The Suzuki Method, cont.
History of the Suzuki Method
Suzuki's work was interrupted by World War II, and after its end he was determined to bring
the beauty of music to the bleak lives of his nation's children. He began teaching at a small
school in Matsumoto, working to develop a sequential repertoire that would present musical
and technical points in a logical manner. Within a few years Suzuki's students were amazing
listeners with their abilities.
The Talent Education movement grew as other teachers studied with Suzuki and began to teach
throughout Japan. The program expanded as teachers of different instruments became interested
in Suzuki's approach, and materials were developed for cello, piano and flute. Over the
years, thousands of Japanese children have received Suzuki training at the Talent Education
Institute in Matsumoto or one of the branch schools in other cities.
In 1958 a Japanese student at Oberlin College brought a film of Suzuki's young students
performing in a national concert. American string teachers became intrigued with the results
of Suzuki's method and began to visit Japan to learn more about his work.
Interest intensified in 1964 when Suzuki brought a group of students to tour the U.S. and
perform at a joint meeting of the American String Teachers Association and the Music
Educators National Conference. The method began to flourish in the U.S. with visits of
American teachers to Japan, performances of Japanese tour groups, and the growth of hundreds
of Suzuki programs across the country.
Dr. Suzuki did not develop his method in order to produce professional musicians but to help
children fulfill their capabilities as human beings. As he has said, "Teaching music is not
my main purpose. I want to make good citizens, noble human beings. If a child hears fine
music from the day of his birth, and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity,
discipline and endurance. He gets a beautiful heart."
Through his life and work, Dr. Suzuki inspired thousands of parents and teachers in more than
forty countries in Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa and the Americas to nurture loving human
beings through the mother-tongue approach to music education. In the supportive environment
fostered by the Suzuki method, children learn to enjoy music and develop confidence,
self-esteem, self-discipline, concentration, and the determination to try difficult
things-qualities that are sorely needed in our time. As Pablo Casals remarked
after hearing Suzuki children play, "Perhaps it is music that will save the world."
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