Today I had the pleasure to watch an online streamed concert of two pupils from Jenny MacMillan‘s Suzuki Group in Cambridge. I was really impressed with their musicality, confidence and their fluid piano technique, each playing around 25 minutes of music from memory.
The Suzuki method‘s approach is a fascinating one. A key part of it aims to teach music to children the same way that language is taught. This is much more than just an ear-first approach - it aims to involve the whole family unit in the learning. Suzuki noticed that children learn language effortlessly and naturally from the family environment and he endeavoured to find a way of learning music in the same way. Parents, siblings and the whole Suzuki community are involved in the teaching. Learning happens as much in the home as in lessons - music is embedded in the family culture. This has benefits not just for the musician part of person, but the whole. Suzuki Method helps the pupil learn how to learn. Dr Suzuki says ”Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.”
Dr Suzuki says ”Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.”
I am fascinated and encouraged by this approach - I find it heartening that in a world full of tests, assessments and tick boxes there exists something so wonderfully human.