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To Suzuki or not to Suzuki
by Luanne Platter
I say "successful" because in the teaching process, some very hard inherent crutches are developed. I am a music educator who has the wonderful pleasure of teaching not only students from scratch at 6th grade, I also receive and teach students who learned under the Suzuki method. There is a difference in the comprehension level of these students. Although, technique is quickly developed, the Suzuki method, as it has been used in my area, seems to heavily rely on rote teaching (I play, you play). These students pick up things by ear very quickly but my own students who I have taught non-Suzuki can read music better and faster than Suzuki students. It is a little known fact that Suzuki himself does not endorse this way of teaching. It is an American method with his name on it. In addition, have you ever tried to get a 5 year old to pay attention to detail. As I said before, you develop technique but, you lose fundamentals such as hand position and bow technique. I think the reason for it's popularity is because it can appear that a child can be successful in a very short amount of time. However, in my experience, by the time the 5 year old who started with Suzuki and the 6th graders who started in my class reach their freshman year of high school, the playing field is leveled. As you proceed through high school, my stronger students are usually those who did not study Suzuki. So to answer the question, to Suzuki or not to Suzuki?.... I think not. Click here to read or post comments.
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