About the StudioScroll down ... or use the following links: | ||||
More about
|
|||||||
 Ensemble Performance 2011 Features of the Suzuki Voice
The Student Learns by:
  |
The Suzuki Voice Program teaches children aged prenatal to adult. It builds on the understanding that the voice is an instrument and is committed to addressing each student's individual needs. The voice is recognized to be the primary human instrument for music making and instantly accessible regardless of age. Because of this, technical training can occur earlier than for any other instrument. Private individual lessons begin at age 3, with under-age-3 instruction focusing on developing the child's listening and singing skills through heavy parental involvement. In the beginning, the Suzuki Voice Program can be used as a method that enhances interaction between a parent and a child (during pregnancy through age 2). The teacher leads the activity in lessons and supports the relationship between the mother/father and the baby. The parents are taught the early steps of their child's instrument. They are taught to listen and to feel comfortable singing the early repertoire. As the child becomes more independent (around age 3), the interaction between a child and a teacher increases and the role of the parent will be more observing and supporting in lessons. Individual lessons in addition to group lessons are encouraged at this stage. What starts in childhood is an acceptance of classical music and singing styles which are not usually introduced to students until much later. They learn to be relaxed natural singers – a great building block for the development of mature vocal students. Natural, silent breathing is encouraged and developed along with repertoire. Phrasing and beautiful tone are main teaching points in lessons – not just learning songs. Memory and performance skills are established early and progress accordingly. As the child's vocal skills develop, reading is introduced as a separate skill – just as you learn to speak before you learn to read, you learn to sing well before you learn to read music. In addition to the classical repertoire required to develop vocal technique, abundant supplementary repertoire is both accepted and encouraged. When the child's basic vocal technique has advanced to an appropriate level this may include musical theater repertoire (such as The Sound of Music) as well as songs from popular children's movies (for example, Disney films). Teachers are encouraged to provide stage experience to their Suzuki Voice students that give the students as broad an array of vocal experience as possible. Those experiences can include concert performances, acting and scene staging depending on the resources available to the teacher. Level Three students learn also to perform with instrumental ensembles (cello, violin, etc.) usually drawn from the local pool of advanced Suzuki students of those instruments and available through the Teacher's affiliation with instrumental Suzuki Teachers in the area. Teachers are also encouraged to provide "Singing Day" opportunities to their students by working jointly with other Suzuki Voice teachers in their area. There are two other Suzuki Voice teachers within a 1-½ hour radius of Poughkeepsie. Our most recent "Singing Day" event joined the Studio's Voice students with Suzuki Voice students from the Suzuki Music School of Westport Connecticut. An additional aim of the Suzuki Voice Program is to broaden the child's cultural perspective through the singing of songs from a variety of different cultures and in a variety of different languages. International connections within the Suzuki Voice movement are strongly encouraged and reach around the world. International "Song Sharing" Events and World Conference events strengthen and support this idea of "peace through cultural understanding" brought about through the singing and sharing of each other's languages and songs. Participation in the International Song Sharing event is open only to qualified Suzuki Voice teachers and their students. Past International Song Sharings have occured in Spain, Italy, Finland, Australia and Argentina. The upcoming 10th & 11th International Song Sharings are currently scheduled in Melbourne, Australia and Mexico City, Mexico. The Suzuki Voice approach to technique is designed to awaken the unique sound of the individual voice. It does this in a manner appropriate to the individual's physical development potential, ensuring a 'safe' means of producing the singing voice from a very young age. Long term goals include developing all technical basics as described in the article on "Lessons for Teenagers and Adults". The Suzuki Voice repertoire and teaching techniques have been developed by Dr. Päivi Kukkamäki (in Finland) under the personal direction of Dr. and Mrs. Suzuki over a 17 year period (1986-2003). The Suzuki Voice Program has only one internationally accepted repertoire curriculum which is used everywhere in the world; no other material is authentically Suzuki Voice, although supplementary material is possible and encouraged. Official publication (Alfred Publishers, Inc.) of repertoire books and CDs (in English, Spanish & Finnish) are anticipated subject to the discretion of the publisher. Suzuki Voice repertoire materials are protected by law and are only available to accredited Suzuki Voice Teachers, accepted Teachers-in-training and their students. The Suzuki Voice curriculum currently operates in 19 countries in Europe, in Japan, in Latin-America, in Australia and in North America (United States and Canada). More detailed information regarding the Suzuki Voice program:
www.suzukivoice.com/home
| ||
|
|
|||
More about 
Piano
|
The Suzuki Piano Method was one of the first instruments to be developed by Dr. Suzuki and, therefore, has a long history of experience in developing and refining the repertoire and teaching techniques. The piano is an immediately accessible instrument; the child is able to play a simple melody, in tune, usually at the first lesson. As lessons develop and as the student develops the ability to play both hands at the same time, the music becomes naturally full and satisfying because it includes both melody AND harmony — more than one pitch played at a time. Keyboard study enhances eye to hand coordination, a skill that profoundly impacts all areas of brain development. The Suzuki Piano program is able to teach young children at an age when eye to hand coordination is in "primary acquisition mode," thus greatly enhancing brain development at a critical time in the child's learning process. How early a child can begin to play the piano is dependent on two criteria: 1) the individual child's motor development, and 2) the individual child's readiness to creatively interact with the teacher on a one-to-one basis. The teacher generally determines suitability on a case-by-case basis. In nearly all cases, the child is ready to begin private study by age four. In keeping with the Suzuki principle of teaching appropriate to the child's age and capacity, reading the musical score is introduced as a separate skill when basic keyboard skills and musical concepts are well grounded. Playing first; reading second. You cannot read what you do not understand. For the average 4-year old beginner reading would normally begin at the start of the second semester of study, but might begin sooner depending on the child. |
 |
What is the
Method?
|
Founded in the 1950s by Shinichi Suzuki, the Suzuki Method grew out of his observations that children were universally successful at learning their mother tongue. He recognized that such learning was successful because the child was totally immersed in the sounds and rhythms of the language, because the child was expected to learn only in steps appropriate to their age level, and because loving and caring parents reinforced and encouraged the learning process. By applying these principles to musical instrument study, Suzuki developed a method of teaching that focuses on developing the whole child. With the active involvement of their parents, children are immersed in the music at home by listening to recordings of the repertoire to be learned. Children are motivated by the demonstrated interest and involvement of their parents, by seeing other students their age performing and having lessons, and by their individual experiences of success at learning, step by step, a creative and complex skill. Teachers are trained to create a learning environment at the lesson that enables a child to learn at their own natural pace and that fosters an attitude of self-esteem that is based on real accomplishment. The learning environment centers itself around the belief that to become a fine artist or musician, one must first become a fine person. Student, parent and teacher work together in a 'triangle' of communication, supporting each other in their endeavors. |
 |
|
Highlights of the Suzuki Method:
Additional information regarding the Suzuki Method, see Wikipedia article: wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_method | |
Private Voice Lessons for Teenagers & Adults
|
Private Lessons in VOICE are available for Teenagers & Adults using Traditional (non-Suzuki) methods. Since good technique allows the singer full access to their WHOLE voice as well as to the fullest range of color and expression available to each voice (regardless of what 'style' is being sung), the focus of all lessons is the development of better and better vocal technique. Repertoire is chosen for each singer with this primary goal in mind, but also taking into account the individual's voice type and personality. Additional repertoire outside of the basic repertoire needed to develop good technique can also be included in the lesson if the singer has need (including musical theater). The teacher typically accompanies in the lesson, with an accompanist provided (at an additional charge) for any performance occasions. Technical basics included in all lessons are:
Regular opportunities to perform solo repertoire in public are available in the twice annual Studio Recitals at the singer's discretion. Your teacher is also a member of N.A.T.S. (National Association of Teacher's of Singing) and of M.T.N.A. (Music Teachers National Association) with access to competition & graded examination possibilities through these organizations as well as others; and can also prepare teens for NYSSMA examinations. Solo recitals, either for an individual student or jointly with another student, can also be arranged. Lessons in SIGHT-SINGING are also available at the same rates as for VOICE. | |