This past Sunday afternoon I had my exit interview with Dr. Laurie Scott, professor of string pedagogy at UT and long time teacher of the Suzuki Method, which concluded my Book 1 training. It was 10 days worth of observations, wise words, valuable readings, shared experiences, and answered questions.

I feel prepared and excited to begin teaching my own students violin through the Suzuki method.

One of the last assignments of the training was to turn in an interpretation of Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy and teaching method in our own words. I thought I would share it here, as a way to celebrate and embrace this new chapter in my teaching journey.

The Suzuki Method is an approach to education based on Shin’ichi Suzuki’s philosophy that every person can develop skill. He uses the unanimous acquisition of the complexities of language by children across the world as evidence that a rich environment, not inborn talent, is the determinate of ability. Suzuki modeled his teaching method on the way in which children learn to speak, and worked specifically on violin mastery. The principles of language learning he identified and used included the repetition and review of learned material to develop fluency, the fluency of speech before reading, consistent practice in a shared learning environment and in private home settings, and the immersion into a rich, stimulating environment. Parent, student, and teacher, all equally valuable and necessary to the process, work together in private lessons, group lessons, and in daily home practice to foster skill. All students use a curriculum of repertoire, sequenced by Dr. Suzuki, which introduces techniques within while also inspiring musicality. As each student progresses, this full body of repertoire is then referenced to help further develop more advanced skills, similar to the process of language learning. With full commitment and participation, an investment of time, energy, understanding, and trust, full fluency of the violin will be accomplished. Furthermore, through this shared experience, students and parents will develop skills of memory, logic, listening, and reason, but most importantly perseverance, collaboration, the power of practice, and respect for one another. The Suzuki Method offers parent, student, and teacher the opportunity to grow together in a crucial time of development, through the medium of music and art.