Part 1 is Suzuki's philosophy of life and the fundamental ideas of talent education. Part 2 is how to instruct; it provides teachers and parents with detailed instructions on the applied methods of talent education and the principles of string playing. Part 3 is a lively discussion of diverse aspects of talent education.
Shinichi Suzuki (鈴木 鎮一 Suzuki Shin'ichi, 17 October 1898 – 26 January 1998) was the inventor of the international Suzuki method of music education.
He developed a philosophy for educating people of all ages and abilities & is considered an influential pedagogue in music education of children. Suzuki often spoke of the ability of all children to learn things well, especially in the right environment, and of developing the heart and building the character of music students through their music education.
Before his time, it was rare for children to be formally taught classical instruments from an early age and even more rare for children to be accepted by a music teacher without an audition or entrance examination. Not only did he endeavor to teach children the violin from early childhood and then infancy, his school in Matsumoto did not screen applicants for their ability upon entrance.
Suzuki was also responsible for the early training of some of the earliest Japanese violinists to be successfully appointed to prominent western classical music organizations. During his lifetime, he received several honorary doctorates in music including from the New England Conservatory of Music (1956), and the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, was proclaimed a Living National Treasure of Japan, and was nominated for the Nobel Peace prize.
I see why our library weeded this volume, but I’m glad I was able to get and read it along with his biography. I appreciate the philosophy that every child can learn, and that ability is the result of environment, repetition, and encouragement. His heart for children is evident.