subject: Violin And Suzuki Violin Lessons: Which Is Better [print this page] Despite the many other types of teaching violin, the Suzuki method of learning is still the most popular. This is obviously due to the many benefits of learning the violin through this method.
If you aren't a student here, it can be difficult to see what it is with Suzuki that makes the teachings unique and loved by many. But however famous Suzuki may be, there are still disadvantages there, just like traditional schools have theirs.
What is amazing about the Suzuki method is the way they can successfully teach children as young as 3 or 4 years old. And because they are so young, parents would need to be there. The combination of the efforts of the parents, the student and the teacher is what the Suzuki schools point out as the reason for their success. Parents are asked to show their support by staying with their children through the Suzuki violin lessons. This will allow them to teach the necessary exercises at home, after the teacher tells them what to do. This process somehow gives the children more enthusiasm in learning the Suzuki violin lessons.
Traditional lessons aren't like this at all. Usually, only a student will be in the room, together with the teacher and his peers. Parents don't have an active role in developing their children's abilities with this method, which can be preferred by some parents. This is advantageous for those who don't have time to actively participate in helping their children.
Another important difference Suzuki has compared to others is the way the students learn music pieces. While students who study in traditional schools learn by being taught how to read music early on, Suzuki students learn by ear.
The Suzuki method makes them hear one song over and over, and then lets them play it accordingly. These students don't learn how to read music until later, when they can play music without the need to read it. This is good because the students won't have to rely on eyesight to play, and can use the ear only.
Students develop into better-rounded individuals when they learn how to interact with other people. This social skill can benefit them in the future: for their school, jobs, friends, etc. Most schools are aware of this and work at developing their students social skills.
Suzuki is one of them, which is why students perform all the time. Students play independently and with groups. This is done frequently until they have are used to the public eye and can perform in public without having a stage fright. Other schools teach the same skill, although not all of them do. You just have to inquire about them.
Some parents choose Suzuki at an early point in their children's life, and then switch to another school. Whatever their reason for doing this, it is really all very unnecessary.
What your child will learn when he is enrolled in a solid traditional school of good repute, are the same things he will learn in a Suzuki violin school. The Suzuki kids, though, will have the advantage in their confidence in performing live in front of audiences. But basically, the goal of all violin schools is the same: to teach.
