The STEP Music Program & Philosophy
Suzuki Talent Education of Pasadena [STEP] is a cooperative group of highly trained and skilled violin, viola and cello teachers from diverse backgrounds who believe in and support the Suzuki philosophy.
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki theorized that all children learn to speak their mother tongue through listening, imitation, repetition and encouragement. He developed a ‘mother tongue’ approach to teaching music. The Suzuki method is inspired by the belief that every child can play an instrument when given the opportunity to develop with love and patience.
Ideally, music education begins at birth. Babies can begin to observe lessons as young as a few months old. When a child actually begins to play an instrument depends upon the individual child. Some are ready at three, while others are ready at five. It is never too late to begin.
The Suzuki approach depends upon parents and teachers to develop a loving and enthusiastic environment where children can learn naturally. A parent should attend every lesson and direct the pactice at home until the teacher determines a sufficient level of independence has been achieved by the student. The parent is the teacher’s helper seven days a week and is given careful instructions at the individual lesson on how to guide the child’s practice and incorporate the points stressed at the lesson and workshops. Our weekly Parent Class will provide Suzuki Parents with a variety of tools with which to maximize the experience for them and their child.
The parent need not be a trained musician to be a good "home teacher."
Students listen daily to recordings of the current repertoire. Students also listen for the purpose of review and familiarization of future repertoire. Parents should play recordings of masterworks at home and take their children to concerts and recitals to hear examples of music played by professional artists.
Suzuki students constantly review and refine pieces they have learned, effectively strengthening memory, technical skill and musical expression. Group classes reinforce this process.
All music is memorized to encourage the accelerated development of this skill. Most children learn pieces quickly as they already possess an enormous aural and technical vocabulary. Instruction by ear continues until the teacher determines that the child is ready to read music.
Our teachers strive to promote these ideals by providing high quality musical education through private violin, viola, cello and/or guitar lessons and workshop classes.
- We share a genuine love of teaching and learning.
- We realize the unlimited possibilities of early education.
- We realize that every child can be educated. Our purpose is to develop this ability.
- We believe that the group learning environment is essential in nurturing the relationship among students, parents and the community.
- We provide our students with an inspiring and secure environment that encourages creativity, growth and mutual respect.
- We continue to study teaching with much reflection and dedication. Through this continuing study, we are better able to concentrate energies toward better teaching.
WE ARE DEDICATED TO TEACHING THE WHOLE CHILD AS A WELL-ROUNDED HUMAN BEING.
Suzuki Talent Education of Pasadena, California
626-796-2633