Suzuki

More than fifty years ago, Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki realized the implications of the fact that children the world over learn to speak their native language with ease. He began to apply the basic principles of language acquisition to the learning of music, and called his method the mother-tongue approach. The ideas of parent responsibility, loving encouragement, constant repetition, etc., are some of the special features of the Suzuki approach. 

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I approach students with a traditional and Suzuki mindset. My younger kids start with a Suzuki foundation and then can be supplemented with additional resources. Older kids will get a mix of Suzuki concepts within their lesson as well as traditional methods and pieces. My adult students may go through some of the basic concepts of Suzuki, but after Book 1 we start other works that are in both the Suzuki music repertoire AND traditional repertoire. Many works are highly used through multiple pedagogies in string teaching!

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Suzuki Training

In the Summer of 2017, I travelled to the Chicago Suzuki Institute to receive my training for Book 1 in the Suzuki Program. The Institute in Chicago is know for having excellent trainers specifically for cello. My Book 1 Trainer was with Barbara Wampner. I continued my training in the Spring of 2018 and studied with Melissa Kraut from the Cleveland Institute of Music when she came to Stillwater for our Cellofest. I continued my cello training with Shu-Yi Scott in Spring of 2020 for Units 3 through 6. Shu-Yi was very foundational in guiding students through the entire repetoire. I hope to complete all 8 books and additional training throughout my music career. Here is a breakdown of all the training I have received:

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Book 1: Barbara Wampner

Book 2: Melissa Kraut

Book 3: Shu-Yi Scott

Book 4: Shu-Yi Scott

Book 5: Shu-Yi Scott

Book 6: Shu-Yi Scott

Teaching Strategies: Shu-Yi Scott

Multi-Level Group Class: Shu-Yi Scott

Suzuki Principles in Action(SPA): Patricia D'Ercole

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