Another violin question: Suzuki or traditional

[Laurie in VA]

Good morning! The violin question earlier has me thinking... As a child (5th grade-9th grade) I played violin. I was taught traditionally and absolutely loved it. In fact, I almost tried out for the School of the Arts, but chickened out at the last minute.

At any rate my oldest DD (6-1/2) has been asking to play for over a year now. She shows great ability already with chimes at church and a play piano that we have here. I believe that she is ready for violin.

My confusion is with Suzuki. If they learn by ear, when / how do they learn to read music? What is the benefit of Suzuki over traditional, or is it simply two different methods and neither is better than the other? I lean towards traditional because that is how I learned. I want my DD to read music, but am having a very hard time finding a traditional teacher - it seems most are Suzuki method.

Can anyone shed any light on this for me?

[Linda in NM]

My son learned violin via Suzuki--he transferred to viola after Book 1. He began learning to read music at age 10 or 11; now, he's working on his reading book as well as never-ending Gavottes in Book 3 for Viola...it's a natural progression if you find a good teacher.

[Kim in Appalachia]

I agree, it requires a good teacher. Our teacher does both, using the Suzuki for the songs, but still teaching scales, and using a sight reading book (along with a position book). If the teacher is good any method will work fine.

kim

[ballzy]

Their teacher also uses other books such as Violin Playtime, so they do learn how to read notes right from the beginning. My oldest (11.5) has just started Suzuki book 3. He has been playing for almost 4 years now. My 2nd ds (9yo) has been playing for more than 2 years now and is Suzuki book 2, and my 3rd (6yos) just started violin in October and is using book 1. I like that they learn how to read notes right from the start.

My older two have also each done some Royal Conservatory of Music exams (we're in Canada) for violin (oldest ds grade 3, and 2nd ds grade 1).

Colleen

[Sarah CB]

I couldn't imagine how hard it would be for a young child to learn violin traditionally. I find there are so many things - very small, picky things - that make a *huge* difference in the success of practice and the ease of playing. The majority of these are things I wouldn't even be aware of if we weren't doing Suzuki.

One of the main values in Suzuki is in the teacher - child - home teacher (parent) triangle. I find that very compatible with homeschooling. The teacher recognizes that it's the parent who works with the child on a daily basis at home so there is a lot of respect for the role of the parent. Our teacher has really equipped me to help my boys at home. Whereas with my daughter, if she has a problem or gets stuck with piano I have to tell her to wait until Thursday to ask her teacher. With the boys I can make little changes to their hand position, or the angle of a finger because I know what they're supposed to be doing, how they're supposed to be doing it, and how it's supposed to sound.

I also love the fact that the boys can pick up their violins at any time and play any song they've ever learned. My daughter can play a small handful of piano songs, but that's about it.

I think the way the Suzuki program is structured is brilliant as well. Each Suzuki piece teachers a technique that will be used later in more complicated songs. So when a student gets to the complicated song they are already familiar with the hardest part of it. We continue polishing the review pieces and getting better and better at the techniques presented in each of them.

Our teacher introduces note reading fairly early on. She does a lot of hands-on work at our group class where the kids arrange letters, place notes on a staff, and clap out rhythms. Last year my ds started note reading with a book and each week she goes through the next lesson with him. My little guy (age 5) just recently started with the same book. I have no issues with them learning how to read music - they both really enjoy it.

I'd encourage you to read a few books about the Suzuki method. There's so much more to it than I can express here and it's been an incredibly positive experience for us. It has helped my boys to develop a passion for violin and it has helped me to be a better parent.

[Riverfront Headmistress]

What she said.

I learned traditional violin - my kids learn Suzuki. We are blessed to have the best teacher in the area; she trained with Dr. Suzuki and then brought the Suzuki method to our area. My teacher knows the value of home education and the home educator; she understands that we are a family: Suzuki teacher, mother, child - we must mesh with the primary goal being a love for music.

August will be our 3rd year with Suzuki violin. My oldest (10) will be in book three. She has auditioned, and been accepted, for a local orchestra and is the youngest in the group. Most of the students are 7th grade and is far superior in her playing and training. I accredit this to the method and our teacher.

Note-reading began in late book one for her. There is a series of note-reading books for Suzuki students.

