Dr. Shinichi Suzuki

Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, whose method for teaching music to the young spread throughout the world to hundreds of thousands of children, died at his home in Matsumoto, Japan, on January 26, 1998. The ideas Suzuki implemented have become a major force in music education, and his belief in teaching peace and understanding through music has gained worldwide acceptance. Dr. Suzuki^"s goal was to help children fulfill their capabilities as human beings. He said "Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens, noble human beings. If a child hears fine music from the day of his birth, and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline and endurance. He gets a beautifulheart."Suzuki built his ideas around the fact that children naturally and easily Suzuki built his ideas around the fact that children naturally and easily learn their native language. His approach to teaching violin was modeled after the way in which children learn language. He called it the Mother-Tongue Approach or Talent Education. In the supportive environment fostered by the Suzuki method, children learn to enjoy music and develop confidence, self-esteem, self-discipline, concentration, and the determination to try difficult things--qualities that are sorely needed in our time.The Method was introduced in the U.S. in 1964 when the first group of young Japanese violin students performed for the Music Educators^" National Conference and the American String Teachers^" Association. Though originally intended for the violin, the approach has been officially adapted for viola, cello, bass, flute, piano, harp, guitar, and recorder. Today thousand of parents and teachers in over 40 countries worldwide have joined Dr. Suzuki^"s effort to nurture loving human beings through the mother-tongue approach to music. Children the world over are now able to gather together and overcome linguistic and cultural barriers through the language of music and bringing Dr. Suzuki^"s dream to life. After hearing Suzuki children play, the great cellist Pablo Cassals remarked, "Perhaps it is music that will save the world."

Fearless at Four

The Suzuki Orff School for Young Musicians

Information on our classes in musicianship, violin, cello,flute, guitar and piano for children aged 3 and up. The Suzuki Orff School for Young Musicians is located on Chicago's near north side.