How Does Mother-Tongue Approach Work
Dr. Suzuki called his teaching method the Mother-Tongue Approach, inspired by the fact that children so effortlessly learn to speak their native tongue. Prompted and encouraged by the parents’ love and the family environment, the child responds and develops this most difficult of skills, that of intelligible speech.
When a child learns to speak, the following factors are at work:
Listening
Motivation
Repetition
Step-by-step mastery
Memory
Vocabulary
Parental Involvement
Love
In the Suzuki approach each of these principles is used in the learning of an instrument (piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, guitar, voice, harp and recorder). The mother-tongue approach has successfully been applied to other fields such as art, poetry and mathematics. Dr. Suzuki closely follows the parallel with language learning and recommends that music should become an important part of the baby’s environment from birth (or even before). When the infant’s environment includes fine music as well as the sounds of the mother-tongue, it is understandable that the child will develop the ability to speak and to play a musical instrument (with technical guidance) before being required to read in either language. Formal lessons frequently begin as early as 3 years of age.
Listening
Children learn to speak by listening and imitating the spoken language they hear around them. In Suzuki teaching, much emphasis is placed on daily listening to recordings of the Suzuki repertoire, as well as music in general. The more frequently the students listen to the recordings, the more easily they learn to play. Constant listening to music performed with beautiful tone provides children with a role model for their playing. In the lessons, the production of fine tone and sensitive playing is stressed from the beginning.
Parental Involvement
Parents play a crucial role in Suzuki. Learning takes place in an environment of co-operation between teacher, parent and child. The parent's role includes attending each lesson with the student, taking notes and then guiding them through their practice at home - they become the 'home teacher'. Parents also need to play the recordings daily, help to create an environment of affection, support, encouragement and understanding. Attendance at workshops, concerts, group lessons, graduations and summer institutes with their child, enhances the process
Positive Environment
A positive, nurturing environment is created in the lesson and is also essential at home. Parents need to ensure that all members of the family understand this. Children learn enthusiastically when they are supported with sincere praise and encouragement. They learn to recognize one another's achievements, creating an environment of co-operation.
Repertoire
One of Suzuki's major contributions to music education is the unique order of the repertoire. Each carefully chosen piece becomes a building block for future learning. Technique, musicianship and style are developed through the study and repetition of these pieces. Each instrument has its own repertoire. This provides familiarity and hence excellent motivation to progress. Through the common repertoire within each instrument, children have a bond with Suzuki students world-wide. However, the spirit of Suzuki teaching may encompass all styles and periods of music. Teachers often give supplementary material which may help to widen the students' musical experience