About the Suzuki Method
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki 1898-1998
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki was born in Nagoya, Japan. His father owned a violin factory where Dr. Suzuki spent his younger years. At the age of 26, he moved to study in Germany under Karl Klinger. While there he lived with Albert Einstein (who also played the violin) and met his wife Waltraud Prange Suzuki.
When he returned home to Japan, he formed a string quartet with his brothers and had a teaching position at the Imperial School of Music and at the Kunitachi Music School in Tokyo.
In World War II his father's violin shop was destroyed and he worked making airplane parts to help his family who was left with nothing. It was there in the streets of Tokyo that Dr. Suzuki began teaching orphan children and his "Mother Tongue Method" began to take root. He believed that any child could learn to play the violin the same way that they learn how to speak. Listening to the music and repetition, repetition, repetition are the foundation of the Suzuki Method.
Dr. Suzuki moved to Matsumoto, Japan with his wife Waltraud and founded the Talent Education Research Institute in Matsumoto and taught students and teachers there and out of his home. Dr. Suzuki died at the age of 99 and his home has been converted into a museum.
Who knew that the Suzuki Method would spread around the world and take off as it has. The Method now includes violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, harp, guitar, voice, organ and recorder.
As Pablo Casals said after seeing Dr. Suzuki with his students, "Perhaps it is music that will save the world."
For more information about the Suzuki Method please go to the "suggested Suzuki sites" tab.
When he returned home to Japan, he formed a string quartet with his brothers and had a teaching position at the Imperial School of Music and at the Kunitachi Music School in Tokyo.
In World War II his father's violin shop was destroyed and he worked making airplane parts to help his family who was left with nothing. It was there in the streets of Tokyo that Dr. Suzuki began teaching orphan children and his "Mother Tongue Method" began to take root. He believed that any child could learn to play the violin the same way that they learn how to speak. Listening to the music and repetition, repetition, repetition are the foundation of the Suzuki Method.
Dr. Suzuki moved to Matsumoto, Japan with his wife Waltraud and founded the Talent Education Research Institute in Matsumoto and taught students and teachers there and out of his home. Dr. Suzuki died at the age of 99 and his home has been converted into a museum.
Who knew that the Suzuki Method would spread around the world and take off as it has. The Method now includes violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, harp, guitar, voice, organ and recorder.
As Pablo Casals said after seeing Dr. Suzuki with his students, "Perhaps it is music that will save the world."
For more information about the Suzuki Method please go to the "suggested Suzuki sites" tab.