Suzuki Music Program
What is the Suzuki Method?
The Suzuki method, developed by Shinichi Suzuki in the mid-twentieth century, gives students the opportunity to build a solid foundation for music training through the principles of an early beginning, listening, loving encouragement, parental support, constant repetition, and learning with other children. It is based on the premise that any child can learn to play an instrument, in the same way that children easily learn to speak their native tongues.
Elements of his method include: parental involvement; starting lessons very young; daily listening; learning to play before learning to read, individualized pace; private and group lessons; positive reinforcement; repetition; a layered learning approach that teaches songs in segments; a common, set repertoire; and learning with other children.
Suzuki believed that every child, if properly taught, was capable of a high level of musical achievement. He also made it clear that the goal of such musical education was not to create musical prodigies, but to raise generations of children with “noble hearts.”
Read more about the Suzuki method and approach here.
I want to make good citizens. If a child hears fine music from the day of his birth and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline and endurance. He gets a beautiful heart.—Shin’ichi Suzuki
Hope Academy’s Suzuki Program
The Suzuki program at Hope Academy combines a weekly group class and private lesson for each child for 30 weeks of the year, from September to June. A parent/guardian is present at all lessons and group classes and is the “home coach.”