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The Suzuki violin method is now known as one of the best ways to teach violin and is used all over the world. Many professionals in the music industry say that the Suzuki method creates musical geniuses out of children and that it is one of the best ways of approaching violin education.
Of course there are also those who negate these claims but the majority of music instructors using the method say that the results are amazing. Where is the truth in these claims or counter claims regarding the Suzuki violin method.
It is difficult to compare the Suzuki method of teaching the violin to other more traditional methods because there are different types of Suzuki violin study. That's not to say that traditional teaching of violin is very standardized either.
Now, there is even an additional factor in that many violin teachers mix both the Suzuki and the traditional method which complicates the comparison even more. However, let's explain the basic Suzuki violin lessons in Singapore.
The Beginning Suzuki who invented the method believed that the earlier a child began to train the better it would be. So, in principle, the Suzuki method, is made to begin with children aged between two and three, although it is an effective way of teaching students of any age.
However there are also very few violin teachers who are either qualified or willing to work with children of such a young age. Most teachers favor children that are between the ages of six and ten.
Introducing the Suzuki Violin Lessons In Singapore is one of the best and most effective learning that comes from this method is caused by the emphasis made on passive learning. That is to say watching and listening. This works in the following way: Before students start to learn to play a piece they first listen to recordings of the piece or pieces they are learning as well as other important classical pieces. As the learning progresses recordings are used as background music placed at very low volume levels.
The belief behind the Suzuki violin lessons in Singapore is that students will absorb the music and learn much as an immersion learning process happens in language learning. Students gradually become better as they are repeatedly exposed to the music. Thus, they memorize the music, the nuances, tone, timing, pitch and articulation of the piece.
The Suzuki Method is Like First Language Acquisition Just as in language acquisition, a person first learns to speak instead of write, so it works in the Suzuki method. Students learn to express and play music and then learn to read.
The idea is to allow students to learn to master the instrumental technique and then teach them to read the music, thus they can focus on the technique and not divide their attention between both learning to read music and learning to master the instrument.
Traditional violin methods pay not attention whatsoever to passive learning, and are generally not given the opportunity to listen to recordings of pieces they will learn. Traditionalists believe that by listening to these pieces beginners will only learn by rote, and will not be able to learn to read music.
They believe this will lead to mechanical limitations in the musician. The Lessons The Suzuki method allows the child or student to enjoy himself. They first learn to observe other students, and see what they will eventually do.
Even when they are playing the violin they continue to observe other, more proficient students. These students learn to work together with others who have similar musical skills and interests. This social interaction makes the classes fun and satisfying. There is no competition in this environment.
The Suzuki Method does not remain in the Classroom but is Taken Home
In this method parental involvement is intensive. Parent and teacher are partners, and parents are requested to stay in the class and work with their child. This way they can work with them at home, and become the teacher at home. This gives the violin student an incredible advantage and much more musical practice.
