Beautiful Heart, Musical Journey
This past week, I took some time to look back over my Beautiful Heart, Musical Journey of 2020 now into 2021. I thought about violin teaching, Suzuki Early Childhood Education Baby Class, and practicing.
A minuscule germ changed much of what I knew and did as a teacher and performer. It changed the world for all of us. But, what did not change was the Suzuki philosophy that has formed my passion for teaching babies, children, and working with their parents. And I know that your deep love for your child has not changed!
My teaching isn’t just about the music. It is about life as well. In fact, in the very beginning, it took me awhile to grasp the real meaning of the Suzuki Method and Dr. Shinichi Suzuki’s philosophy.
Dr. Suzuki said, “Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline, and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.”
“Character first, ability second” was the motto of the school that Suzuki attended when he was young. Undoubtedly, that had great influence on him. That became my purpose for my students and their families, as well.
Teaching children to play violin wasn’t just about music anymore. It was about teaching life skills through music. I came to believe that I could teach a child to grow a beautiful heart with the beautiful music they were learning to play.
I also believe that parents can learn so much about becoming a good parent through learning music with their child.
Dr. Suzuki also said, “We parents should strive to deeply instill a beautiful, sensitive heart and splendid ability in children, believing that every child can develop into an adult who has these basic characteristics.”
Do Not Hurt Anyone’s Heart
“Do not hurt anyone’s heart”, Dr. Suzuki said. He had purposed in his heart and soul to not let himself become angry about anything. He was also decidedly against war.
I had the good fortune to observe Dr. Suzuki teach at several of the Suzuki Association of the Americas Teacher Conferences. At one of the Conference banquets in the 1980’s, his message was, “No more war or bombs”.
He was adamant and repeated it several times in that speech. He repeated it with good reason. This was a man who had survived WWII Japan. No wonder that Suzuki Education is based on “deep love” and “fine character”.
Dr. Suzuki also said,
“All children have the potential at birth to become persons of high ability.”
“Abilities are developed: they aren’t inborn. Let us (parents and teachers), with perseverance, search for the best ways to develop ability.”
“Every child is talented. Any child who is properly trained can develop musical ability, just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential is unlimited.”
Dr. Suzuki believed these things for you and your baby.
Mother-Tongue Method
Suzuki Education is based on the Mother-Tongue Method. Suzuki realized that children all over the world had no problem learning something as difficult as their native language.
Why? Because they are actually immersed in their language before birth. He reasoned that if it worked that way for language, it could work for learning other skills, like playing a musical instrument, as well.
Back in the day, the Suzuki Method was ridiculed for students not learning to read music immediately. I had more than one conversation on that subject with musicians and teachers I would meet.
They would often go after the Method (and me) pretty ruthlessly. They always seemed intent on convincing me that it was a waste of time to teach an instrument to a young child who couldn’t even read music.
I usually ended the conversation this way: I told them I was sorry that was their attitude about very young children learning. And I hoped they wouldn’t feel too badly saying to a little one, “I’m sorry. But, you can’t say any words, like ‘mama’ or ‘daddy’ or any others, because you can’t read them yet.”
Conversation over. But I hope I gave them something to think about.
7 Concepts of Suzuki Education
I hope I can give you something to think about when helping your baby learn. Check out this list of Concepts. You will find that they not only apply to your child, but to you as well.
- Every child can learn
- Ability develops early (as in from Day 1)
- Environment nurtures growth
- Success breeds success
- Children learn from one another
- Parental involvement is critical
- Encouragement is essential
“Where Love is Deep, Much Can Be Accomplished”
Finally, Dr. Suzuki believed that above all else that parents and all adults of the world must love children deeply. For that matter, we all must love each other deeply. Then we can work on fine character, developing ability, not hurting anyone’s heart, and all the educational concepts. Together, these are the things that will grow noble hearts in you, your baby, and each of us.
On the “Beautiful Heart Musical Journey” with you,
Susan
Suzuki ECE Baby Class
To find a Baby Class program near you, check out our Resources page.
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