Interest In The Instrument The Suzuki Teacher example essay topic

As you may already know a violin program is being added to our wonderful school. While preparing for the violin class my music teacher explained an old method used in Japan to teach children how to play the violin. It is called "The Suzuki Method", and was created none other than Suzuki himself. Mr. Suzuki wanted to find an easy way for young children to play the difficult, yet defined instrument of the violin. Suzuki thought that all Japanese children were intelligent enough to learn the violin, since they could accomplish the feat of learning their own language. Suzuki observed children from an early age and noticed that they learnt to speak before they could read or write.

He also noticed that the children wanted to do whatever the adults around them did. Using these pieces of information Suzuki developed "The Suzuki Method."The Suzuki Method" was a simple, yet sometimes tedious method. When the child was at an early age, maybe a few months old, the parents would play recordings of simple tunes played by master instrumentalists. The child would listen too these recordings and soon come to know them. Then after the child was old enough to understand the sounds and music, (about the age of 3) the parent (usually the mother) would take violin lessons from a Suzuki instructor, and always bring the child along. The teacher would show the parent how to hold the instrument and where to place her fingers.

The teacher would instruct the parent to play a tune that was already familiar to the child. As time went on (approximately four lessons) if the child showed enough interest in the instrument the Suzuki teacher would reveal a smaller violin ready for the child to play. The child would only play if he or she showed enough interest in the instrument because Suzuki never wanted to force children to play. After obtaining an instrument of their own the child would take lessons with the instructor.

After the child gained fluency in the instrument they would be introduced to written notes. This would help the child gain the ability to read music and also give the child's music more depth. The children who learn from the Suzuki method would obtain skills in the instrument like no other. At the age of eight or nine the child could play pieces like the Bach Double Concerto. I don't think this method should be used in our school. For one thing many parents may not have the money to support "The Suzuki Method", and for another the school districts have a minimal control of Suzuki students that may enter their schools.

I do not believe "The Suzuki Method" would be successful in public schools. The school board could not afford to waste money on an instrument for the parent as well as an instrument for the child. I believe "The Suzuki Method" would be a failure if used in public schools.