As a crucial part of the ‘Suzuki Triangle’, the parent has a number of different responsibilities. Here are a few points for you to consider before embarking on the Suzuki journey.
As a Suzuki Parent, you should:
• Be willing to be consistent and devote regular time over a long period to develop the ability of your child.
• Be willing to be open with and work closely with your teacher for the good of your child’s development.
• Be willing to learn the fundamentals of music and the violin along with your child so you can better help with daily practice at home. (The parent need not be a trained musician in order to be a good home teacher. With the teacher’s guidance, the parent can help with bowing, fingering, posture, stance and later on with note reading.)
• See that the violin and materials are in good repair and get to the lesson every week.
• Be willing continually to be further educated by reading new materials on education and child development, talking with other parents, and creating a learning community where excellence can thrive.
• Be willing to support all children in the program and be concerned with their growth as beautiful, valuable people as if they were your own children. Do not compare or compete. Each child is unique and special and should be celebrated as such.
• Be willing to listen to the Twinkle Variations and all the Suzuki recordings 10,000 times throughout the years. Listening is a keystone of the Suzuki Method. Listen to the recordings until you can’t stand it any more and then listen some more!
• Attend the lessons, take notes, attend concerts, attend musical events, recitals, etc. and make sure that your child is in attendance at all Suzuki events.
• Attend the yearly workshops and the summer institutes if possible. Attend the parent lectures and share with other parents and learn from them as well.
• Be willing to work to help in creating a total environment of affection, support, encouragement, a positive attitude, and understanding. These are the ingredients necessary to the superior development of children through music as developed and explained by Dr. Suzuki.