The Suzuki Method of Talent Education
Dennise Cherkauer is dedicated to developing her students' love for music through excellence in teaching. Dennise completed extensive training in The Suzuki Method and she uses it as the foundation for her teaching. Suzuki's ideals can be adapted for students of any age and at any stage of musical development.
About the Suzuki Method
Shinichi Suzuki’s teaching philosophy is based on the revolutionary idea that talent is not necessarily inborn. He found that talent can be learned through good teaching, a rich home environment, and constant effort and encouragement. Suzuki believed that every human being has great potential and, given proper nurturing, can achieve high standards. It was not his intent to develop professional musicians but instead to create hope for the children of post-WWII Japan by helping them learn an instrument to a high degree of excellence, perpetuating self-worth and respect for others. Even so, many of today’s finest music schools and major orchestras are filled with former Suzuki Method students because Suzuki teachers tend to be dedicated to the art of teaching and to passing on their love of music.
Suzuki developed his mother-tongue approach to learning music so that anyone, of any age or background, including the very young, could learn to play the violin. Students listen to their pieces and then learn to play them in a loving, nurturing environment, much like an infant learning to speak their native language. New skills are introduced one at a time. Old pieces are continually reviewed to develop fluency. Great care is taken in the initial set-up of a student’s posture and holding of the instrument and bow. When age-appropriate, parents are involved in lessons and taught how to be the home coach. Reading music is delayed until the student is both developmentally and musically ready. The emphasis is always on quality and playing with beautiful tone and a beautiful heart.
Suzuki developed his mother-tongue approach to learning music so that anyone, of any age or background, including the very young, could learn to play the violin. Students listen to their pieces and then learn to play them in a loving, nurturing environment, much like an infant learning to speak their native language. New skills are introduced one at a time. Old pieces are continually reviewed to develop fluency. Great care is taken in the initial set-up of a student’s posture and holding of the instrument and bow. When age-appropriate, parents are involved in lessons and taught how to be the home coach. Reading music is delayed until the student is both developmentally and musically ready. The emphasis is always on quality and playing with beautiful tone and a beautiful heart.
The viola method consists of 9 volumes. Suzuki Method is unique in that the volumes are compilations of pieces, not exercises, beginning with variations of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, then spanning the repertoire and culminating with Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata in the last viola book. In time, Suzuki students will learn to read music. In time, they will study scales, etudes, supplementary repertoire, and music theory. They will be able to participate in orchestras and chamber ensembles. But first, they start out by playing music - real music that they have already internalized through listening to it. Each piece of music has been carefully selected and placed in the volumes in such a way that to learn it, only a few new skills are required, while old skills are reviewed, elaborated upon, and refined.
Many popular inspirational quotes have been attributed to Suzuki, one of which is, “Never hurry, but never rest.” In his book, Nurtured by Love: The Classic Approach to Talent Education, he wrote,
Many popular inspirational quotes have been attributed to Suzuki, one of which is, “Never hurry, but never rest.” In his book, Nurtured by Love: The Classic Approach to Talent Education, he wrote,
“To make a resolution and act accordingly is to live with hope. There may be difficulties and hardships, but not disappointment or despair if you follow the path steadily. Do not hurry. This is a fundamental rule. If you hurry and collapse or tumble down, nothing is achieved. Do not rest in your efforts; this is another fundamental rule. Without stopping, without haste, carefully taking a step at a time forward will surely get you there.”
His method and philosophy naturally lend themselves to developing that personal quality and indicator of success that has recently been dubbed "grit."
While his method sets the foundation for becoming a fine musician, Suzuki’s philosophy is about more than music instruction. It is also about the quest for truth and beauty and about developing a noble mind and a sensitive spirit. It is about hope, love, kindness, and making the world a better place. In the words of Shinichi Suzuki, "Where love is deep, much can be accomplished."
While his method sets the foundation for becoming a fine musician, Suzuki’s philosophy is about more than music instruction. It is also about the quest for truth and beauty and about developing a noble mind and a sensitive spirit. It is about hope, love, kindness, and making the world a better place. In the words of Shinichi Suzuki, "Where love is deep, much can be accomplished."
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DENNISE CHERKAUER © 2022