[AustinTea]

My dd started violin at age 5 the traditional way and we have never had a problem. But again, she has a very good teacher which will make a difference in any method you use. The people I know who use the Suzuki love it, me I like the traditional way. I figure why not learn what the note is when you learn how to play it, but that is the way I was taught to play instruments. The most important thing is going to be finding a good teacher.

Hope my 2 cents helps.

[Laurie in VA]

TY all so much for your insight! I was not aware that Suzuki students learned to read music early on. If I had no training myself I probably would have not had a question at all about Suzuki, as the parental involvement is quite appealing. Since I am very familiar with the violin (proper positioning, how to tune the strings, etc.), however, that isn't as much of an issue. DH actually bought a nice violin for me a few years back, and although I haven't picked it up seriously since, my plan is to play alongside my daughter - no matter what method we choose!

[Robin in Tx]

AT that age, Suzuki is best imo. Yes, they do learn to read music. Don't worry about that :). But learning how to play in tune on a violin is hard work, and training your ear to know when you're in tune is hard work... the younger the better for this! Suzuki makes sure that ear training (which ANY violinist must have, suzuki or traditionally trained) and basic technique are learned *well*... learning how to read music after that is very easy, and it comes quite naturally. People who are considering violin for their children are always worried about music reading... music reading is NOT the hardest, most necessary element of becoming a violinist. I would never burden a 6yo child with all the challenges of learning proper position, technque, good tone quality, etc., *and* how to read the music. They need their eyes and attention on what they are physically doing, not on a piece of paper. My dd started rght at her 6th birthday, and is now in book 7 (she's 12yo). She can play very well, well enough for the community orchestra (an adult orchestra!)... and she can read music... but she can't read as well as she can play, if that makes sense. The teacher has her working on various things like etudes, etc., to improve her music reading and it is going VERY smoothly... this is not something that is difficult... as a matter of fact, until now she wouldn't have been able to handle it I don't think... it's very much a logic stage activity and you're working with fractions all the time, etc. Of course, what she's learning now is more difficult stuff (the ledger lines are most difficult, as are the difficult rhythyms, especially when you get into accompaniment scores where you're not playing the melody). We are starting to attend events where I get to see kids at her level who can read music a little better than she can, but can't play nearly as well, or with as good of technique... that is actually a harder skill to acqurie and I am so happy we went the route we did. It helps to have a keyboard and put note names on the keys with masking tape... she has learned the keyboard and how to play all her pieces on the piano this way... so she definitley can read the music(treble cleff, anyway).

All this to say, don't worry. The younger the child, the better off they are starting with suzuki. Plus, there are tons of resources and networking available to you as the parent through suzuki, which is nothing to sneeze at (and is not replicated with any other method). I agree with the other posters, though, who say that it really depends on who the best teacher is... I'd take an excellent traditional teacher over a bad suzuki teacher any day, but if all things are equal, I'd go suzuki for sure.

HTH
Robin

[LindaOz]

I'm a music teacher and learnt the traditional way myself, and three of my dc now learn violin using the Suzuki method. I think it's an excellent way of learning and is more like the way we learn language - first by hearing and copying, then later by reading what is written. There's a book called Nurtured By Love written by Suzuki himself which is a fascinating read and explains the theory behind his method. It totally sold me!!!

[Robin in Tx]

Either I didn't read this post first, or maybe we were posting at the same time so I didn't see it... but I obviously assumed in my post that you had no experience with the violin yourself. Most of what I said you already know, but I do agree with Linda about the "natural way of learning" part of Suzuki. Hope our comments help somehow!

Robin

[Calming Tea]

I live in an area where one of the very few American suzuki schools that are real suzuki schools exist. This guy actually spent 10 *years* with Suzuki himself *in Japan* and learned the entire method from him.

We went to classes for about a month but it was just too far away. However, in that short time I was so impressed and excited about what they were doing that I am always on the lookout for him to start another branch closer to me (I was driving a full *hour* to get there)

Anyway...in a *real* suzuki school, there would never even exist one-on-one teaching. The teaching is always, always in groups, the larger the better. Suzuki felt that the students had to be enticed, and excited to begin lessons, and never, ever forced. In the suzuki academy we went to, the parents, or anyone else, was never allowed to force students to sit down and do lessons. The students had to be respectful and quiet, but they didn't have to do the lessons unless they wanted to...(but they always wanted to!) Once the child chose to do the lessons, then the parent was the one that had to really learn them. Our teacher, would not correct the students in front of other students, but rather he would correct the parents. The students were expected to have fun and pay attention...it was at home that the parents were to role model the exact way to do things...but it's all done using finger plays, rhymes, songs, and body play. Students would take the class sitting on their parents laps. if there was two children for one parent, then the teacher or his assistant would take the extra child next to them, or the assistant on her lap. (But it was modestly done. He would never pick up a child on his lap, he would always place them nearby, gently and warmly but not overly close.)

