The Suzuki Talent Education movement was founded in Japan in the 1940’s by Shinichi Suzuki, and since then it has spread around the world.  Suzuki, lived and taught in Matsumoto, Japan, until his death in 1998, at the age of 99.  His philosophy of education is based on the belief that we are products of our environment, and that we all have enormous potential for learning. The Suzuki approach has been applied to the teaching of mathematics, language and other subjects in addition to many musical instruments including violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, flute, and guitar.

The Suzuki approach has been called the “mother tongue method because Suzuki based his approach to learning music on how young children learn a language -- by listening and imitation.  Children began to play music as early as three years of age, and absorb the language of music along with the technique of playing their instrument.  Just as in language development children learn to speak before learning to read, Suzuki students learn to hear and play music before they learn to read it.

The child’s parents are actively involved in the learning process, coming to lessons, practising with the children at home, and often learning to play themselves.

Suzuki students learn a set repertoire, with each instrument having its own carefully structured progression of pieces.  Children have heard the pieces many times on their recording before learning to play them.  They continue to review previously learned pieces, and thus refine their technique and musicality.

Suzuki’s goal was not only to develop fine musicians, but also to nurture children into sensitive human beings.