The Suzuki Triangle

There is a founding principle within the Suzuki Method named The Suzuki Triangle. This concept highlights the teacher, student, and parent as three key facets to successful musical education. Each 'point' of the Suzuki Triangle has their own responsibilities, but working together to achieve them is the goal.

Each element builds on the responsibility of another, to create a supportive musical environment where the student can thrive.

Key responsibilities of the three members of the Suzuki Triangle can be seen below.

Parent or Guardian

Observer

• When parents are actively involved in the lessons, both by observing and participating, it ensures that both you, and your child fully understand the teacher's instructions, and methods.

Scribe

• Taking detailed notes during lessons helps you, and your child remember specific instructions and practice techniques. “What the hand forms, the mind remembers”!

Home Practice Guide

• As you are the Teacher every other day of the week, supervising daily practice sessions has multiple benefits: you are providing support to help maintain focus, assist in overcoming any challenges, and ensuring that your child completes all of the assignments. It is also another amazing opportunity to connect with your child on a one-on-one basis.

Encourager

• Part of the Suzuki Philosophy is creating a positive, encouraging environment, both in the lesson, and during practice. Doing this supports your child, creates motivation, helps in progressing quickly, and fosters a love of music.

Communicator

• You act as a bridge between the teacher and your child, helping the teacher find the best way to communicate ideas, practice goals, and challenges. You know your child best!

Creator of a Musical Environment

• You can create an incredible musical environment at home through exposing your child to various classical recordings, musical experiences, and performances. You can always ask your teacher for advice on where to start; classical music is an ever-expanding world!

Student

Practicer

• Students should practice with their parents every day, and help to create an environment of mutual respect, open-mindedness, and focus.

Listener

• Listening to recordings of the pieces we're working on, and pieces we are about to learn, is an important part of the Suzuki Philosophy, and is helpful even as professional musicians. Listening to our pieces gives us insight into how the piece should be played, both technically, and musically, and can help us memorize pieces even faster.

Repeater

• Repeating sections of a piece, an exercise, or even a game you learn in the lesson helps develop our muscle memory, improves your technical skills, and makes many parts of playing the cello feel easier. Your teacher can help you find creative ways to use repetition in your practice, so that you stay engaged!

Reviewer

• Regular reviewing of previously learned pieces reinforces the skills we have already learned, and helps create a foundation for skills, and techniques needed for future repertoire. As another cornerstone of the Suzuki Philosophy, review regularly happens in the lesson, and your teacher will show you how earlier pieces can connect to more advance repertoire.

Communicator

• Being a part of the Suzuki Triangle means that everyone is respected; your child should feel free to actively participate in the learning process, including asking questions, seeking clarification on assignments or markings in the music, as well as communicating with the teacher about challenges or questions that come up in practice. We are all part of the same team to learn how to play the cello!

The Teacher

Demonstrator

• Demonstrating proper playing techniques, sound production, dynamics, and other techniques during the lesson

Guide

• Helps the student and parent learn each piece by breaking them down into manageable sections, and preparing future pieces and techniques ahead of time

Technical Instructor

• Focuses on developing the student's technical skills, including posture, bowing and left hand technique, as well as intonation.

Motivator

• Motivates the student to practice, overcome challenges, and helps them to appreciate their progress.

Evaluator

• Assess the student's progress, identifies areas for improvement, and provides constructive feedback to help guide the student

Ear Trainer

• Helps the student develop a strong sense of pitch, rhythm, and musical phrasing through listening, and ear training

Music Historian

• Provides an understanding of the cultural and historical context of the music being studied. The teacher will also provide insights into the composer, time period, and musical style.