"Every child talks in code, is every parent's job to break the code"-Peter Ruderman.
I am excited to start a blog to share my experience as a parent with the music Suzuki method. My child, which I will call big A, has been taking Suzuki lessons since he was 3 years old. Big A is now 6 and a lot has happened since we started this journey on learning to play an instrument.
Why did I start this blog?
I love reading other parenting blogs because I have found this a useful tool on how to be a better parent. Reading what other parents do or how do they do things has always inspired me and, I believe, has helped me to be a better parent. And for my children, has helped them to be better children.
I love to read other people's experiences and learn other ways to do things. Parenting is something that I have become very passionate about. I have two little ones that set me up for a challenge every day, and I have decided to be two steps ahead of them and take on this challenge. And make it a great experience for both parts :).
When I tried to look for Suzuki method blogs before, I had a hard time finding any, or finding blogs that were more specific to the music method for little children.
There are some teacher's Suzuki method blogs, with helpful exercises and some tools on how to practice at home, but I guess I was looking for a blog from a parent's perspective, and yes, some real stories of families and their struggles making practice enjoyable while trying to juggle the daily life routine. So I decided to start one and share my family's experiences this time around, hoping that it will be helpful for other parents, just as reading other family blogs have helped me and my family solve other issues.
How did we get in this?
A wonderful coincidence! Actually is hard to recall the details right now, but I knew that I really wanted my child to learn to play an instrument. When I was a child, I remember I always wanted to learn to play the piano, but I was never able to take formal lessons. So I browsed in my city for music programs for kids/toddlers, I did attended a few music classes where the little kids have fun playing with several musical instruments, and dance and parents are part of the fun as well. But even though they are great classes I just didn't think it was what I was looking for: I wanted my child to learn a formal instrument.
So, somehow I saw this add on a newspaper for this school that offered Suzuki music lessons for kids as young as 3 years old, and I called them to set up a "Meet and greet" lesson with the teacher. I have to say that I was a little confused on how things went, the teacher seemed to be very serious, and formal, and somehow strict. That is not a bad thing, but most teachers who teach toddlers (3 year olds) are usually 'sweeter', you know with the big smile and high pitch tone of voice, trying to appeal to the child. This teacher was polite but is almost like it was talking to my, then 3 year old, as a big person. I found that interesting.
Anyhow the meeting lasted about 15 minutes and then I had to sign up for a waiting list that took about 6 months to get in the class.
Since I was very determined to get my child in music classes I decided to sign him up for a different instrument that a that time had openings for lessons. So we were enrolled!
Why Suzuki?
To be perfectly honest I did not know anything about the Suzuki method when we started our lessons. Is not like I read about it before and looked for a school or a teacher on this. As I said, I just wanted my child to learn to play an instrument and this method seemed the right approach for us while I was reading about it in the waiting area of the school before our "Meet and greet" lesson.
If I were to do it again, I would, only I would inform myself better on this method so I could get more and the best of it for and from my child and myself.
I have to say that I was very impressed to learn in the beginning that 3 year olds could be able to play the violin and other instruments, and I was a bit skeptical but excited to see if my child could be one of those little tikes playing the violin.
What is the Suzuki method?
According to Wikipedia:
The Suzuki method (スズキ・メソード Suzuki mesōdo, also called Talent Education, mother-tongue method, or Suzuki movement) is an educational philosophy which claims to be able to create "high ability" and beautiful character in its students through a nurturing environment. Its primary vehicle for achieving this is music education on a specific instrument (most often violin). It is modeled on factors which Shinichi Suzuki observed in native language acquisition. The term "Suzuki method" is also sometimes used to refer solely to the Suzuki repertoire of sheet music books and/or audio recordings which have been published as part of its music education method.
But if you are reading this blog, you probably know this already. However if you are a new parent on this and do not know much about it I suggest you to inform yourself as much as possible. I think that other 'Suzuki' parents are usually a good source of information when it comes to experience (wisdom), practicing at home and spending more time with your child and the instrument than the teacher does. After all an average Suzuki lesson is about 30 minutes long and once a week only. And a home practice should be a daily session and it takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on what's going on that day with your family.
According to me: The Suzuki method is a BIG commitment, and a LONG TERM commitment. You won't see 'fruits' in a month, nor in six, and perhaps not even in 1 year. But to avoid being disappointed is best to know this from the beginning and, in my opinion, it has more weight if it comes from a fellow Suzuki parent than from a teacher.
What have I learned so far...
You need a lot of discipline to practice Suzuki, as Dr. Suzuki originally intended, especially if you are not familiar with it.
I am not a musician, I love music, but I have not knowledge or training on how to read music or play an instrument. And this is OK for the Suzuki method, you as a parent learn during the process along with your child how to play the instrument.
Consistency is vital, you need to schedule the at-home music practices otherwise are left behind and when you are ready to practice the child is tired, or cranky, or there is no time anymore for it. So, since practicing at home is crucial, consistency is very important.
My goal with this blog...
To inspire, share, and vent (if you wish) about our own personal process in this wonderful music method called Suzuki :).
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Thanks for reading my new blog and can't wait to share more of what we are doing. Big A has been doing incredible progress lately and that has inspired me to start sharing with other parents, I am finally seeing the 'fruits' of our hard work!
Also, I am currently reading this book called Helping Parents Practice by Edmund Sprunger. I will be happy to share with you my reflections as I read this book and how this applies to our family, you might find it helpful or just curious :).
I welcome comments and questions, so please let me know what your thoughts are :).
Until next time!
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