The Method

The Suzuki method is based on the mother tongue theory – if every child is capable of learning a language, they are also capable of learning music as another language. The same way a child needs their parents help to learn their first language, learning the violin requires parental support and supervision.

Shinichi Suzuki, the creator of the method, said many times “you only practice the days you eat”. Parents facilitate practice, and part of the student/parent commitment is to practice consciously and consistently at a time and place where everyone can give their full attention.

The Suzuki triangle represents the relationship between the parent, child, and teacher. Every family has their own struggles and strengths, and together the triangle works to find practice strategies and teaching techniques that focus on the development of the child’s skills. They aren’t just learning to play the violin – in the first year of lessons we cover how to practice, keeping focus on a task, fine and gross motor function, language skills, ear training, musicality, how to care for the body, how to care for the instrument, and commitment.

Commitment means many things in learning to play an instrument – commitment to attending lessons and practicing, commitment to continuing even when it’s hard, commitment to respecting an instrument, oneself, a parent, and a teacher. My goal is to create well rounded humans, beautiful hearts, caring people, and of course, music.