The students were not allowed to touch the real violins. First they were given a shoebox with strings in which to practice. Once they learned all the basics and were responsible with the shoebox, then they had a big ceremony and presented their violins. The new students were NEVER NEVER allowed to even go NEAR the instruments, but the instruments were lying all over the place. They would pick up the children and firmly tell them no, and give them their shoebox. they were really serious about teaching little ones how serious instruments are!

It was a wonderful, relaxing, fun atmosphere. The children learned well and gravitated towards the teachers and enjoyed the parents...

That said...every other person who says they teach suzuki that I have met so far is full of Cr--. I'm not saying they've never read a book, but they say they teach suzuki and then they sit down with a 3 year old and try to teach them traditional methods on a real violon, with few fingerplays, and not in a group. This is totally opposed to suzuki's methods...it's impossible to perform his methods in a one on one scenario because of the child-led learning philosophy. However I did talk to one girl who admitted that on her own and said, she could do her best to do suzuki's methods, and apply everything but the group learning scenario. She was suzuki trained herself and actually knew what she was talking about.

I would go with someone like her.

But to me, if my child is six or older, it;s six and a half dozen the other. What you want is a dedicated teacher...

I hope I can eventually find one for my dd...they're scarce here it seems.

[Laurie in VA]

Hope our comments help somehow!

Absolutely! I am going to research Suzuki more, including the book Linda mentioned (my library doesn't have it, drat) and see where things lead. I truly appreciate the wisdom on this board!

[LindaOz]

I am going to research Suzuki more, including the book Linda mentioned (my library doesn't have it, drat) and see where things lead.


I bought my copy from ebay. It might be worth checking.

[Novafan]

My DS (7) started at age 5 the traditional way with a FABULOUS teacher. She moved and then we moved and we took a break, sadly, :( from lessons. He just started back up at 7.5 and he's now learning the Suzuki way with yet another fabulous teacher. I think I can fairly say from seeing both methods that both methods can work and it just depends on the teacher.

[mominbc]

My son is a violinist and started out with Suzuki and many very successful violinists had their start with Suzuki also. Once they get to a certain level there really is no difference between the Suzuki students and traditional students as far as skill etc go but I think Suzuki is way more child friendly, and it is excellent for training the ear which of course is essential in violin. They all do learn to read music after they learn to play. Hillary Hahn a famous young violinist had her start in Suzuki and recorded her first album by 18 and I could name others. I would highly recommend starting with Suzuki, its an easy transition later on if you choose a more traditional approach later - that's what we did.

[Robin in Tx]

Our teacher does private lessons and group... and she doesn't start them on a box, either, unless they are super young. She is suzuki certified in all books. There are variations of Suzuki, and you are right... few purists... but the basic philosophy of Suzuki can still dominate the teaching philosophy even if the teacher has adapted... many of the teacher trainers at the Suzuki Institutes teach the instructors about adapations to the method that they have enjoyed success with.

There is a teacher in my city who studied under Suzuki herself, for many years, and her studio is extremely intense and to be honest with you, there is no way I could handle her style... there's almost an arrogance about her, and she's real into this playing on a box, not "graduating" from a song until you can pronounce the composer's name correctly (I could tell you a horror story about one of her students who had a speech impetement), and threatening to drop students who don't practice seven days a week (Dr. Suzuki's "practice only on the days you eat" slogan), etc. Dr. Suzuki developed a brilliant method of incrementally building skills (which is why non Suzuki teachers still use his literature), but it's not like there aren't other good ideas out there, too :).

Do you know that even after all these years, I haven't read Nurtured by Love? It wasn't required reading by my teacher... go figure. I just know that I love the method, and we go to institute every summer and are blown away by the experience. I run into teachers who studied under Suzuki at these institutes, and I think they have all developed their own adaptations... it's a wonderful community and the experience for my dd has been one of the most consistently positive elements of her life... for over half her life now!

