The Suzuki Method Explained
“Confronted with a high mountain, you cannot walk the summit in one stride but must climb step by step to reach your goal. Without stopping, without haste, carefully taking a step at a time forward will surely get you there.”
The Life of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki spent his life proving that ability is not inborn. Instead, talent can be created and that all young children can develop exceptional talent. Born in the1898 in Japan, he was introduced to the violin and became fascinated, teaching himself to play.
In 1920 he toured extensively throughout Europe, eventually settling in Berlin to study further. Upon returning to Japan, he formed a string quartet with his brothers, giving concerts throughout the country. He became a conductor with the Tokyo String Orchestra.
At a quartet rehearsal one day in 1933, he surprised his brothers by stating what they all considered obvious; that ALL Japanese children speak Japanese. With this simple observation, Dr. Shinichi Suzuki had discovered a way to develop musical ability in young children.
Evolution of the Suzuki Approach
At the end of World War II, Dr. Suzuki was invited to teach at a school in Matsumoto using his innovative method. Because he was a violinist, he first applied his theories in teaching young children to play the violin. After ten years of research, the Suzuki Violin Volume one was complete. Suzuki then began The Talent Education Research Institute, where he continued to develop his method.
By the 1950s, Suzuki operated music schools throughout Japan. Eventually, it expanded to include piano, viola, cello, bass, flute, recorder, harp, guitar, trumpet and voice. Dr. Haruko Kataoka, who moved to Matsumoto in 1955 to be an accompanist, developed the first Suzuki piano repertoire with another teacher.
By the 1960s, western teachers started to travel to Japan to observe Suzuki’s students and learn the method. In 1964, Dr. Suzuki was invited to bring a tour group of Japanese students to the United States, and subsequently began to make regular trips to the U.S.
In 1972, the Suzuki Association of the Americas was founded by Constance Starr, introducing the Suzuki Piano Method to a wider range of North American teachers.
Dr. Suzuki believed that music can make a unique contribution to the whole learning process. His idea of teaching peace and understanding through music has gained acceptance and respect, with over 500,000 Suzuki students worldwide studying music through this approach.
During his lifetime, he received many honorary degrees, was named a Living Treasure by the Emperor of Japan and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Shinichi Suzuki remained an active leader and educator until his death on January 26, 1998.