Beginning Suzuki Violin Classes for Children
In our Suzuki violin lessons and classes using the Wee Violin World Music Preparatory, we teach students to play the violin well at a very early age. Wilhelm Violin Studio Suzuki violin classes for ages 3-6 use proven techniques to help every child learn to play beautifully. During lessons, parents observe and take note of how to practice with their child at home. In the group class, the children learn to cooperate while expressing musical ideas such as rhythm and pitch. Learning to play violin the Suzuki way is like learning to talk.
When learning to speak, a person listens, understands, then tries different speech patterns to represent ideas. When learning to play music, a person listens, understands, then tries different physical movements to produce sound that represents ideas. Every child can develop the language of music and the physical skill to express ideas beautifully through music.
Dr. Suzuki recommended that children learn musical skills the same way they learn the language surrounding them. The more parents expose a child to music, the better and more quickly that child will be able to communicate using the language of music. If a child can say individual phonemes, they have most of the tools needed to recite a Shakespearean Sonnet. Likewise, if a child can play ‘The Twinkle Variations’ well, they have most of the tools needed to play a Mozart concerto.
Basic Tenets of the Suzuki Method
- Create a positive environment
- Parent participation
- Begin early
- Step-by-step learning
- Common set repertoire
- Ear before eye
- Daily listening to recordings
- Repetition
- Review to keep strong and further perfect
- Group and private lessons
- Develop the whole child
Suzuki Violin Classes for Children Beginnings
Each new beginner Suzuki violin group begins with a parent meeting. The teacher and parent working in unison are vital to a child’s learning journey. Even a parent with no musical background is essential to the learning process. The parent is the expert on the child, takes notes during lessons, guides and maintains consistent practice at home, is the child’s best cheerleader, and communicates the child’s needs and progress with the teacher.
The teacher models home practice and communicates weekly assignments and expectations during the lesson. Each practicing parent works with the teacher to nurture each young child in physical and musical skills by implementing a simple, purposeful, consistent activity plan during the week. Suzuki families begin to build effective listening and practice habits and grow abilities.
When a child has developed enough listening and practice habits and ability, parents may purchase a $12 box violin (cardboard and dowel) in the studio or a wooden trainer violin from Crystal Boyack to improve their understanding of, and physical comfort with, the violin.
Suzuki Violin Classes for Children Graduation to a Wood Violin
After enough consistent practice and care, a child will have developed enough skills to graduate from the box to a wood Suzuki violin. The teacher will measure each child for the proper size violin. Then, parents can purchase a quality instrument. Each child continues training on the stringed violin, building on the listening and practice habits they developed with their teacher and parent.
Pre-Twinkle Suzuki violin students grow in a nurturing environment suited to their developmental age. When they are ready for more, Suzuki violin students graduate from their Pre-Twinkle class and continue to grow and develop more skill through private violin lessons paired with leveled group classes.
Trusted Violin Makers and Vendors
Suzuki Violin Classes for Children Parent Reading Recommendations
- Nurtured by Love by Shinichi Suzuki
- Ability Development from Age Zero by Shinichi Suzuki
- Helping Parents Practice by Ed Sprunger
- Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
- The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
- Beyond the Music Lesson Habits of Successful Suzuki Families by Christine Goodner