I'm rambling, sorry!! LOL
Robin

[Laurie in VA]

This has been the most interesting discussion! TY all so much for posting about your Suzuki experiences. I have to say that I now realize how very little I knew (know) about Suzuki, yet I already made my mind up that it was not the "right" way to learn. I can't wait to read the book and will actively look for both traditional and Suzuki instructors and interview both!

[Sarah CB]

I'll agree with what Robin said. Our teacher has been teaching the Suzuki method for something like 30 years. She also studied in Japan with Dr. Suzuki - in fact she's been giving the boys stickers that Dr. Suzuki gave to her while she was there; she's finally decided to use them up : )

Dr. Suzuki himself made a point of saying that he was always learning. I think that's one of the things I've found most refreshing with Suzuki teachers - I haven't met one yet who wasn't excited about learning how to become an even better teacher. There was no end-all-be-all with the Suzuki method. The values and the principles remain the same, but the techniques were adapted and improved upon even by Suzuki himself. I loved watching the Suzuki teachers who had been teaching for years sit in on other teacher's lessons at the institute so that they could pick up something new.

Our teacher uses box violins for the young pre-twinkle class (probably 6 and under? maybe 5 and under?). Both of my boys began with a box and learned how to hold the violin, the parts of the violin and how to hold it in play and rest position before beginning with a real violin. We probably spent about a month or so on a box violin.

We also have private and group lessons. Our teacher encourages us to come early to our private lessons so that we can watch the lesson before us and stay late so we can watch the lesson after us. I know she'd love to have more people around during private lessons, but most people are too busy to spend that amount of time hanging out at the music school. Our group classes are a source of great joy and motivation to the kids. We also focus a lot on how we can create an inspiring home environment.

Sarah

[HollyinNNV]

Background: I have a degree in music performance and education. I am a violin/violist. My dh plays viola. My daughter studies piano & harp. My ds plays piano and will soon begin cello.

Honestly-it doesn't matter whether you go with Suzuki or traditional-no matter what the age of your child! An awesome violin teacher is an awesome teacher no matter what the pedagogical method they choose. Some teachers are better with young children. You need a great teacher who loves and works well with young children. Once you find that person, you've got it made!
Holly

[Robin in Tx]

Holly, I honestly believe that you are correct in this regard.

The one caveat, though, is that there is no traditional method out there that offers the support/enrichment opportunities that Suzuki does... the workshops and the institutes, the ribbon festivals, etc. My dd has made many friends from other areas of the state at these events and that has kept her motivated through some of our rough "I don't want to practice" spots... she has always known that if she quits violin, she won't see all these wonderful friends and clinicians again, and she is extremely motivated to learn and polish a piece to perform for or with them. She is currently "friends" (i.e. they are clinicians she sees every year at institute) with an instructor from New York, a violin professor at Wheaton, an orchestra conductor from Dallas, and "buddies" with a very accomplished violinist from Austin and a violist from east Texas (who she is looking forward to rooming with this year and being in chamber with)... this isn't normally the sort of networking that is available to a 12 year old, kwim? Everyone enjoys that when they get to a certain level at an older age, but what a rich experience this has been for a child... especially a child who has no other local friend who is interested at all in music... these other friends become her musical "soul mates", and the way Suzuki promotes group lessons, the kids become good friends and encouragers within the studio (which a traditional teacher might offer as well, I realize). We have an association in Houston of all Suzuki teachers and they all get together for several enrichment events a year, including workshops with fantastic clinicians, and that has been another source of friendship/commraderie/motivation.

I just thought I would throw this out here, because I think this is just as much of what sets Suzuki apart from other methods as the early ear training, to be honest. I'm not arguing with you about the value of a great teacher who loves and works well with young children regardless of what method they use (I agree with that!)... I'm just saying that a teacher like that who is *also* plugged into the Suzuki network is going to have more enrichment opportunities to offer.

[Verena]

I'm trained in both methods, but am not a "hard-core" Suzuki teacher by any stretch of the imagination (for cello, though... not that this really matters).
Btw, I've not read the other posts, so this might have been already answered.

In my humble opinion, Suzuki shines for little people. I had a student as young as 2.75 (!) yo one time and the Suzuki method fit him perfectly, because he wasn't encumbered with reading music. We concentrated on posture, tone, and bowhold, easy rhythms and songs (Pre-Twinkle exercises as they are called and Book 1 essentially) for YEARS. When I went through the training, I had a great teacher trainer whose specialty was the little people (5 and under). She had all kinds of tricks to show us HOW to get these little kids to actually do what you want them to do. I'm still using her ideas- even for my "traditionally brought up" students.
Generally, note reading is taught somewhere in Book 2.


