Method Book/Suzuki Reflections

There are many aspects and features to take into account while choosing an appropriate instrumental method book for a fourth or fifth grade beginning instrumental program. However, while performing an analysis of The Essential Elements 2000 beginning band books, I was reminded of my own beginning instrumental studies on piano. Instead of having the personal experience of going through a band program and using a similar methods book, I studied piano privately using the Suzuki method and the respective books. With this being said, I have always wondered the actual effectiveness of the Suzuki method on multiple instruments in comparison to other instrumental programs.

The Suzuki method, over all, is a musical philosophy which strives to make students high-achieving performers while instilling a love of music and good character within a loving environment. Through this, students primarily study on a single instrument, often violin or piano, like myself. The 'nurture' aspect of this is modeled after an early childhood education which Shinichi Suzuki "observed in native language acquisition, such as immersion and encouragement". The term "Suzuki method" can also refer solely to the Suzuki repertoire of sheet music books and audio recordings, both of which I utilized in my formal instruction.

Through listening to the audio recordings hundreds of times before learning to read traditional music notation through the Suzuki method, the development of my performance poise, musical expression, and aural skills were more than enhanced. However, with the lack of stress on physically reading music, I do feel like I am still behind since it was not introduced or stressed until much later in my studies. However, I would be interested to see research on how the Suzuki method and books are effective in comparison to other traditional method books. In my personal opinion, I think a hybrid of Suzuki supplemented and mixed with other traditional techniques would be highly effective. I think this would be especially effective if the books were somehow expanded to all of the traditional band instruments, instead of just strings and piano.