Preschool Children and the Suzuki Method

Eighty per cent of human brain development takes place during childhood, defined here as the period from birth to age six.

Emotions, intelligence and thinking abilities develop during these years. Skills developed at this stage continue throughout life. How, then, does music support development?

Harvard psychology professor Howard Gardner gave an excellent example in his 2006 book “The Disciplined Mind”. According to Gardner, the Japanese put this into practice best. In Japan, a six-year-old can play an instrument to a good standard, flawlessly as a soloist or in an orchestra. This level is achieved through the method developed by Japanese educator Shinichi Suzuki. How does the Suzuki method work?

According to Suzuki, education begins with the mother, and children hear the sounds of different instruments from birth. He explains: “No one teaches a baby to speak through letters or written words. The natural order is to speak with the child first, then teach letters and reading. Similarly, when teaching music to preschool children, we do not use written music; we teach new songs by letting them listen and showing them how to play.” Family involvement and learning by watching are central to Suzuki's approach. Children watch their family making music and soon pick up an instrument suited to their size. A child might watch their mother practise violin at home and eventually take up the violin too. If the mother cannot play, she should take lessons and stay at least one or two lessons ahead of the child. Later, familiar and appealing pieces are introduced gradually. Suzuki's short compositions were written to develop children's fingers while they enjoy themselves.

Group work is another important element. Children come together with peers at more advanced and earlier stages and help one another.

The Suzuki method, an important approach in music education, is also used in teaching reading, arithmetic, gymnastics, writing and foreign languages. In other words, every branch of the arts, not only music, can stimulate the brains of children aged 0–6. It is very important to establish habits early in visual and auditory skills, critical thinking, reading, drawing, writing practice such as summarising, photography and interpretation. Depriving children of these opportunities for development would be deeply unfair.

You can teach your children anything you wish, because every child has talent.

Duygu Deniz Uşaklıgil
Rekor Sanat – Violin Teacher