For older kids, 6 and up, who already have some reading skills (getting the idea that your eyes move from left upper corner to right lower corner), there is no reason why you can't also introduce note reading from the beginning.
(using a traditional approach).

Having said all that, I think the main thing is not the method, but the teacher. If you can find someone dedicated, someone who truly knows what they're doing, someone who is engaged and helps your child along, someone who brings out the best in your kid, this, imho, is so much more worth than the "right" method.

[HollyinNNV]

Holly, I honestly believe that you are correct in this regard.

The one caveat, though, is that there is no traditional method out there that offers the support/enrichment opportunities that Suzuki does... the workshops and the institutes, the ribbon festivals, etc."
That probably depends on where you live. It sounds like Suzuki is very strong in that part of Texas. I lived in Central TX for 4 years teaching strings and the city I lived in was devoid of Suzuki. So, if you relied on it for your friends, festivals and motivation, it would be sorely lacking. Here in Nevada, there is a Suzuki school. I'd guess that 1/2 the serious students start with Suzuki. The other half are traditional. All of the festival workshops stuff must be going on somewhere else because with the exception of group lessons, all the social string stuff is available to everyone.

My dd has made many friends from other areas of the state at these events and that has kept her motivated through some of our rough "I don't want to practice" spots... she has always known that if she quits violin, she won't see all these wonderful friends and clinicians again, and she is extremely motivated to learn and polish a piece to perform for or with them. She is currently "friends" (i.e. they are clinicians she sees every year at institute) with an instructor from New York, a violin professor at Wheaton, an orchestra conductor from Dallas, and "buddies" with a very accomplished violinist from Austin and a violist from east Texas (who she is looking forward to rooming with this year and being in chamber with)... this isn't normally the sort of networking that is available to a 12 year old, kwim?
It sounds awesome. In California I had all that without Suzuki. It is great that your child gets to enjoy all of that. A major part of music is the human connections that you make.


I just thought I would throw this out here, because I think this is just as much of what sets Suzuki apart from other methods as the early ear training, to be honest. I'm not arguing with you about the value of a great teacher who loves and works well with young children regardless of what method they use (I agree with that!)... I'm just saying that a teacher like that who is *also* plugged into the Suzuki network is going to have more enrichment opportunities to offer.
Again, I think a lot of that really depends upon your geographic area. Suzuki is a great program. They were long thought of as weak in teaching children to read music and they have come a LONG way! Traditional methods were very slow to figure out how to teach the young child. But, they have incorporated much of Suzuki's approaches and have also come a long way. And I'd still maintain that unless you live in an area like Houston where the Suzuki opportunities fantastically outshine any other opportunities, then both traditional and Suzuki are great options.

[Robin in Tx]

You are right, Holly. Sometimes I forget that my situation is probably not replicated in every city. I am definitely speaking from a very unique experience that may or may not apply to anyone else reading this :). We are not aware of any social playing opportunities for the young student in Houston outside of Suzuki until you get to upper middle school/high school, so my comment about it not being available to the young traditional student was an overgeneralization based on my personal experience. Thanks so much for pointing that out - certainly the op must evaluate the opportunities in her area completely independent of what anyone anywhere else experiences (particularly me! LOL). As my dd gets into her teen years, though, hardly any difference exists between what we do and have available through Suzuki and what the traditional students do and have. Much is opening up for her now...

I didn't mean to imply that traditional isn't a great option, btw. I realize it has more to do with the teacher than anything else...

Thanks again!

[Sarah CB]

I still see a big difference. With Suzuki I have a very good idea of what I'm going to get in a teacher. A Suzuki certified teacher has been trained in that technique. They have been taught the things I value. I pretty much know that one-point teaching will be something that is emphasized. I pretty much know that group learning will be valued. I know that the teacher is also interested in learning from the parent. I know that there will be an emphasis on reaching the child at the child's level and making the practice fun. I know that we won't hurry, but we won't stop, either. I know that the review pieces will be used again and again to master technique and improve musical expression. I know that each song has a purpose and that any song learned is one that will always be played.

