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| The Little Guitar Studio Suzuki Guitar Program |
| For more about Suzuki Method go to www.suzukiassociation.org. The Little Guitar Studio models its program after Frank Longay's program. Frank Longay is one of the primary instructors who adapted Suzuki's Method for guitar and is the teacher trainer George Little studied with. To learn more about his program go to www.longay.com For more about Suzuki's life and research read Nurtured by Love by Shinichi Suzuki. For more about how the brain benefits from learning to play music read Music, the Mind and Ecstacy by Robert Jourdain. |
| What is Suzuki? Suzuki Method is a comprehensive technique for learning to play a musical instrument. It was developed by Japanese pedagogy pioneer Shinichi Suzuki. It is based on the principle that every child can learn to play music when given an environment that encourages and nurtures that learning. The basic structure of the music learned in Suzuki lessons is rooted in the classical tradition. Students learn classical technique because it is the most all-encompasing. The pieces learned are newly composed or selected from the classical literature. They are organized into nine books in a way that allows the student to gradually prograss from one to the next. Every Child Can Suzuki's study and research found that talent is not an inborn ability that some are gifted with while others are not. Rather than the commonly held idea of natural talent, Suzuki found that it is a child's environment that determines the abilities that they will develope. Mother Tongue Method Every child learns to speak their Mother tongue, or native language. The Japanese learn to speak Japanese and the French learn to speak French. Despite the complexity of learning a language, every child is capable of doing so. Even a child only 3 years old can have a vocabulary of thousands of words. Understanding this, Suzuki developed a method of teaching that took the environmental elements that encourage learning language and adapted them for learning to play music. Who is Suzuki for? Primarilly, Suzuki is taught to children who begin lessons between the ages of 5 and 8 years. It is still very effective for children starting at 3 or 4 years old. It is not, however, restricted to people who begin at those ages. Some basic components of the Suzuki Method can be started atbirth and it can be continued through adulthood. How Does Suzuki Work? Mother Tongue Method There are many environmental factors that contribute to a child learning language at a young age. Recreating as many as possible helps to create an environment conducive to learning music. This includes a positive, fun and enthusiastic environment, repetion and accumulation and listening to recordings of the music that will be learned. Suzuki Triangle The Parent-Teacher-Student relationship, known as the Suzuki Triangle, is an essential balance of teaching nd reinforcement and is key to in Suzuki Method. The parent is considered the "Home-Teacher" and reinforces daily what is learned in the weekly lessons. Learning from other children The Group Class element of Suzuki lessons is an essential part of the success of the Suzuki Method. In group class, students interact with each other. This has a number of effects on their development. Children learn to offer mutual support and to be sensitive and courteous to others. They learn that others are confronting the same challenges and enjoying the same triumphs as they are. Yet another benefit of group class is having the opportunity to observe and interact with other Suzuki families. Small Steps/Going Slow Learning any discipline will result in failure if progress is attempted too rapidly. Success with suzuki is found when steps are small and each skill is mastered before moving on. This creates strong foundations for children to progress from the next step is always accesible provifding it is close enough to the students current skill level. As a result of the small steps, progress can seem very slow art times. It is important to understand that this is a normal part of the learning process and will result in a higher level of ability as the student progresses. |
| Prior to a students starting Suzuki lessons, parents participate in a learning session to familiarize themselves with the philosophy and approach to teaching found in the Suzuki Method. They also learn some of the basics of playing technique. Learning to play the guitar has a dual role of preparing the parent to be the "home-teacher" and to encourage the child's natural desire to imitate their parent. Suzuki lessons involve a greater time commitment from parents by requiring their presence in lessons and their participation as the "Home-Teacher." Parents reinforce daily what is learned in the weekly lessons. Many parents choose this approach for this very reason as it allows for opportunities to bond and learn about their child in a direct and intimate way |
| The Little Guitar Studio Suzuki Program consists of weekly private lessons and bi-weekly group classes. Multiple performance opportunities and ensembles are also encorporated to enhance learning and the overall musical experience. |
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