Violin Resources – A Performing, Learning, Artistic, and Teaching Web Resource and Platform for Violinists and Musicians, By Orion Music and Arts, Cambridge, MA, est. 2023

Suzuki – Educational Perspectives and Principles on Violin Learning

Dr. Shinichi Suzuki (Center), Seated

Built on astute observation and moral as well as ethical and aesthetic principles, the Suzuki violin method was modeled, further, on a hope in the possibility as well as integrity of a universal music education for all, as music historians like Eri Hotta have also recounted in works like the 2022 Suzuki: The Man and HIs Dream to Teach the Children of the World, a more recent Harvard University Press publication.

Music and Mirroring to Learn

In order to advance the idea or possibility of educating all music students and children universally, Suzuki drew upon the idea of a a both naturalistic and ‘linguistic’ mode of musical acquisition – children were to mirror what musical and instrumental sounds they heard produced, and preferably by people close to them. In this manner, music would be learned as language was.

According to this model, if children can learn to speak, they can learn to play and to read music, as music was a kind of language likewise. As Dr. Suzuki held, music was a kind of “mother tongue”, both literally and metaphorically, and could be learned through assimilation, the way native languages are, in childhood. As a consequence, children can learn music, at first, by mirroring the music that they hear, and then by mirroring the musical actions that they see their parents, teachers, and even classmates perform.

Sound and Tone

Another unique characteristic of Suzuki’s teaching method had to do with his views on sound or tone.

Suzuki held that tone or tonal development as absolutely essential to sound.

He would develop exercises called tonalisation exercises in which students would readily be acquainted with how to ideal, foundational, and essential qualities or aspects of violin sound.

Scaled and Musical Scores

Finally, another one of Dr. Suzuki’s most salient and enduring aspects of his educational perspectives and advances rests in his Suzuki School Violin Method books.

An outstanding selection, curation, and transcription of songs, technical exercises, and developmental violin material – often accompanied by an example recording, as was congruent with his belief in listening and ‘playing the violin by ear’ which also involved musical memory and a great degree of embodied cognition – fairly advanced a view for so early a violin method – it is still widely used, published, and in currency today, and as perhaps one of the most outstanding of violin repertoire resources historically to date.

Beginning with the by now incredibly famous ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’, many have been taught to learn, sing, and play with the Suzuki Method Violin School books the world over.

Sensitively put together in an outstandingly nuanced way, violin learning here is carefully scaled for students in terms of meticulously clarity of only gradually escalating difficulty.

Remarkably ordered, and with music thoughtfully selected for ease of memory, muscle development, singablity, and technical as well as musical progress, the music further incorporates wider aspects of his foundational beliefs in playing by ear, as well as developing musically and technically in sustainable, practical, and tangible ways.

Essential Method for Early Violin and Music Education

A must have for every young or violin beginner, or even simply as an outstanding collection of classical and violin works, the music is as stimulating as it is outstanding in pedagogical thought and design; especially encouraging of scaled, musical, technical, and violinistic growth.

Further Information

For more on Dr. Suzuki and his work by way of standalone and elaborated upon educational and violinistic material, as well as an e-book, or any other enquiries, please feel free to reach us using the contact form.

By Orion Music and Arts, Cambridge, MA, 2023-2024

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