Studio of Leah Brammer: The four Principles of the Suzuki method

Saturday, September 10, 2011

The four Principles of the Suzuki method

1. Mother-tongue - The basic philosophy upholds the understanding that music be learned as a language, by listening and communicating by sound first, with the written symbol as representative of the sound, and taught after the child has learned to speak/play. The term "mother-tongue" also emphasizes the parents involvement in providing the language in the environment for the child.
Thus, children who hear the music they are learning to play for many hours a day will progress much much faster than those who only listen to the disc once or twice a day.
2. Talent Education - The name of Dr. Suzuki's school in Matsumoto, and a term which juxtaposes two terms which may at first seem contradictory. Dr. Suzuki chose this name for his method to emphasize his realization that all children develop the "talent" of playing music if educated in the same way children learn to speak their native language. Again, the parents involvement in the education of the child is paramount over any particular "genes" the child may or may not have for music.
3. Ability Development: This term is used to define the process by which talent is developed - through repetition ;

"Knowledge plus 10.000 times equals ability". Dr. Suzuki

This is the "how" of Talent Education.
4. Natural Learning: Natural learning is simply that which is learned directly from the environment without extra explanation, instructions, or mental thinking. Providing the right environment is a core component of the Suzuki method. Children who are listening, have quality instruments and parents to help them find body balance and connect their physical motions with the sound they have internalized through listening will be able to achieve a high ability to play piano as a result of a natural learning from the environment.

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Core Education Principles

1. Life Ability
Core Education develops life ability- the ability to live life optimally.

2. Natural Learning
Core Education utilizes and preserves natural learning, which is direct learning from the environment.

3. Whole Learning
Children learn through absorption of the total environment rather than part by part. This is sometimes called ”right-brain learning” Whole learning is a better way to describe this absorption as it involves both the right brain (learning through the senses/intuition and left brain (analytical) types of learning working together.

4. Ability Development
Pattern recognition and the forming of relationships between these patterns can be developed through repetition for optimum learning. This then includes physical ability, mental/memory, emotional balance and spiritual development as well. This is the balancing concept of whole learning and involves understanding of learning in relationship to sequencing and the development of ability through the acquisition of foundation skills

5. Integral Learning
Core learning involves recognition and support for the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of development in combination with mental/cognitive learning to form life abilities.

6. The core focus principle of nurturing:
This principle is that the most fundamental aspect in a child’s learning must always be addressed rather than focusing on the content of what is being learned. It is finding the core aspect of the process that will produce the easiest and quickest way to learn. It is closely connected to Ability Development.

7. Positive affirmation
Core education involves affirmation as a critical component of feedback for the child. Using verbal acknowledgment of that which is correct will accelerate learning. It is not a judgment such as good or bad, but is a positive statement of fact to the child about how they are learning.

Through understanding and applying these principles teachers and parents can recreate the concept of education from the learning of facts to the development of ability.