The Posture Pages
Guide to Suzuki Violin Book 1 Teaching Points
It is intended primarily for parents of young children studying violin with a qualified Suzuki teacher. Parents can browse through previously-learned repertoire to remind themselves of the important points which can be practised and consolidated through review. Or browse through upcoming repertoire to see what sorts of challenges lie ahead.
Non-Suzuki teachers interested in using the Suzuki repertoire as an adjuct to their traditional teaching might also find this guide useful. It might help them to appreciate the way in which the repertoire, rather than studies and exercises, introduces key musical and technical concepts. And Suzuki teachers might use this guide as a way of exploring other teachers' approaches to similar challenges and technical points in the repertoire.
Please note: this guide does not cover the Pre-Twinkle phase.
But This Isn't Exactly How We've Been Doing Things...
There is no one correct way to teach Suzuki Book 1. This guide represents the collective experience and opinions of several teachers in dealing with "average" young Suzuki students. No student is ever average! The timing of the introduction of skills is a personal matter for each teacher to work out in relation to each particular student. Even Dr. Suzuki was always learning and changing the way he taught to suit particular students, and as accumulated experience suggested something new might work better. Do not panic if your child is working on Allegro and hasn't been taught "independent fingering" yet. This done not necessarily mean there is anything wrong with the teaching he is receiving. There are millions of different ways of implementing the Suzuki Method.
This is Not a Cookbook!
It is impossible to write a "how-to" guide to the Suzuki Method which will work in every, or even most cases. The Suzuki Method is made up of two main components:
- The Philosophical Foundation...a philosophy of life and education, a belief in every child's potential. (See An Introduction to the Suzuki Method and read Suzuki's "Nurtured By Love" for more)
- The Pedagogical Framework...a way of putting the philosophy into the practice of teaching the violin.
This framework can be further subdivided into the basics and the particulars.
- The Basic Suzuki Teaching Style: an environment of love and support which involves the parent as well as the student and teacher, an emphasis on listening and ear training, the use of positive rather than negative reinforcment, subdivision of tasks into small, achievable steps and so on...
- The Particulars: when is a new fingering pattern introduced, how much bow should be used for certain notes, what is the best way to begin teaching a new piece, and so on. The particulars are the concern of this guide.
The Disclaimer
This guide is not a replacement for the experience and expertise of a good Suzuki teacher. It is in no way intended as a teacher-training course. It is not guaranteed to be free of errors or misjudgements. We take no responsibility for any conflicts which might arise between parent and teacher as a result of this guide, as every attempt has been made to explain that this is only one of many possible approaches. This guide is purposely not concerned with posture, pre-Twinkle teaching, basic Suzuki teaching style or the underlying foundation of the Suzuki philosophy.