FAQ
1. How does Suzuki Approach differ from other methods of teaching music to children?
Suzuki offers an immersive method for learning and growing as a young musician. In Suzuki we believe that all children can learn the language of music just as they learn the language of their culture.
2. In Suzuki, you encourage children to start music lessons as young as 3.
Can you give me some guidelines to decide if my child is ready?
Here are some questions you can ask yourself.
*Is s/he showing enthusiastic interest in learning to play an instrument?
*Can s/he follow directions and focus on learning a task for short periods?
*Is s/he willing to take instruction from another grown up( a teacher) and parent?
*Do you have enough time in both parent and child's schedule to devote to study an instrument?
We encourage you to read a great article on this topic, by a violin teacher, Christen Goodner in her blog, www.suzukitriangle.com/ready-lessons/.
3. I am concerned if my child ( 3 or 4 year) is going to be able to sit through and have a strong focus throughout the 30 min. lesson?
Suzuki teaching is ideally adapted to the needs of the young child. It is particularly concerned with motivation, understanding of child development and psychology. Suzuki teachers are well aware of the fact that a young child's attention span is short( as short as few minutes at a time!). The goal is to build it a little bit at a time. Young children in our program learns through fun games, rituals and carefully planned small steps.
4. My child is 9 year old. Is my child too old to join the Suzuki program?
You are never too old to start learning a musical instrument. We have had many successes with children who joined our program at various ages and in various levels of playing. We try to find the best setting for each child to thrive.
5. I understand Parent involvement is a crucial element in Suzuki approach. What is my role as a Suzuki parent?
As when a child learns to talk, parents are involved in the musical learning of their child. parents in our Suzuki program take an active role in the learning process, attending each lesson and helping the child practice at home every day (until the child is old enough for independent study, usually around 4th,5th,6th grade). Parents of beginners learn the basics of the instrument first. Yes, before the children start their own lessons! This is done so the parent understands what is involved in the child's early learning experience. If parents know how to do something, they are better equipped to help their children learn.
Parents work with the teacher to create a positive and nurturing learning environment at home. Further, children love to do what the people around them do, so when children see their parents learning to play, they will ask to play too.
Being a successful Suzuki parent does not depend on any previous knowledge of music. (Even parents who might have considered themselves not musical find that when listening has become a part of daily life, they hum, sing, and recognize the tunes on the recording.) All that is necessary is the belief in your child, the desire to help them develop, and the time to dedicate to daily practice and lessons.
6. What are the steps I should take to enroll my child in the Suzuki program at The Brooklyn Music Studio?
For Beginner Students
Parents must attend an Orientation first. Orientations are held throughout the year. After that, we encourage you to observe some classes, and attend a family interview with your child.
Admission is dependent upon a combination of factors encompassing both parent and child. Parents should come to a full understanding of the responsibilities and commitments involved in this form of musical education. In potential students, evidence of ability to follow simple instructions given at the interview and being potty-trained are key factors that are observed.
For Transfer Students
Students are considered for transfer if they have already begun instrumental study.
Parents are still encouraged to attend an Orientation.
Transfer students will be asked to attend a combination interview/audition where they should come prepared to play a polished piece representing their ability on the instrument. The audition helps the School place transfer students in appropriate level classes.
7. I don't know what instrument my child should study. Do I need to have an instrument now to join the program?
At the family interview, your child get to see demonstration of all instruments that are offered in our program. In most cases, children express a strong interest on a particular instrument and that is what we recommend them to study.
For String Instrument: Please don’t buy a violin, viola or cello for your child until you have met with your teacher. Correct sizing & quality is very important. The teachers will guide you to choose a right instrument. We are a official drop off site for Johnson String Instrument based in MA. They provide a superb quality service for our students.
For Piano: Our policy is to have a real piano at home. (no digital, no electric keyboard) We will guide you through the various ways to acquire a piano such as monthly rental, rent to own or purchase program at different piano dealers.
