About Me
I have been a keen Suzuki violinist since the age of four and have performed in venues from the Cadogan hall to Canterbury Cathedral. I began the violin studying under Suzuki violinists Sharron Beamer and Jillian Ledra. Later studying with Dr. Devorina Gamalova and Dr. Stelios Chatziiosfidis. I first began teaching Suzuki students aged sixteen. Offering students help with practices over the holidays before beginning Suzuki teacher training after studying music at Canterbury Christ Church University. I have long been a believer in the Suzuki method and believe that Suzuki is just as much about creating a great violinist as it is about creating a great person.
About Suzuki
The Suzuki Method of learning music is a dynamic and differentiated method of learning for children, that works alongside a child’s natural development. Founded by Dr Shinichi Suzuki in the mid 1900’s, the Suzuki philosophy draws upon the fact that all children, regardless of their perceived aptitude, learn to speak a complex language, their “mother tongue”, equally from their parents.
Learning by ear – the Mother Tongue Method
Suzuki children do not read music at first. They learn by ear. This enables them to focus on really learning how to play the music – by creating a good quality tone and technique, without having too much else in their heads to focus on at the time. Reading can come later. When Dr Suzuki first introduced this concept, it was considered a radical and contrasting approach. Known as the mother-tongue approach, the method is based on the principle that by immersing young children in music, mainly by having them listen repeatedly to the pieces they will learn to play on their instrument, their musical abilities would unfold in the most natural way. This is proven to work. When Suzuki‘s young Japanese students were heard, first in a film presented in the United States in 1958, then during a tour in 1964, the quality of their performance was for many a testimony of the success of this method.
Children Start Young
Because emphasis is on a Mother Tongue approach to learning, Suzuki encourages children to start from a young age. Some children start as young as three of four years old. Most fundamental motor patterns emerge before the age of five, and they are still very eager to mimic and receive praise from their parents. For this reason the foundations are laid early, and teaching music in the early stages has long-lasting effects. Having said that, there is no absolute requirement to start this young – you can start your child off in Suzuki whenever you like or whenever feels right.