Shin'ichi Suzuki (October 17, 1898 - January 26, 1998) was the creator of the international Suzuki method of music education.
Considered to be one of the most influential pedagogues of the 20th century, he often spoke about the ability of all children to learn things well, given the right environment.
"Any child who is properly trained can develop musical ability, just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential of every child is unlimited."
"Where love is deep, much can be accomplished."
- Shin'ichi Suzuki
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Great SHIN'ICHI SUZUKI Titles
Biography of SHIN'ICHI SUZUKI
The life lessons of Shin'ichi Suzuki and the philosophies which surrounded him throughout his life were recapitulated in the lessons he developed to teach his students.
Born in Nagoya, Japan in 1898, Shin'ichi Suzuki was surrounded by the sound of violins at his father's violin making factory. Born into a large family, one of seven children, Shin'ichi spent his childhood not learning how to play the violin, but working at the factory putting up violin soundposts. A family friend encouraged Shin'ichi to study Western culture but it wasn't until the age of 17 that he finally taught himself how to play the violin after becoming inspired by a recording of Mischa Elman. He would listen to recordings and try to imitate what he heard.A couple of years later he took his violin to a teacher in Tokyo. At the age of 22, Shin'ichi persuaded his father to allow him to study in Germany, where Karl Klingler eventually became his violin teacher. While there, he spent several years under the guardianship of Albert Einstein. He also met, courted, and married his wife, Waltraud.
Upon his return to Japan, he formed a string quartet with his brothers and began teaching at the Imperial School of Music and at the Kunitachi Music School in Tokyo. During World War II, his father's violin factory was bombed by American war planes and Shin'ichi lost one of his brothers. The family was also left penniless and Shin'ichi decided to leave his teaching positions and move to a nearby city where he constructed parts for wooden airplanes to raise some money.
Poor and hungry, at one point almost dying, he began to teach violin lessons to the orphan children in the outer cities where he lived. He adopted an orphan boy, Matsui, and started to develop his teaching strategies and philosophies. Shin'ichi combined his new practical teaching applications with traditional Asian philosophy.
Shin'ichi Suzuki died at his home in Matsumoto, Japan on January 26, 1998. Students, teachers, and performers all around the world mourned the loss. Robert Klotman said, "With the passing of Shinichi Suzuki, the music world has lost a distinguished philosopher-pedagogue."
He was more than a music pedagogue, Suzuki was a unique human being who was concerned with the emotional welfare of all humanity and used his artistry to further his commitment. His teaching reflected his philosophy that there were no limitations to the capabilities of young people. There have been many emulators, but no one will ever replace him" (Racin, 1998).
Click here to read the entire Wikipedia entry for Shin'ichi Suzuki.
SHIN 'ICHI SUZUKI Videos
Have you heard of SHINICHI SUZUKI, or the Suzuki Method?
Suzuki Resources
Where to find Teachers of Shin'ichi Suzuki's Music Philosophy
- Suzuki Association of the Americas
- The ideas of parent responsibility, loving encouragement, constant repetition, etc., are some of the special features of the Suzuki approach.
- The American Suzuki Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point: The Suzuki Method in Action
- The American Suzuki Institute is held on the UWSP campus each August. It is the oldest and largest of its kind outside of Japan.
- Suzuki Method "STARTUP" PROGRAM
- The Suzuki Music Academy's STARTUP program was created in response to tremendous demand from parents wanting to know the way to give their children the best start for Suzuki Method study.
- Group Lessons: Suzuki Method
- It is possible to learn in a group situation, at least for a while. Perhaps the most successful way of doing this has been the Suzuki Method, which had been operating for about 50 years now.
- THE MUSIC CONNECTION
- The essentials of the Suzuki teaching method are an early beginning, parental participation, and rote learning. The children look, listen, and imitate. There are regular private lessons and group lessons.
Vote for your favorite SHIN 'ICHI SUZUKI stuff
Note Reading for Violin
The Suzuki Method, volumes 1-10. Violin part only. more...1 point
Suzuki Violin School, Violin Part, Volume 2 (Suzuki Violin School, Violin Part)
The Suzuki Method, volumes 1-10. Violin part only. more...0 points
The Suzuki Teaching Philosophy
Shin'ichi Suzuki employed the following ideas of Talent Education to his music schools:
1.The human being is a product of his environment.2. The earlier, the better - not only music, but all learning.
3. Repetition of experiences is important for learning.
4.Teachers and parents (adult human environment) must be at a high level and continue to grow to provide a better learning situation for the child.
5.The system or method must involve illustrations for the child based on the teacher's understanding of when, what, and how. (Kendall, 1966)
The epistemological learning aspect, or as Suzuki called it, the "mother tongue" philosophy, is that in which children learn through their own observation of their environment.
Click here to read the entire Wikipedia entry for Shin'ichi Suzuki.
Suzuki Chic!
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Shin'ichi Suzuki News
Read other peoples' take on Shin'ichi Suzuki
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- Suzuki Method - The Suzuki Method, Shinichi Suzuki
- The Suzuki method, also known as the "mother-tongue approach," is a method of teaching music that stresses the importance of parental influence and involvement.
Find The Suzuki Method Books
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Have you heard of Shin'ichi Suzuki?
badmsm wrote...
Thank you for such a glowing example of what can be done with the Suzuki method. I have two children on the Autistic Spectrum, and I've always had a theory that music lessons would help their condition. As it turns out, I was correct and they are both very musical. They find music an excellent way to express themselves, and a special joy in that expression.
Posted October 06, 2008
dkdaniel wrote...
All my life I have had the most utmost respect for Dr. Suzuki. My father, Harry Kobialka, was a violin teacher in the public schools of Boston, as well as an assistant to Raphael Bronstein at Boston University. This gave him a very diverse approach in teaching, a vast knowledge in all of these different teaching situations and a powerful philosophy in his approach and guidance.
Whether he was teaching a preschool, high school, college, or private student, he approached his work in the Suzuki method, with great passion and commitment, enabling him to succeed in all of his teaching and musical activities. All of this knowledge and achievement led the way to his eventually being on the Board of the International Suzuki Foundation. I thought you might find this interesting, and I think it validates your wonderful lens about Dr. Suzuki.
Posted October 06, 2008
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
For such a great lens I'm sending you virtual Star Games and Activities. I can hardly wait to read the rest of your lenses.
Posted February 17, 2008
badmsm wrote...
My daughter is currently learning piano with the Suzuki Method (as am I!) She has made a great deal of progress in a very short time.
Posted January 26, 2008
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