CCSA and the "Suzuki Method"

Our Mission

The Mission of the Copper Country Suzuki Association is to help every child to find the joy that comes through music making. Children thrive in a total environment of support; they develop confidence and self-esteem, determination to try difficult things, self-discipline and concentration, as well as the lasting enjoyment of music and the sensitivity and skill for making music.

What is the Suzuki Method?

The Suzuki approach deals with much more than teaching the child how to play an instrument; we seek to develop the whole child, to help unfold their natural potential to learn and become good and happy people. The purpose of this method is not to produce great artists, but to help every child find the joy that comes through music making. Dr. Suzuki developed this method of music education based on the way that a child learns language, through listening, imitation and repetition. If you think about how incredible it is that a child can learn an entire language in the first five years of life and how if that same model of learning can be applied to music how much you and your child can accomplish. The Suzuki Method differs from other methods of instruction because it involves the student at a very early age, thus necessitating much participation on the part of the parent who takes on that role of "home teacher".

Some basic Suzuki Principles

• Begin as early as possible, formal training may be started by age three.
• Move in small steps so that the child can master material with a total sense of success.
• The parent attends all lessons so that they understand the learning process and can feel secure working with the child as the home teacher.
• Daily listening to recordings of the Suzuki repertoire. The more the student listens to the recordings, the more quickly they learn.
• Delaying music reading until the child's aural and instrument skills are well established. This is in the same way that we teach children to read a language only after they learn to speak. The Suzuki Method does require that all children learn to read music! We just delay it until the child is ready.
• Follow the Suzuki repertory sequence so that each piece becomes a building block for careful development of technique.
• Review, review, review. Once a student has mastered a piece they will continue to review that piece to keep their skills current.
• Create in lessons and home practice an enjoyable learning environment so that the child's motivation comes from enthusiasm for learning.
• Group lessons, in addition to private lessons, and watching other students perform are valuable aids in motivation.
• Foster an attitude of cooperation, not competition.

Content last updated: 4/11/2012