My daughter has been in piano for a number of years. Traditional lessons. She's had three very good teachers. One was very straightforward and helped her to move along quite quickly and was also very particular. Dd did quite well in piano that year but the teaching was definitely not age appropriate. Then we had a fantastic teacher who was very enthusiastic, supportive and fun - but dd felt that she didn't learn very much at all that year. She took a year off piano and now we've found another teacher who seems to be a good balance between the two. But, pieces are not reviewed, once a piece is performed it isn't really played again. I have no clue what is going on in lessons or how to help dd at home. There are no group classes - no musical community of peers. There are no parent groups - we've been with the same teacher for two years and I've never spoken to another parent there.

We've had a number of different Suzuki teachers between trying a visiting teacher in town and attending the Suzuki Institute two years in a row. While they all offer something different and notice something different in my boys' playing, they all have shown the trademark Suzuki values. I know what I'm getting with a Suzuki trained teacher because they have been trained to interact with children in a similar way. With young children I definitely want to know what I'm getting into. If we went traditional, I may or may not get a teacher who has gleaned some Suzuki techniques over the years - I just wouldn't know what kind of actual training the teacher had besides getting up to a certain level in the Royal Conservatory.

And I agree about the musical community as well. My boys have been playing in group classes since the beginning. They have made friends there. They have also attended Suzuki Institute for the last two summers. I don't know of any other musical opportunities like that for little kids. One of my boys was 4 at his first institute, the other was 6. There is nothing I have ever heard of anywhere near me tht offers that kind of an opportunity for such young strings players.

Our teacher encouraged me to start a parent group for Suzuki parents. We met a number of times last year and talked about practice techniques, how we created a musical environment at home, etc. It was very valuable and our teacher was always pleased to hear our feedback as well. She provided us with books we could borrow and articles I could print off to share with the group.

The boys are both looking forward to "violin camp" (Suzuki Institute) this summer. It's become an annual camping trip for our family. At least two other kids in the boys' group class are also coming. The opportunities outside of private lessons (group class, parent group, Suzuki institute) have made a huge impact on music in our home.

Sarah

[Testimony]

I played traditional as a child. My children are playing Suzuki right now with a Suzuki trained teacher. My Suzuki teacher sat under Dr. Suzuki's teaching. She is well grounded in the method.

I found this article that may help you to understand the difference.
http://www.suzuki-violin.com/suzuki_violin_vstraditionalviolin.htm

I just want to tell you my experience so far with Suzuki. I love it, but it is very parent intensive. There is a lot of parental involvement. If the child is to succeed, the parent must sit in the classes take notes or play the violin along side the child. It is that intense. The thing is the Suzuki method does seem to offer parent supports which traditional does not. Suzuki does not teach note reading until book 5. The reason is Dr. Suzuki's philosophy.

Dr. Suzuki believes in "the mother tongue" theory. Music is a language and so he treats it that way. A child was spoken to first before he/she ever learned to read. So, you have to have the child listen to the piece they are going to play a loooot of times. I have them get up to it and go to bed to the Suzuki CD. The child listening to the CD is a major key to the Suzuki method.

With all this said, you can teach a smaller child the violin with Suzuki. With traditional, the child is usually older.

It does not matter in my opinion which is done. I think the key is how involved the parent is and how good the teacher is.

I hope that helps a little. I hope that article helps too.

Oh! My son has on his blogsite a music concert he did. It is the Suzuki method. www.homeschoolblogger.com/thegenius Click on the sidebar picture to see them play it is Suzuki.

Blessings to you and your family,
Karen
www.homeschoolblogger.com/testimony:D

[Robin in Tx]

Oh my, how could we have all forgotten about the CD listening requirements?!? Do *NOT* do suzuki if you think you would dislike having to listen to the recorded repertoire over and over again, until you can march to it, sing little ditties to it, hum the melodies in your sleep :). That is definitely an important element we all forgot to mention! Thanks, Karen, for bringing it up!!

[Riverfront Headmistress]

You are absolutely correct. This is one of the big differences between a Suzuki teacher and a teacher that uses the Suzuki books....listening to the music. My teacher requires 45 minutes listening to the new song everyday; on top of that, I am to play the the old songs, and a few songs that we haven't learned.

Its not burdensome though. I have the music on the computer, in the school room, and play it at a 1 or 2 volume. Very, very soft. We end of listening to the music around 5 hours a day, just light background music.