Suzuki Strings of Madison

SUZUKI STRINGS OF MADISON'S MUSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

   Suzuki Strings of Madison offers children of all ages musical instruction on the violin using the Suzuki method. After an initial observation period, students are assigned a teacher for weekly private lessons. Students also attend group classes once a week. In these classes children continue to develop their technique, learn solo performance skills, and practice ensemble skills by playing their instruments together. In addition, foundations for music reading are introduced through Dalcroze Eurythmics and continued in music theory and note reading classes.
   Advancing students are offered orchestral and ensemble experiences. Opportunities for community outreach exist through our many public performances. We offer recitals, workshops, parent meetings and other social events which foster a positive learning environment for families and help students achieve individual, social and musical growth.

MISSION STATEMENT

Suzuki Strings of Madison is dedicated to the development of ability in all children. We teach according to Shinichi Suzuki’s philosophy that all children have the capacity to learn and develop high standards of achievement.

To this end, Suzuki Strings of Madison offers parents and students excellence in musical instruction in a caring, nurturing environment. Through private instruction, group classes, workshops, recitals and other activities, we aim to teach children not only the joy of music and music making, but also the life-long lessons of confidence, self-esteem, concentration, self-discipline, and sensitivity. Believing that music is an art form to be shared, Suzuki Strings of Madison brings the love and joy of music and children to the community through public performances.

Suzuki Strings of Madison provides its faculty with a stimulating environment of mutual respect where duties and
ideas are shared, strengths are recognized and utilized, and individual growth and continuing education are valued.

“What is humankind’s ultimate direction in life? It is to look for love, truth, virtue and beauty.”
- Shinichi Suzuki

THE SUZUKI APPROACH

The Suzuki approach deals with much more than teaching a child how to play an instrument. It seeks to develop the whole child, to help unfold his/her natural potential to learn, and to find the joy that comes through music making.

Some of the basic principles of the Suzuki approach are:

Develop the full potential of every child through proper training and a positive learning environment.
Begin as early as possible. Formal training may be started by age 3, but it is never too late to learn.
Move in small steps, thereby building confidence and enthusiasm for learning.
Parent attendance at all lessons and supervision of daily home practice time.
Daily listening to recordings of the Suzuki repertoire. This approach derives from the way children learn to speak their native language.
Postpone music reading until the child's aural and instrumental skills are well established.
Follow the Suzuki repertory sequence, so that each piece becomes a building block for the development of technique.
Create in lessons and home practice an enjoyable learning environment.
Participate in group classes, providing an important motivating activity.
Foster an attitude among students of cooperation not competition.

SUZUKI STRINGS OF MADISON NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

Suzuki Strings of Madison admits students of any gender, religion, race, color, nationality, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation to all of the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students of the organization. It does not discriminate on the basis of gender, religion, race, color, nationality, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship or loan programs, and other administered programs.