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Our experience with the Suzuki method - Listening and memorizing
Jul 25
2 min read
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One of the wonderful things about the Suzuki method is that it allows very young children—even as young as four—to start playing the violin.
Instead of beginning with reading music on a page, children first learn by listening and memorizing. This helps them focus on making a beautiful sound early on, and it builds their confidence.
🎻 It’s not the squeaky, scratchy start many people expect when a child picks up the violin for the first time!
👂 Listening Comes First
A big part of the Suzuki method is listening to the songs daily—long before your child plays a note.
We played the Suzuki songs on a CD at home and in the car. It helped my daughter get familiar with how the music should sound before she ever tried to play it herself.
It’s kind of like learning to speak before learning to read.
🧠 Learning Through Memory
Before even picking up the bow, Suzuki students begin by gently plucking the strings with their fingers—but only after they’ve memorized the song!
This step-by-step process builds:
Musical memory
Focus and concentration
Confidence in sound and rhythm
🌟 A “Twinkle” Example
One of the first songs most Suzuki students learn is:"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" 🎵
Instead of looking at sheet music, the child learns:
Which string to play
Which finger to use
The sequence of notes
All through listening, repetition, and memorization.
Here’s how we broke it down:
Note pattern: A, A, E, E, 1, 1, E This means:🎻 Play the A string twice🎻 Play the E string twice🎻 Press one finger down on the E string twice🎻 Then play E again
We would sing the note names together to the tune of the song, turning it into a fun and memorable game. This made the process more enjoyable and helped create a consistent routine she could follow with each new piece.
