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Behaviour/development

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Original poster

Does anyone know about the suzuki violin method ??

17 replies

mummyloveslucy · 08/08/2008 20:04

I've heared that they teach violin to children as young as 3. My daughter is 3.5 and loves music. Her music teacher has said that she has amazing rythem and pitch for her age.
Do any of you have a child learning this method? I'd be really greatful for any info. Thanks.

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snorkle · 08/08/2008 20:39

One of ds's friends (now 14) learns this way. She started very young and is very, very good. She has never done exams, but will do grade 8 very soon and has played in National Childrens Orchestras and County Youth orchestra etc etc. I know the philosophy is that any child can learn - they don't believe that some children 'are musical' and other aren't. It needs a lot of parental involvement, especially in the early years which many people would find too onerous. The children get lots of performance opportunities (even just going on stage and taking a bow to start with). There is a lot of scope for performing in groups which is fun. Criticisms of the method (and there are some people who are fiercly anti it) are mostly that the children learn by ear in the early stages and sometimes don't therefore learn to read music well - also that their playing can be rather automatic and not expressive enough. None of this is true of ds's friend and I suspect is more due to the age of the players rather than an inherent problem with the approach (ie generally children aren't very expressive in music until they get older)

Original poster

mummyloveslucy · 08/08/2008 20:47

Thanks a lot snorkle. It sounds good. My daughter's teachers and music teacher at nursery have all commented on how she seems to come to life with music. When she was a tiny baby she enjoyed classical music and swayed her hads around to piano solos. That seemed to be her favourite.
Do you know if there are any teachers in Devon and how much it costs ?

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snorkle · 08/08/2008 21:05

mll, I don't really know all that much about it, but the UK suzuki website has much more info and a list of teachers by region.

Original poster

mummyloveslucy · 08/08/2008 21:07

Thank you.

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constancereader · 08/08/2008 21:07

my dh first learned the violin by this method, and still plays professionally now. He only had suzuki lessons for about a year as they moved away from the teacher. He was older than your dd. He says it was a great start for him.

frisbyrat · 08/08/2008 21:14

I learned this way and loved it.

TooTicky · 08/08/2008 21:17

I learned this way and loved it. It is great because you learn to play by ear. Also good because you get together with other children for "play togethers". Well worth doing.

frisbyrat · 08/08/2008 21:24

Snap, TooTicky!

Love the name, btw. There're a lot of Moominish names about, aren't there?

TooTicky · 08/08/2008 21:26

Yes, it's nice to know there are more moomin-mad people....

farfaraway · 08/08/2008 21:57

dd1 has had 3yrs of piano yamaha method which has similar approach.Very good for young ages and DD1 enjoyed, thrived in lessons. DD2 (3yrs) due to start suzuki violin in september. I hope she will have fun and enjoy music.

UniS · 09/08/2008 20:39

I beleive "Exeter young strings" use a similar method. they start kids very young, 3 or 4.
Maybe your in this bit of devon. If your in beacon heath/ whipton ish area then Exeter Young Strings are doing a weekly term time session at the childrens centres with under 5s. Music genrally rather than pure strings, a good intro to their work however.

Ceolas · 09/08/2008 20:44

My 2 DDs have been learning with a Suzuki teacher but started when they were 5. DS will be starting next term (also aged 5). Our teacher encouraged us to come and meet her and observe a lesson before starting. Maybe you could do this?

Costs me a flippin fortune but we all enjoy it!

Original poster

mummyloveslucy · 10/08/2008 17:31

Oh yes, important question. How much does it cost approx ?

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Original poster

mummyloveslucy · 10/08/2008 17:33

I do live fairly close to Exeter but it would be quite a drive.

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UniS · 10/08/2008 21:10

www.exeteryoungstrings.org/index.php/admin/join_us/

Has the info on where, when , how much.

Ceolas · 10/08/2008 22:28

We pay (for a half hour lesson) £13 for the first child and £10 for the others. Not ridiculous, but when you have more than one it always seems worse!

They have an individual lesson each week and a group lesson every couple of months. I know some teachers do groups much more frequently. There are also a couple of weekend workshops a year which you are strongly encouraged to attend. These are about £60.

devonsuzuki · 24/01/2009 22:57

Hi, just in case you're still looking for a suzuki teacher in Devon - I am one. I teach violin and am a qualified suzuki teacher living and working in Torquay. I'm not sure where you are but in case you want to discuss the suzuki method or come and observe a lesson (which is what all potential suzuki parents and children do before starting), please give me a call on 07973 412131. My name's Sophie Tarleton and I'm listed on the British Suzuki Institute website.

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