Friday 19 September 2008

Suzuki Cello Lessons!

I am delighted to announced the start of my Suzuki Cello Programme here in Edinburgh! 

I now offer cello lessons for children by the Suzuki Method of Music Education. I will be teaching in after-school hours in my home studio in Trinity, and on saturday mornings at St. George's School, in Murrayfield. 

The weekly lesson envolves:
repertoire
singing
solfedge
ear training
ensemble activities


What is the Suzuki Method?
The Suzuki Method of music education is based on the philosophy and teaching methods developed by the Japanese violinist, pedagogue, educator and humanitarian, Dr. Shinichi Suzuki.
Dr. Suzuki believed in the great potential of music to enrich children’s lives. He developed a method of music education to enable children to play music to their highest possible level of ability.

Every Child Can Learn
Suzuki realized the implications of the fact that children the world over learn to speak their native language with ease. He began to apply the basic principles of language acquisition to the learning of music, and called his method the mother-tongue approach. The ideas of parent responsibility, loving encouragement, constant repetition, etc., are some of the special features of the Suzuki approach.

Parent Involvement
As when a child learns to talk, parents are involved in the musical learning of their child. They attend lessons with the child and serve as “home teachers” during the week. One parent often learns to play before the child, so that she/he understands what the child is expected to do. Parents work with the teacher to create an enjoyable learning environment.

Early Beginning
The early years are crucial for developing mental processes and muscle coordination. Listening to music should begin at birth; formal training may begin at age four or five, but it is never too late to begin.

Listening
Children learn words after hearing them spoken hundreds of times by others. Listening to music every day is important, especially listening to pieces in the Suzuki repertoire so the child knows them immediately.

Repetition
Constant repetition is essential in learning to play an instrument. Children do not learn a word or piece of music and then discard it. They add it to their vocabulary or repertoire, gradually using it in new and more sophisticated ways.

Encouragement
As with language, the child’s effort to learn an instrument should be met with sincere praise and encouragement. Each child learns at his/her own rate, building on small steps so that each one can be mastered. Children are also encouraged to support each other’s efforts, fostering an attitude of generosity and cooperation.

Learning with Other Children
In addition to private lessons, children participate in regular group lessons and performance at which they learn from an are motivated by each other.

Graded Repertoire
Children do not practice exercises to learn to talk, but use language for its natural purpose of communication and self-expression. Pieces in the Suzuki repertoire are designed to present technical problems to be learned in the context of the music rather than through dry technical exercises.

Delayed Reading
Children learn to read after their ability to talk has been well established. In the same way, children should develop basic technical competence on their instruments before being taught to read music.


You can find out more about the Suzuki Method in the British Suzuki Institute website: www.britishsuzuki.org.uk

Contact me to arrange your lesson! 
Call: 0131 551 10 42 / 07903 42 00 61
E-mail: monica@musicandgiggles.co.uk

1 comment:

rastom said...

Best wishes in your teaching project~

from an adult cello student.