Suzuki Flute Lessons in North Austin
WHAT IS THE SUZUKI METHOD?
The Suzuki method is an approach to music education that mirrors language learning - the way a child learns their mother tongue. Suzuki flute students can start as young as 4 years old, with active parent involvement to learn alongside the student and guide the young learner at home. Kids this young can learn to produce a beautiful tone and excel at playing songs and chamber music, setting them up for a lifetime of joyful music-making!
Beautiful Tone, Beautiful Heart
Music can save the world. Violinist Shinichi Suzuki developed the Suzuki method in the wake of WWII, so that all children could know beauty and value it, and grow into adults who would no longer make war. "How could you hurt another human being, create war, when you know that that human being is capable of creating beauty?" Learning to play the flute (or any instrument) with the Suzuki method develops character, kindness and respect, perseverance, and self-confidence. Suzuki teachers aim to help students become good citizens of the world.
Every Child Can
Any child can learn to play beautifully! Suzuki teachers believe that talent is not inherited, but nurtured. The smaller the child, the smaller the learning steps: we break things down into small enough chunks that the student can be successful, to make sure they are mastering skills at every level. Once beautiful tone is consistently produced, we begin to master repertoire.
Training the Ear
Suzuki students who have been training for a few years are known for their beautiful tone, memorization skills, ability to play by ear, and their catalogue of their repertoire that can be played whenever an impromptu concert opportunity arises (visiting grandparents, having friends over, etc)! These skills are developed through the method's focus on aural skills, repetition and review, regular listening to flute recordings, and performance practice.
SUZUKI STUDENTS LEARN THROUGH...
Private Lessons
Students attend a weekly private flute lesson with their parent. Parent, teacher, and student focus on the student's learning together.
Group Classes
Once a month, in place of a private lesson, students attend a small group flute class. Here students develop skills like music literacy, theory, self-correction, and ensemble skills. They reinforce skills from lessons like rhythm, listening, and performance, and have fun playing musical games with friends! We also rehearse to play as a group at community events and recitals with students of mixed ages and levels.
Recitals & Performances
Studio recitals happen twice a year, sometimes combined with Austin Flute Society community recitals. Other performance experiences are offered throughout the year, bringing the joy of group music-making to the community while building students' confidence, stage presence, and performing skills.
CAREGIVER INVOLVEMENT
Parents and caregivers have a big role to play in Suzuki education. The "Suzuki Triangle" shows the energy exchange between student, teacher, and adult caregiver: all equally important in a young student's success learning the flute! The caregiver does not need to have any musical background, but they do need to create a routine of consistent practice time for the student and guide them through it each day, based on what you both learn from the teacher in lessons.
The At-Home Teacher
An adult caregiver attends every Suzuki lesson with their child, and commits to guiding the student through practicing what they learned in their lesson five to six days a week outside of lessons. The caregiver works with the teacher and student to create an enjoyable learning environment at home.
Listening
As with learning a new spoken language, listening is just as important as practicing. The child needs to be surrounded by the sounds of the musical language of the flute. Caregivers are responsible for playing the assigned recordings of flute music for at least an hour each day for the student. This can be passive listening in the car, before bed, during independent play - the student just needs to get good flute playing and the songs they are learning in their ears often. This builds their musical vocabulary. The more music, not just flute music, they listen to, the more they will increase their understanding: what music is meaningful to you, that you want to share with your child through repetition? Play that for them often too!
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