About Suzuki Early Childhood Education
"Where Love is Deep, Much Can Be Accomplished" – Dr. Suzuki
Suzuki Early Childhood Education [AKA Baby
Suzuki]
http://www.suzukiece.com/
Dorothy Jones, who trained in Japan, developed her Early Childhood Education (ECE) classes 19 years ago in London, Ontario, with Dr. Suzuki's full support and guidance. These classes are aimed at infants and toddlers from 0-3 years old and help create a bond between the parent and child as well as develop many useful skills for the young student. While ECE can be a stand-alone program, it is often used as a preparatory course for future music lessons and can dramatically strengthen any instrumental Suzuki program.
Dorothy and her daughter Sharon, have compiled a CD of nursery rhymes and lullabies which they use for their classes. Although the same repertoire is used throughout the three year program more layers are added as the students thoroughly master the first skills. Repetition of the curriculum promotes rapid and natural learning. These are multi-age classes in which students have a chance to interact and learn from one another, for as we all observe children learn from other children quickly and eagerly. The concept of children learning from each other is one of the founding principles of the Suzuki philosophy and reasons for its success.
Suzuki ECE classes act as in-depth parent education and ECE teachers continually incorporate the basic concepts of the Suzuki philosophy into their classes. They strive to help parents become keen observers, and therefore keen musical educators, of their own children. Parents learn how to observe and celebrate each new small step. At the end of class, parents are asked to write down an observation from that day in a notebook. These notebooks often become cherished mementos of their early musical endeavors with their growing toddler.
Suzuki ECE promotes pre-natal music stimulation and offers hour-long workshops to expectant mothers to educate them in how they can accomplish this. The primary point here is to pick an early classical piece (Baroque or Classical) and listen to it daily as they are resting. Then once the baby is born the mother uses that piece of music to sooth the infant during diaper changing, nursing or simply for extra comforting.
Students in ECE classes learn a wide variety of skills which are useful and fun in their everyday lives and future education. Some of the striking observations of children who have been in a Suzuki ECE program is their ability to listen, their inner discipline and patience to wait for an expected activity, sense of rhythm, quick memorization skills, eagerness to learn and independence. Any teacher who finds a three- or four-year-old student with these skills already well developed is always delighted! The children also enjoy themselves immensely at these classes and learn to interact with other students both older and younger in caring ways.
The idea of an early childhood education class in STEP is exciting. We already have a strong long-running program and I think this would serve to strengthen it and the musical community even more in helping nurture musical and noble young people.
♪ Suzuki ECE is Great Parent Education
- Concrete Philosophy - gives parents time to absorb and observe the philosophy at work in a fun and non stressful environment
- Environment - teaches the parents how to develop a nurturing musical and educational environment at home
- Learn to Observe - parents become keen observers, and good musical educators, of their own children
- Suzuki Triangle – early understanding of the Suzuki triangle of Parent-Child-Teacher
♪ Suzuki ECE is Great for Children
- Enjoyment - each participant from infant to toddler to parent enjoys him or herself and learns many new and exciting skills in these classes
- Stability - because there is a set order of activities children feel safe in knowing what comes next, and therefore develop patience and discipline to wait
- Literacy - in each class there is a storybook read, which promotes early interest in reading and literacy
- Enjoyment in Repetition - each child has a turn with the drum or other instrument, and the students enjoy watching their peers and waiting for their turn! Parents enjoy watching the development of all children in the class.
- Learn to Listen - many of the activities promote interesting and specific listening and the children learn to become active and discerning listeners. These skills are much appreciated by parents and educators alike when the student is older.
- Singing and Movement - Young children learn about their environment primarily through movement. Activities are designed with this in mind. Singing is a wonderful community activity and is the best way to develop a musical ear.
- Sense of rhythm - Many activities encourage a steady beat and children learn early, by imitating their parents, and then learn to keep a beat on their own
- Counting - There is a great emphasis on counting in activities and students may learn to count in several languages (depending on the diversity of the class)
- Learn to interact with the teacher - There are many non-threatening opportunities for the child to willingly go to the teacher to perform a desired activity. This promotes independence and willingness to learn.
- Socialization through music - All over the world music is a social, not an esoteric, activity and children in this class learn to love music and make friends from the beginning
- Many, many other skills and benefits from bringing music early into a child's and a family's life...
♪ Suzuki ECE is Great for Teachers
- Students who know how to listen
- Students who are patient
- Students with a good sense of rhythm
- Parents who know how to work with their child
- Students and parents who are used to listening to music regularly
- Students who are willing to try new things
- Students who are independent and willing to interact with the teacher
Early Childhood Education/ Baby Skills List
This list was developed by Dorothy Jones and lists the skills she has seen develop through 20 years of teaching and observing children 0-3 in her classes:
Listening/Sequencing Skills
- Follows simple directions
- Listens carefully
- Recognizes common sounds
- Repeats a sequence of sounds
Vocabulary Skills
- Acquires language
- Communicates
- Memorizes
Understanding Size
- Big sound, small sound
- Big movement, small movement
Growth
- Creativity
- Sensitivity
- Inner Discipline
Pitch Skills
- High, low
- Up, down
- Fast, Slow
- Left, right
- Playing falling 3rds on xylophone (falling 3rds are an easy natural sing song interval)
Number skills
- Counts orally 1-10
- Counts fingers
- Knows finger numbers
Motor Skills
- Walks to music
- Jumps to music
- Hops to music
- Marches to music
- Runs to music
- Claps to music
- Passes ball to music
- Can do finger plays
- Crosses the body mid-line (xylophone)
Social- Emotional Development Skills
- Meets the teacher without shyness
- Can move away from parent comfortably
- Maintains self-control
- Shares with others
- Develops independence