7. What are the classes will my child attend? And, what classes will I attended as Suzuki parent? When do I know my schedule?
Group, Theory, and Private Lesson are all included in your tuition. Attendance is required in all classes for both Suzuki parent and the child. If you are a parent of a beginner student, you will also be attending a weekly 1 hour class parent class on a weekday evening (Just for the first semester of your child’s first year in the program) in addition to your child’s classes.
Specific schedules are available around July or August for the new academic year. We do our best to accommodate individual requests for class times.
*The Suzuki parent is the parent who attends the parents' class, child's lesson and helps the child with practice at home.
Here is an example of a typical schedule for a first year student.
e.g.) Jane, age 4
Private lesson(30 min.) Monday 3-3:30 pm
Group and Theory (30 min.& 30 min. back to back) Saturday 9:30-10:30 am
Note: The parent of Jane attends an one hour parents' class weekly for first 15 week, usually taking place on a weekday evening, 8-9 pm.
8. Do Suzuki students learn to read music?
Music reading is an essential and foremost important part of music study. Reading is taught, but only after basic playing skills, good posture and good tone have been mastered. This does mean that for some period, the child's playing ability might be ahead of reading skills. Eventually the reading ability develops to the same level. Exactly the same process is found in the language ability of primary school children, whose fluency in spoken language is normally considerably in advance of their reading and writing skills. Suzuki student learn to read excellently. As their playing skills and reading skills grow, our students participate in various musical activities outside of our program such as chamber music, youth orchestra, jazz band and summer music institutes throughout the county.
9. Is Suzuki just for preparing students for a career in music?
We aim, through the development of excellent musical skills, to develop character and sensitivity which will benefit a person no matter what their ultimate path in life.
"Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens.
If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance.
They get beautiful heart."
-Shinichi Suzuki
.
Suzuki offers an immersive method for learning and growing as a young musician. In Suzuki we believe that all children can learn the language of music just as they learn the language of their culture.
- Suzuki teachers believe that musical ability can be developed in all children.
- Students begin at young ages.
- Parents play an active role in the learning process.
- Children become comfortable with the instrument before learning to read music.
- Technique is taught in the context of pieces rather than through dry technical exercises.
- Pieces are refined through constant review.
- Students perform frequently, individually and in groups.
2. In Suzuki, you encourage children to start music lessons as young as 3.
Can you give me some guidelines to decide if my child is ready?
Here are some questions you can ask yourself.
*Is s/he showing enthusiastic interest in learning to play an instrument?
*Can s/he follow directions and focus on learning a task for short periods?
*Is s/he willing to take instruction from another grown up( a teacher) and parent?
*Do you have enough time in both parent and child's schedule to devote to study an instrument?
We encourage you to read a great article on this topic, by a violin teacher, Christen Goodner in her blog, www.suzukitriangle.com/ready-lessons/.
3. I am concerned if my child ( 3 or 4 year) is going to be able to sit through and have a strong focus throughout the 30 min. lesson?
Suzuki teaching is ideally adapted to the needs of the young child. It is particularly concerned with motivation, understanding of child development and psychology. Suzuki teachers are well aware of the fact that a young child's attention span is short( as short as few minutes at a time!). The goal is to build it a little bit at a time. Young children in our program learns through fun games, rituals and carefully planned small steps.
4. My child is 9 year old. Is my child too old to join the Suzuki program?
You are never too old to start learning a musical instrument. We have had many successes with children who joined our program at various ages and in various levels of playing. We try to find the best setting for each child to thrive.
5. I understand Parent involvement is a crucial element in Suzuki approach. What is my role as a Suzuki parent?
As when a child learns to talk, parents are involved in the musical learning of their child. parents in our Suzuki program take an active role in the learning process, attending each lesson and helping the child practice at home every day (until the child is old enough for independent study, usually around 4th,5th,6th grade). Parents of beginners learn the basics of the instrument first. Yes, before the children start their own lessons! This is done so the parent understands what is involved in the child's early learning experience. If parents know how to do something, they are better equipped to help their children learn.
