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Developing
Minds Through Music
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Every
child can learn
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Ability
develops early
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Environment
nurtures growth
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Children
learn from one another
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Success
breeds success
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Parental
involvement is critical
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Encouragement is essential |
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The Suzuki Method otherwise known as the Mother Tongue Approach, was developed more than 50 years ago by Shinichi Suzuki in Japan. Today it is widely used both in the United States and Japan and is rapidly spreading throughout the world. The Suzuki Method is not only a method for teaching music, but an educational philosophy whose goal is to create better persons and thereby a peaceful world. Children who are nurtured with love and understanding, whose spirits are nourished by music of the greatest masters and whose intellectual abilities are developed to their highest potential, will become noble and compassionate human beings. |
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The
Mother Tongue Approach
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| As all children have the ability to learn their native language, so all children can learn music given the correct environmental conditions. The environment must stimulate and nurture the child's musical interests just as it did in the early years of their language acquisition. |
| How did your children learn to talk? |
| 1. First they heard their language spoken continuously before they even tried to talk. |
| 2. Everyone around them talked so naturally they wanted to do it, too. |
| 3. When they said their first word everyone praised them and encouraged them to continue. They experienced constant adult support and approval. |
| 4. They never stopped hearing the language spoken even after they could talk. |
| 5. Once fluent in the language they learned to read it and later still, they studied the grammar and sentence structure. |
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6. They were encouraged to talk every day and never forgot a word once they had learned it. They accumulated more and more words much to everyone's delight! |
| How can your children learn music this way? |
| 1. . . . by hearing good music constantly and especially by listening to the cassette/CD of the music which they will study. The more children listen the faster they will progress and the more motivated they will be. |
| 2. . . . by being surrounded by other children who enjoy playing music, they will naturally want to do it, too! |
| 3. . . . by receiving only praise for their efforts. Parents who are always too critical result in the child not wanting to practice. Constant adult support and approval are what they need. |
| 4. . . . by continually hearing the cassette/CD of the music they are studying and the music which they will study in the future. |
| 5. Once they can play well with good tone and good posture, they will learn to read the music and later study the theory. |
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6. Children should be encouraged to practice every day and always to play not only the song they have just learned but (while in Book 1) to continue to play everything they have learned up to that point. |
| What are your responsibilities as a parent? |
| 1. Attendance at their individual lesson is required. Your role is that of a supportive observer, learning along with your child. |
| 2. Observation of other lessons is encouraged. Children and parents learn a great deal from observing other students. |
| 3. Play the cassette/CD daily and never complain that you are tired of hearing it. Keep a copy in the car if you spend a lot of time driving. |
| 4. Know exactly what your child has to practice. |
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5. Make sure they attend all group activity sessions and recitals. |
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Your children's progress is directly related to the degree of your involvement. Parent, student and teacher must work together.
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| How can you help them get the most out of practicing? |
| 1. Strive to understand everything that has been covered at the lesson, and don't just concentrate on the latest piece they are playing. |
| 2. Understand the main technical point to be worked. |
| 3. Concentrate only on the main point (with gentle reminders, non-verbal if possible) and don't worry them with other details. Too many words and directions may make them tense and unable to freely enjoy the music. |
| 4. Strive for excellence without being critical. Criticism produces tension. Praise and humor will help them relax. |
| 5. Be consistent in your practice and listening routine. |
| 6. Feel free to call the teacher with any questions or problems. |
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7. Enjoy their learning.
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| These years are the building blocks of your children's future. Take every opportunity to make these years full of cherished memories to last a lifetime. |
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The
Suzuki Method - Parent Information |
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1. Parents attend lessons with beginning students under age 12 through Book 1. |
| Parents are responsible for: |
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| 2. All parents are responsible for: |
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3. The whole learning process is a joy. Just as parents show enthusiasm with first words and growing vocabulary, so they must also be in learning the musical language. Avoid being overly critical. Guide the student and make practice times learning experiences between parent and child. |
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4. Every student is different and will progress at different rates. Children learn through their senses (seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting). Their learning rate will be dramatically increased if parents guide children in self-discovery of music through their senses.
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5. Whenever possible, students should observe other lessons. Learning to play through the Suzuki approach is not an isolated event. It is a community-children, parents, and teachers. Parents are welcome to bring their children and observe any student's lesson.
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6. The child studying the Suzuki approach should have a piano for daily practice. At the first lesson, the student will begin to hear and learn the sound of a beautiful tone for piano playing. Their learning to make that beautiful tone will depend on having a piano at home which is in good condition and tuned.
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7. Parents are also responsible to see that the student is seated at the proper height on the piano bench and have support for their feet.
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