Mission Statement

The Suzuki School of Music (SSOM) is dedicated to enriching the lives of people in the community through the Suzuki approach of talent education.

The Suzuki School of Music in Bismarck, ND, was founded in 1986. We teach music to children of all ages following the tradition of Shinichi Suzuki of Japan, who learned and taught his style of music in the mid-20th century. Below, the Philosophy offers a brief overview of the special features behind Suzuki-style education, followed by Dr. Suzuki’s history. Also see our Handbook for more on the Suzuki approach. For more information, see the Suzuki Association of the Americas’ “About Us” section.

Philosophy

Love, Love, Love.

Encouragement is the strongest teacher. Nurturing the heart is essential to nurture good tone.

Begin Early.

Listening to quality western art music (often referred to as “classical music”) begins at or before birth. Formal training can begin as early as 2 to 4+ years old.

Listening.

A baby hears the words “Mama and Dada” many times before speaking. Likewise, Listening DAILY to the music one will be playing is the key to rapid progress.

Repetition.

Think of how a toddler repeats new words over and over and then builds on them. Music develops in the same manner as language. Polished literature is not discarded but reviewed and kept current as repertoire tools for building skills.

Parent Involvement.

Parents are home teachers for practice sessions; thus it is essential for parents to understand the techniques to be practiced. Practicing the violin poorly results in learning it poorly. In the studio setting, the parent learns basics of the instrument to be studied and takes notes during lessons.

Learning with Others.

Children all over the world who study the Suzuki literature can come together to play at Suzuki Institutes and other events. Regular group lessons in addition to private instruction are essential. Combined group classes with students of varied ability levels are fun and give the needed motivation for success.

Graded Repertoire.

The repertoire builds gradually on previously learned skills. The repertoire alone is so well carefully chosen that many teachers who have not been specifically Suzuki trained also use it in their classrooms with some measure of success.

Walk, then Dance: Note-reading.

Note reading begins when the musical language and technique are established. Music reading and theory are presented in a manner that the student can master difficult music without being held back trying to decode music symbols. This approach promotes a successful, enjoyable, yet complete learning experience.

Dr. Suzuki’s History

Dr. Suzuki: Nurturing with Love

Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998) was born in Japan, the grandson of a samurai and the son of a violinmaker. Without formal violin lessons, 17-year-old Shinichi taught himself to play violin by listening to recordings and imitating what he heard.

By the time he turned 22, he was given the opportunity to study music in Germany. With Karl Klingler as violin teacher and Dr. Albert Einstein as mentor, his idea that “ability can be cultivated” was born. In 1929 Dr. Suzuki returned to Japan to try his concept at the Imperial Conservatory. He called his idea the “Mother Tongue Approach.” He believed children could learn music in the same manner they learn their native tongue.

In the years following World War II, Dr. Suzuki would go and play his violin for every child he saw, in hopes that it would ease the pains, fears and hunger caused by war. With only one little violin to share, many learned to play music, regardless of their family background. Suzuki was known for making great sacrifices to better children’s lives. In times of rations he would not eat and would give his food to the children. He also adopted one of his students who had lost his parents to war. These troubled times served to strengthen his compassion and the core of his philosophy.

Suzuki cared about the human being, not just the music. He is often quoted as saying, “Nurtured by Love.” This quote is a founding stone of the Suzuki Philosophy and the title of one of his books. Another important declaration he made was: “I do not wish to create a sea of virtuosos, but better citizens as a whole.” Dr. Suzuki also spoke of “Kokoro,” a word for “heart-mind.” He taught that to develop ability, one must also develop the “Kokoro, the life-force of human beings.” Dr. Suzuki’s ideas have spread worldwide, changing the face of music education forever.

Written by Lisa Miles, September 3, 2002