Guitar Lessons
Classical Guitar Lessons for Children (Suzuki Guitar)
In addition to a Master's degree in Classical Guitar Performance and over 20 years of teaching experience, I have formally trained in all 9 Suzuki Guitar Books. I have even taught as a clinician for the Colorado Suzuki Institute in Beaver Creek, CO.
The Suzuki "Method" was named for the Japanese violinist and educator Shinichi Suzuki (though he himself used the term "Talent Education".) While the violin is the orginal and most famous instrument to be taught using Suzuki's ideas, they have been applied to many others. I won't go into a detailed history here, but I will list some key principles:
An early start. Students typically begin "Suzuki" lessons much earlier than traditional lessons - sometimes as young as 3.
Strong Parent Involvement. Parents are asked to learn some basics on the instrument (some even continue taking lessons themselves). They are also expected to be present and involved in all of their child's lessons, and to make certain that practice points are reinforced at home.
Emphasis on Daily Listening to Recordings. Without regular listening students do not know what they should sound like! Much like children learn their native language by listening to the people around them, we must create a musical environment for them to emulate.
Delayed Note Reading. Children learn to speak long before they read text or learn the rules of grammar. We can think of playing an instrument in a similar way. Therefore note reading is delayed until a student has a solid technical foundation and a well developed ear.
A cleary structured sequence of repertoire. Selections are thoughtfully planned out by a committee of experienced teachers to build naturally on eachother. This doesn't completely eliminate the need for supplemental material, but it does provide a solid "backbone" and a clear long-term path for students.