Is the Suzuki violin teaching method better?

The Suzuki teaching method is very different from other ways to learn to play the violin. It is not just a method but it is a whole new way of thinking. Shinichi Suzuki is the one who is responsible for this violin teaching method. Every child is thought to be trainable to become a successful violin player. The very basic idea of this method is to have the child listen to a piece of music over and over again and then learning how to play it at an age that is not suitable yet for reading music. Some exercises that require knowing how to read music are substituted by work that emphasizes playing the piece over and over again learning it by ear.

Discipline in practicing the same piece over and over again up to perfection is of major importance here. One cannot go to the next piece until the studied piece can be performed perfectly. A studied piece is always a prelude to the next piece and perfection is important no matter how boring the exercise may be.

Before the Suzuki teaching method was widely appreciated the approach to teaching how to play the violin was quite different. Emphasis was on technique building exercises like scales and etudes. Going by the Suzuki violin method all students have to conquer the same pieces of music in the same order to gradually grow to perfection. This is not the case with traditional teaching methods. Traditional teaching methods allow teachers to choose which works are being studied.

Not everybody is on the same level when it comes to choosing a violin teaching method. With the Suzuki teaching method emphasis is on all aspects of life and it is deemed to be important to develop self-esteem and confidence. The Suzuki teaching method builds personality in a comfortable environment.

Are students from other violin teaching methods more likely to succeed and are they capable of a more versatile repertoire? Some techniques and the capability to read music very well can be essential when it comes to trying out for working for a symphony. To play the violin in a symphony one has to be able to play whatever written music that is given to the player. For many Suzuki students this can be a stumbling block. But because Suzuki violin players have learned to go by the ear, they are in general better at playing free style or Jazz music.

Violin students as young as four years old benefit widely from the Suzuki Teaching Method. Those early years are very important when it comes to formation and direction in a child's life and the involvement of the parents is a major contribution to this Teaching Method. For some parents this even means that they home school their child guided by the Suzuki Teaching Method. Later in life when students are older and able to play better the Suzuki Teaching Method becomes less important.

The fact that teachers who use the Suzuki Teaching Method do not have to have a college degree in playing the violin or do not always have had official training is for many a down side of the Suzuki Teaching Method. Some critics consider the lack of teaching how to read music, the lack of teaching notation, a downside. They believe that students of traditional violin teaching methods are more experienced and more likely well-versed.

About The Author:
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Tags: SUZUKI VIOLIN METHOD, TEACHING

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Title:	Is the Suzuki violin teaching method better?
Author:	Audrey Tan
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Is the Suzuki violin teaching method better?