Why I’m Glad to Be a Suzuki Parent…

This post was originally published on the Plucky Violin Teacher blog on November 25, 2016 so links and resources may not be current.

The Suzuki Method requires a lot from parents. Attendance at every lesson. Daily practice with your child. Making sure your student listens to the Suzuki repertoire. And much more! It is a huge commitment.

Why do it when it requires so much?

I asked the parents in my studio, and other Suzuki parents on social media, to share why they are grateful to be Suzuki parents. I got a bigger response than I expected, and I hope their answers will inspire and motivate you on your Suzuki journey.

Noel Nielsen
I am grateful I am a Suzuki parent because it gives me the opportunity to teach a life lesson to my girls. The life lesson is, if you work hard at something how great your reward will be, in the end.

Alan Duncan, (The Suzuki Experience)
I’m grateful that I’m a Suzuki parent because it gives our family a wonderful “centre of gravity”, a beautiful one at that!

Mercedes Zepeda
And I’m thankful I’m now beginning my time as a Suzuki parent because I now have such a beautiful opportunity to grow with and encourage my daughter– all through the kind and gentle and loving method of Dr. Suzuki. His teachings on being a good Suzuki parent are really teachings on being a good parent in general and it has so helped to form me as a mother. I owe so much of the way I parent to him and am grateful for all the love and wisdom he shared with the world.

Sarah Fassmann (Check out Sarah’s guest postActive Music Making with Your Baby–It’s Fun!)
I’m grateful for being a Suzuki parent, because it gives me a dedicated time each day to spend time with my daughter, focusing on her. We talk, imagine, sing, and play together while she learns to play the violin.

Kirsten Kempe
When my children play their instruments, my house is filled with the best classical music. I enjoy seeing and hearing my children master difficult technical passages in their songs. Through practicing the violin nearly every day, my children have learned responsibility, endurance, and grit. My favorite part of of being a Suzuki parent is when I hear my children playing music–not just notes but music!

Alison Porter, Suzuki parent and teacher at Lovenotes School of Music (Check out Alison’s guest post from a while back: How to Practice Violin with Your Three Year Old…Like a Boss)
As a Suzuki parent I am thankful to have the support of other parents in the Suzuki community to celebrate successes and make the tough days a little easier.

Janae Davenport
I am grateful to be a Suzuki violin parent because I love having the blessing of hearing beautiful and fun music being played in my home every day.  I am grateful seeing the progress and excitement that my daughter has as she learns new techniques and progresses in her playing skills. I am grateful for and love to hear the recitals and concerts and hear the results of lots of work and practice.  I am grateful that my daughter loves to play the violin and for the blessing of music in her life and the resultant blessing to our family.

Megan Jensen
Violin is hard and my daughter is learning she can do hard things. My daughter’s ear is so good now, she can tell when something is out of tune even though it sounds just fine to me. My daughter is now able to read notes and can sight read songs. Watching and hearing her progress over the past 4 years has been amazing. My daughter is learning a talent she can have forever. My daughter is a better, more well rounded person for learning and knowing an instrument.

Kim Moody
As a Suzuki parent I get to enjoy the musical journey with my child. I thinks that’s awesome. I also love the philosophy of letting the child experience something (such as listening) before playing . It follows the natural learning process.

I’m so grateful to interact with such fantastic parents in my studio, and online in the Suzuki community. Parents that want the best for their children, and who are committed to providing an invaluable education for them. I’m just beginning my Suzuki parent journey with my three-year-old, and I am so grateful to have such a wonderful community of Suzuki parents to help and support me when times get tough.
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Are you a Suzuki parent? Please share why you are grateful to be a Suzuki parent in the comments!