to learn Suzuki’s method. Dr. Suzuki’s goal was not simply to develop professional musician, but to nurture loving human beings and help develop each child’s character through the study of music. On January 26, 1998 Shinichi Suzuki died at the age of 99.
Suzuki based his approach on the belief that “Musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed. Any child who is properly trained can develop musical ability, just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential of every child is unlimited.”
