Suzuki Violin in the 21st Century



The Suzuki method first came to the america inside the late 1960s, as well as official organization, the Suzuki Association of the Americas, was formed in 1972. Because it existed in its early years, its proponents belief that all children could study violin if started when young, which the educational process occurs through two primary mechanisms. The first is imitation, primarily imitation in the teacher. Second is group learning, made up of group lessons and group performances. The suzuki books were assembled for two primary reasons. First, to provide a structured program of pieces of increasing difficulty to make use of with every student over a lot of their development; and secondly, to facilitate group learning by continuing to keep everybody "on the same page" and capable to play the same pieces together.- Violin


Suzuki Programs have already been extremely valuable on the classical music community simply because they start children young, on the point if they are best capable of learn (between ages 3 and seven), and since they have got generated enough interest to continuously attract new generations of students to playing violin (and other stringed imstruments). The Suzuki brand is becoming almost a household name, and therefore an incredibly marketable title for the violin teacher to support.

But: The Suzuki books aren't, alone, "the suzuki method." And, use of these books in instruction, even exclusive use, doesn't constitute Suzuki Method. The books are only a way to an end. And so they were were written originally to be played from the teacher and imitated from the student minus the student ever actually learning how to read music on his own.

Devoid of the group component, the Suzuki books have forfeit high of power they have to excite today's students. The majority of the "songs" are from the baroque period, and they are written largely by such eighteenth century composers as Vivaldi, Bach, and Corelli. The look of delight I frequently see on their faces after i tell students they're able to play something more important is incredibly telling.

I truly do frequently use pieces out from the Suzuki books, specifically beginners, (Book 1 is particularly useful). But when inside their faces that this music seriously isn't reaching them, I make other suggestions or let them make their very own (befitting their level) selections.

Suzuki intended the books packed with components of increasing difficulty to get an essentially complete lifetime of instruction. However, In my opinion from the worth of scales, etudes, and exercises as more focused ways to develop technique. Needless to say musicianship, musicality, and appreciation for music arises from, (what else!) playing music. And, in my opinion, the music must inspire the student. We are producing my own violin books series, which starts with 40 songs in 1st position arranged in increasing order of difficulty, that kids already know. Including The Banana Boat Song (Day-o), Simple Gifts, Amazing Grace, You're My Sunshine, Kum-baya, In addition to Spaghetti, and Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round.

However, for college kids who would like to participate in competitions, or perhaps in the most effective community student orchestras, or even eventually attend conservatory, it's important, eventually, to introduce works through the standard violin repertoire. A few of which aren't in those Suzuki books!

For me, I started playing violin because my mother fired up the tv screen 1 day while i was 36 months old and was greeted by 100 tiny suzuki students playing twinkle twinkle little star together. Morning she brought me to MacPhail Center for the Arts in downtown Minneapolis and enrolled me of their suzuki program. My teacher was Mark Bjork, who was then a President in the Suzuki Association in the Americas. It was an enhancement, and I would not hesitate to recommend participation inside a full suzuki program.- Violin