He first applied "Talent Education" at Tokyo in 1942 and in 1947 opened The Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan. Commonly referred to as "The Suzuki Method" this teaching style is popular throughout the world, and has been adapted to include musical training in various instruments.
In Calgary there are violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, flute and piano available in the Suzuki Methods. Elsewhere there is also harp and recorder.
"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."
Dr Suzuki says: "5,000 times if we need it, but maybe you will only need 3,000 times."
"Ability is the problem of the physiology of the brain. Please clearly understand that repeated practice of what one is capable of doing is the principle of fostering outstanding ability. I tell a student, after he has learned to play a piece, 'Now that your preparation is complete let's practice in order to build your ability. The lesson is just beginning.' Some mothers think that going to the next piece means becoming more advanced. But the key point of Suzuki education is to foster fine ability, and this is created with an old, familiar piece that the student can already play. If this method is carried out correctly, every child will grow splendidly.
Ability is developed through repeated practice. This means that ability is developed in direct proportion to the amount of practice. Also, children should practice willingly. It is most important to motivate them. This motivation depends on the teacher's skill in motivating the parents and children during lessons. Also at home, parents should help children to practice willingly every day by praising them. A combination of the teacher's and parents' efforts is necessary.
From a beautiful heart comes a beautiful sound..."
Her entire life was devoted to her husband's teaching and leadership. She accompanied him on almost all of his journeys, sometimes taking an active speaking role, mostly just being there to hold his hand.
Her remarkable achievement was her carefully researched and written translation of "Nurtured by Love" from erudite, difficult Japanese into its conversational tone in English.
She was quoted as saying that as pleasant and kind as Shinichi appeared to be in public, so was he exactly the same in private.
Together they have left behind an unforgettable and long-reaching legacy.
"It was said of Albert Einstein traveled to physics conferences, he looked more like an itinerant musician than a scientist. Einstein was a friend of Shinichi Suzuki, the Japanese pedagogue who visited Germany as a young student to study violin and later developed a programme the goal of which was to promote happiness in Japanese children".
Anonymous
"It seems to me that Einstein may not have come up with the theory of relativity if he didn't play the violin. The violin has a universe within a small space...as anyone who has ever tried to play one of those incredible instruments can tell you. What with a ruler, is millimeters in physical distance, is meters in practice. And yet with more practice, becomes no distance at all".
Kristin F. Henry
"If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.... I get most joy in life out of music."
Albert Einstein
