Well, I've made the plunge! Thursday I became not only a soccer mom to Blake, but a Suzuki mom to Parker. No, I didn't buy a very expensive 4-wheel-drive station wagon. No, I didn't buy him a tiny little motorcycle.
What is a Suzuki mom? The Suzuki method of music education is a method geared toward the very young. From the reading I've done, you're apparently supposed to begin at about 4 months gestation. The method adopts the principles used in language-learning to the learning of music. It uses LOTS of repetition and LOTS of listening. Basically, the child learns to play by ear.
Parker and I are terribly excited.
My Little Twinkler and I go every Thursday morning for a group music class, where 8-10 2-4-year-olds sing scales and songs, dance, and bang away on children's instruments. Parker loves it. On Thursday nights, we'll go to concerts and see older children play "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" OVER AND OVER AND OVER. . .
At home between classes, we listen to CDs of the songs used in the classes. One song at a time, OVER AND OVER AND OVER. . .
In a year or so, we'll choose an instrument for Parker to begin learning. We can choose violin, viola, cello, guitar, piano, flute, or recorder.
I resisted the idea for awhile, because I didn't want to turn into the Martha Stewart of motherhood (a typical neurotic perfectionist) or push my kids too hard. Actually, it's not like that at all. The whole method is based on encouragement and celebrating the tiniest accomplishments.
Parker and I are terribly excited. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to put the CD on REPEAT . . .AGAIN.
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3 comments:
Just want to encourage you in your efforts as a Suzuki mom. I am the result of a great Suzuki mom! My mom not only took me to years of lessons, but carefully took notes there to help me learn and practice the violin at home. I started Suzuki a little older than your boy (maybe 6 or 7) but I think it was the best way for me to learn. To this day I am able to jump into many bands and quickly catch on because of the ability to learn the music on the spot, by ear.
And by the way, I think the Suzuki method is about the least Martha-Stewart-Mom-ish thing you could do!
Way to go :)
Cam, This is so neat, this blog stuff. I was a Suzuki 'grandma' for 6 years with my granddaughter. She was about 6 when she started and moved up to the middle of book two before she decided that she wanted to do flute and piccalo, instead. Having taking the Suzuki method for so many years has helped her in almost every aspect of her life.
P.S. Blake has grown up so much in three years. What a fine young man. And Parker is adorable. Thanks for making it possible to share your photos. Love and Blessing to you and your family, Bonnie
I was just thinking of the movie "The Music Man." Did you ever watch it? He had the "think system" where the boys in the band didn't actually play the instruments at first, they just thought about the song "la dee da dee da dee da, la dee da, la dee da". This sounds a lot like that. I wonder which came first the movie or the Suzuki method? :)
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