Who Was Shinichi Suzuki?

Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998) was a Japanese violinist and educator. For over 50 years, he observed the way children learn and developed a philosophy of educating people of all ages and abilities. His philosophy embraces the total development of a child and emphasizes that one's character is of utmost importance. He believed that all children have the potential to learn and that it is important to educate a really beautiful human spirit.

Following World War II, Dr. Shinichi Suzuki truly wanted to make the world a better place, and knew he could do so by treating children with respect, teaching them to play music, and teaching them to develop sensitivity, discipline, and perseverance.

Every Child Can Learn

Dr. Suzuki observed the incredible capacity of young children speaking their native language with ease. If they possess such potential, wouldn't it be possible to teach children to play music using the same principles of language acquisition? This is how his "mother tongue method" was born.

Ability Develops Early

Suzuki noticed that children were learning from birth and even influenced by their environment in the womb. Today, science has proven how much development takes place within the first year of life and how important early experiences are. Early childhood is the crucial period to develop one's capacity to think, act, or feel in any given situation. It is the time to lay foundations for all learning and the time to build relationships that support learning and development.

Environment Nurtures Growth

Surrounded by loving, encouraging parents, a stimulating learning environment, and great teachers, children will thrive. The physical, social, and emotional environment will support development and cultivate growth in all learning. A calm, pressure-free environment is the number one goal in our classes.

Children Learn from One Another

Suzuki believed in the power of peer motivation and community. He realized how much children learn from one another and believed their group experiences played a major role in their development. Our mixed-age classes create a diverse community to allow children to learn from one another.

Success Breeds Success

Suzuki noted the effects of positive feedback and the the contagious quality of personal achievement. It is important to celebrate the small steps, building one success after another, in our efforts of progress. Children in our classes receive hugs from parents after every small achievement.

Parental Involvement is Critical

You are your child's first and most important teacher. Your role in the development of your child is indispensable. Parents form a partnership with trusted teachers and they work together to create a learning environment in which a child will thrive.

Encouragement is Essential

Encouragement is the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope. It is fundamental to the process of educating a young child and comes from a bottomless well of unconditional love and respect.