Part two:
The training methods
A) Sensitive period:
Music education should start as early as possible. Dr Suzuki believed that children should start learning or enjoying music at birth, or even when they were inside the womb. This concept could be quite similar to some others. The best to start playing an instrument can be as early as 3 years old (This is what I thought, As we have to follow the developmental stages of a child, only after his/her physical strength and fine motor control have developed to a stage, we can start the instruments.)
B) Quality of the music and musical sensitivity.
A few music educators agreed that the quality of music is very important for children. As they compared language and music learning, it is natural that to teach the children their own folk songs in their culture. Furthermore, listening to high quality music recordings is another key point in children’s music education. Suzuki selected those recordings and pieces mostly from Baroque and Classical genres.
1) Development of music sensitivity. Suzuki always emphasis on listening to good recordings. Listening to music is like listening to people speaking. Children will acquire the sound. You can imagine, children can learn standard English or Mandarin, they can also learn the dialects. Children imitate. So we should set good model and recordings for them to imitate. So play the good recordings at home, and children will unconsciously become musically sensitive.
2) Importance of tonalization. Tonalization is coined by Suzuki, which means the quality of the voice. The purpose of tonalization is to develop a beautiful singing tone.
C) Family method: the triangle of student, teacher and parents:
Parents play very important role in Suzuki’s method. He mentioned: lessons are taken once or twice a week and are very short. The other six days, children practice at home. “ABILITY is developed by home practice.”
1) To motivate the children to practice even more, both the parents and teacher must praise the child “how hard and well you are practicing these days.” This is the point in psychology not only applied to music or instrument study, but every type of education.
2) Always believe that every child can be educated. Never have prejudices like. Parents also must believe that children can learn. People become and maintained confidence that children can be educated. I would say, inherent talent only play a very small role. Furthermore, Only with training, the children’s potential will reveal and only with training, children can do whatever better than they have inherited.
3) Parent is the home teacher. The parent attends all lessons, takes notes, and receives instruction. It is never too late to learn. It would be the best if Parents learn before or together with the children. It is the best way to motivate children. It is also a good way in communicating with children. Parents will understand the difficulties children are facing. Parents might learn slightly faster than their children, and therefore easier to do home tutoring every day.
Remember, Suzuki method focuses on the total well-being and self-esteem of children, not the musical product. Learning is blocked by result or criticism or pressure. Teachers and parents should provide safe and joyful learning environment.
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