EMILY CAMPBELL

The Suzuki method of violin playing was brought to the U.S. from Japan by music educators in the 1970s. Shinichi Suzuki was a Japanese violinist/pedagogue who 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 philosophy of Suzuki's mother-tongue approach includes realizing every child can learn, creating a positive, supportive learning environment, encouraging noble human values and encouraging positive personal, social and educational values.

As a Suzuki teacher, I follow these principles:

Educate the parent in violin playing, and in how to provide a positive, nurturing musical environment.

Teach small step instruction of each skill, and reinforce mastery of each skill in weekly private lessons

Teach bi-monthly group lessons where we review the repertoire to develop technical skills and musical expression.

Promote daily listening and aural exposure to Suzuki repertoire and other good music.

Help the students develop good posture and basic technique before introducing note reading.

Teach repertoire in addition to the Suzuki repertoire to help motivate each student.

I strive to nurture in my students a sense of confidence and a manner of kindness and sensitivity to beauty.

If you are interested in Suzuki violin lessons, the first step is to observe in my studio. Once your child is enrolled in private lessons, you will have group lessons every other week and performances at least twice a year. The parent will attend all lessons with the child and will model the home practice after the activities and focus of the lesson. The parents’ role at home is to provide an environment that nurtures the child’s ability – this means daily practice, listening, and attending live concerts.