Running running walk walk...

[HelenM]

No, it's not exercise - well, it is, but it's also the first rhythm you learn in the Suzuki method of learning to play an instrument.

This evening I accompanied 4 young violinists playing their "Twinkle Variations Graduation" and one who was doing her "Suzuki Book 1 Graduation". I'm glad it all went well...I always get a little nervous that I'll mess up and in doing so mess them up...

These are students of my kids' violin teacher, but my own children weren't there. They are past this point. Esther is playing a piece in Book 6 and Ben is working on the last movement of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and the solo in the first movement of Spring in The Four Seasons by Vivaldi. (He's also working on the 1st movement of Mozart's 27th piano concerto, which is a wonderful piece of music). I've pretty much given up trying to accompany Ben because the piano parts are too hard now. I have to hire a professional instead...

Helen

[Ymir's blood]

When I saw the title of the thread, I thought about mentioning the treadmill I just got (used from my parents) but now realize that would be off topic, so I won't. :trampol:

[Ymir's blood]

When I was maybe ten or so, I persuaded my parents to let me sign up for music classes at school. Like everything else, it turned into a collossal crapfest and I didn't learn anything. It is something I've always regretted. :blah:

[Goliath]

Actually when I saw the thread title, I was going to bring up a joke that I thought of years ago when I saw a poster for the "MS Walk" (MS meaning Multiple Sclerosis...basically the walk was to gather money to help fight MS). Anyways, I thought of the most moronic Microsoft OS ever: MS Walk. It's just like binary, except "0" is replaced with "Left" and "1" is replaced with "Right".

Oh wait...I guess I did bring up that joke, after all. :doh: :D

[AspenMama]

Esther is playing a piece in Book 6 and Ben is working on the last movement of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and the solo in the first movement of Spring in The Four Seasons by Vivaldi. (He's also working on the 1st movement of Mozart's 27th piano concerto, which is a wonderful piece of music). I've pretty much given up trying to accompany Ben because the piano parts are too hard now. I have to hire a professional instead...

Helen

Awesome! Sounds like a very musical family!

[viscousmemories]

No, it's not exercise - well, it is, but it's also the first rhythm you learn in the Suzuki method of learning to play an instrument.

This evening I accompanied 4 young violinists playing their "Twinkle Variations Graduation" and one who was doing her "Suzuki Book 1 Graduation". I'm glad it all went well...I always get a little nervous that I'll mess up and in doing so mess them up...
I had to read that a few times before I realized that by "accompanied" you meant you played the piano while they played their violins. I thought you just meant you went with them, and then I couldn't figure out how you might've messed them up. Ahem. Anyway.

These are students of my kids' violin teacher, but my own children weren't there. They are past this point. Esther is playing a piece in Book 6 and Ben is working on the last movement of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and the solo in the first movement of Spring in The Four Seasons by Vivaldi. (He's also working on the 1st movement of Mozart's 27th piano concerto, which is a wonderful piece of music). I've pretty much given up trying to accompany Ben because the piano parts are too hard now. I have to hire a professional instead...
Good for them. I don't know much about classical music, but I'm a big fan of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. It's one of few classical CD's I own. :)

[Bella]

What do you think of the Suzuki method? As a pianist who learnt the Russian technique (a la Rubenstein et cetera - which means your teacher smacks you with a ruler when you fuck up, hahaha) I was always taught that it was a load of c-r-a-p. I've read about it since leaving the field and I still don't really understand why it's supposed to be the #1 way to teach music.

[HelenM]

What do you think of the Suzuki method? As a pianist who learnt the Russian technique (a la Rubenstein et cetera - which means your teacher smacks you with a ruler when you fuck up, hahaha) I was always taught that it was a load of c-r-a-p. I've read about it since leaving the field and I still don't really understand why it's supposed to be the #1 way to teach music.

I learned violin and piano by traditional methods, but when I was in youth orchestra there were some very good violinists who learned by the Suzuki method - so that disposed me in its favor, probably, although I knew nothing about it.

My children learn Suzuki violin but a traditional piano method (Louise Robyn books - there are an incredible number of technique books in this method!) and both teachers are very good. Both teachers teach more technique than I was taught growing up and I've learned things from being at their lessons that I never learned in my own lessons.

From my own observations, I don't think the key to success is the method the teacher uses, per se. I what matters is that the teachers teach technical basics well and relate well to the children, and the children are willing to practice fairly consistently. I read some of Suzuki's own book and what I like is that he thinks any child can learn to play quite well, if taught correctly. I like that optimism.

The violin teacher doesn't use 'pure' Suzuki; for example, in 'pure' Suzuki, note-reading is not taught, or not taught until later, which is silly, because being able to read music is essential when children are old enough to be in school orchestra, which where I live happens in 4th grade. And he thinks that the books are too baroque-heavy after book 4 so he lets the children choose other pieces to play if they want to. But all his beginners start with the Suzuki repertoire.

What don't you like about the Suzuki method? (Maybe I don't like it either)

vm, I like the Four Seasons too. The string orchestra composed of students of my kids' violin teacher (plus some local young cellists) is going to play the whole of it in the December concert, with various violinists from the orchestra doing the solos - as I said, my son has one of them. Anyway, I joined their orchestra too, as of this fall, so I will be playing in the concert too. I'm not having lessons at present but their teacher had extended an open invitation for me to play in the orchestra a while ago and I finally accepted. I asked my daughter if she wanted me to join and she said yes, so we are stand partners now :)

Helen

[Bella]

When you teach a child to speak, you first speak to him so he gets used to the words. Then you have him mimic what you say and correct him when he's wrong. Finally he can string sentences together - he realises that words have meaning. At the end of the process, the child can not only communicate clearly, but read and write as well - understanding that speaking, reading, and writing are all different forms of the same thing.

This is how, in my opinion, the Suzuki method tries to teach music to kids. First they have to learn that the violin makes noise. Then they just have to hold the bow correctly. Then play one note. Et cetera, et cetera. These basics are important, don't get me wrong, but I think that music theory (note-reading, time and key signatures, blah blah) are very important to musicality and should be included at the same time that technique is taught.

I think the Suzuki method might work well for someone who is recreationally learning an instrument (or learning very young) because it goes slowly and is laid out in a manner that is very systematic. I'm of the mindset, however, that music should be taught all at the same level - no matter if you want to be Rubenstein or accompany your church choir, you should be taught everything, and you decide when to stop when you've reached whatever goal you've set for yourself. I don't think that everyone learns the same way - a good teacher, IMHO, tailors the curriculum to fit the needs and desires of the student.