Parents work with the teacher to create a positive and nurturing learning environment at home. Further, children love to do what the people around them do, so when children see their parents learning to play, they will ask to play too.
Being a successful Suzuki parent does not depend on any previous knowledge of music. (Even parents who might have considered themselves not musical find that when listening has become a part of daily life, they hum, sing, and recognize the tunes on the recording.) All that is necessary is the belief in your child, the desire to help them develop, and the time to dedicate to daily practice and lessons.
6. What are the steps I should take to enroll my child in the Suzuki program at The Brooklyn Music Studio?
For Beginner Students
Parents must attend an Orientation first. Orientations are held throughout the year. After that, we encourage you to observe some classes, and attend a family interview with your child.
Admission is dependent upon a combination of factors encompassing both parent and child. Parents should come to a full understanding of the responsibilities and commitments involved in this form of musical education. In potential students, evidence of ability to follow simple instructions given at the interview and being potty-trained are key factors that are observed.
For Transfer Students
Students are considered for transfer if they have already begun instrumental study.
Parents are still encouraged to attend an Orientation.
Transfer students will be asked to attend a combination interview/audition where they should come prepared to play a polished piece representing their ability on the instrument. The audition helps the School place transfer students in appropriate level classes.
7. I don't know what instrument my child should study. Do I need to have an instrument now to join the program?
At the family interview, your child get to see demonstration of all instruments that are offered in our program. In most cases, children express a strong interest on a particular instrument and that is what we recommend them to study.
For String Instrument: Please don’t buy a violin, viola or cello for your child until you have met with your teacher. Correct sizing & quality is very important. The teachers will guide you to choose a right instrument. We are a official drop off site for Johnson String Instrument based in MA. They provide a superb quality service for our students.
For Piano: Our policy is to have a real piano at home. (no digital, no electric keyboard) We will guide you through the various ways to acquire a piano such as monthly rental, rent to own or purchase program at different piano dealers.
7. What are the classes will my child attend? And, what classes will I attended as Suzuki parent? When do I know my schedule?
Group, Theory, and Private Lesson are all included in your tuition. Attendance is required in all classes for both Suzuki parent and the child. If you are a parent of a beginner student, you will also be attending a weekly 1 hour class parent class on a weekday evening (Just for the first semester of your child’s first year in the program) in addition to your child’s classes.
Specific schedules are available around July or August for the new academic year. We do our best to accommodate individual requests for class times.
*The Suzuki parent is the parent who attends the parents' class, child's lesson and helps the child with practice at home.
Here is an example of a typical schedule for a first year student.
e.g.) Jane, age 4
Private lesson(30 min.) Monday 3-3:30 pm
Group and Theory (30 min.& 30 min. back to back) Saturday 9:30-10:30 am
Note: The parent of Jane attends an one hour parents' class weekly for first 15 week, usually taking place on a weekday evening, 8-9 pm.
8. Do Suzuki students learn to read music?
Music reading is an essential and foremost important part of music study. Reading is taught, but only after basic playing skills, good posture and good tone have been mastered. This does mean that for some period, the child's playing ability might be ahead of reading skills. Eventually the reading ability develops to the same level. Exactly the same process is found in the language ability of primary school children, whose fluency in spoken language is normally considerably in advance of their reading and writing skills. Suzuki student learn to read excellently. As their playing skills and reading skills grow, our students participate in various musical activities outside of our program such as chamber music, youth orchestra, jazz band and summer music institutes throughout the county.
9. Is Suzuki just for preparing students for a career in music?
We aim, through the development of excellent musical skills, to develop character and sensitivity which will benefit a person no matter what their ultimate path in life.
"Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens.
If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance.
They get beautiful heart."
-Shinichi Suzuki
.
