On Friday, May 1st, Blake Brasch came down to the University of Illinois to speak about the Suzuki Methodology. Mr. Brasch is currently the Director of the Chicago Suzuki Institue and studied at the Cleveland Institute and Ohio University.
Cello (Suzuki); Chamber Music; Administrator, Suzuki Program
BM, The Cleveland Institute of Music; student of Alan Harris, Mark Schroeder; Suzuki training with Gilda Barston, Tanya Carey, Richard Mooney, Carol Tarr, Catherine Walker; Currently Director, Chicago Suzuki Institute. Clinician at Suzuki institutes throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here are some points from his presentation:
How do you teach a child pitch?
- Tape on the instrument is good for reference points
- But in the end, the sound is what matters
- Use ringing tones to find pitches
Visual Demonstration
- While playing the A on the G String, the teacher should have the student be aware that the A string is also ringing(if played in tune)
While playing Andantino
- A is one of the first notes that cellists play on the G string
There are Suzuki method books for cello, violin, viola, guitar, organ, flute, recorder, voice, piano,...
6 Bass players playing shortening bread at a newly implemented program
Headings from the handout
The Suzuki Talen education Method
Using the Suzuki Method, students learn to make music in the same manner in which they learn to speak - by listening and imitating (the "mother tongue" approach).
The goals of the Suzuki Method are to enrich the lives of children by playing a musical instrument and to give each child the satisfaction that comes from the ability to do something well.
The success of the Suzuki Method depends upon the cooperation and participation of the parent as well as the student.
The student listens each day to recordings of the pieces he or she is learning.
Review is an important component of the Suzuki Method.
Group lessons are an important part of the Suzuki Program
Questions
Do Piano Suzuki students miss out on the Suzuki methodology, because they miss out on the oral aspect of it, before reading music?
- All student needs to develop a love for the sound of the instrument. They get this experience from the accessibility of sound on the piano and possibly music appreciation classes
Often, little kids don't want to do Suzuki. What methods do you use to keep them focused?
- Sticker charts work really well with younger students
- Skill cards get students to think about what they have to do to improve and not when they get to move on to the next piece
Breating and musicality?
- Alexander Technique
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