The Suzuki Method is a specific approach to teaching instruments to young children, developed by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki of Japan. All Royal Suzuki Program instructors are highly trained in and dedicated to the Suzuki philosophy, and include some of Canada’s top Suzuki teacher trainers.
Summer Suzuki Violin Program
Start Date: Saturday, July 7, 2012.
Duration: July 7 - August 18, with 6 one-hour group classes between 9:30-11:00 am (exact time dependent on the level of the student) and 7 private lessons (day and time to be arranged with the instructor).
- Class dates: July 7, 14, 21, 28, August 11, 18 (No class on August 4)
Tuition: The tuition below includes the 6 group classes and 7 private lessons.
- Program with 30 minute lessons: $475.00; additional lessons available for $50.00 each
- Program with 45 minute lessons: $650.00; additional lessons available for $75.00 each
Violin and Cello
The Royal Conservatory School's Royal Suzuki Program offers an enriched program of music study in violin and cello that combines private lessons with instrumental group classes, theory-musicianship classes, orchestra, small ensembles, and special workshops. Students are guided by their instructor as to which components to include in their study, depending on their age and level.
Location: TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Who: Children from age 3 to high school age.
New Students: Entry starts at age 3 for beginners. Please contact us for more details on appropriate ages for entry into the Royal Suzuki Program as well as a detailed explanation regarding the referral matching process.
Start Date: New students may start private lessons at any time, and may enter the program in September, November, January, or March (the program fee is prorated accordingly).
Duration: September to June, 32 weeks of instruction with the option to extend private lessons by 4 to 10 weeks (depending on instructor availability).
Tuition: 2012-13 (two terms) includes private lessons and applicable group components:
- Tuition and Program details for the 2012-13 academic year will be available in June 2012
The Suzuki Method
The difference between traditional teaching and the Suzuki approach:
- Parent Participation: The parent must attend lessons, make written notes, and work as a home teacher with the child on a daily basis. Constant interest, a calm and pleasant attitude, and praise for real effort lead to musical development. A musical background is not required. Parent training sessions led by Suzuki instructors are available at various times throughout the year and designed to help parents with home practices and other related issues.
- Early Learning: An early learning environment makes the study of an instrument and music a part of the daily routine. Young children are receptive to parental guidance, and the neural pathways are ideally suited to musical instruction at this age.
- Listening: When a child begins lessons, the parent or caregiver will play the CD of the first volume of Suzuki pieces at least once a day. The listening facilitates the child’s ability to learn by ear and helps develop a highly attuned sense of pitch, tone, and ability to memorize with ease.
- Music Literacy: Dr. Suzuki believed that reading music could be deferred for very young beginners. In early language learning, a child does not repeat a word once, but many times. Constant repetition in music learning will lead to step-by-step mastery. It is only after the basic instrumental skills are mastered that children can add the focus of learning to read notes. When the child is ready to learn to read music, reading is incorporated into lessons, and the Suzuki children become very good sight readers.
For additional information about the Suzuki Method, please visit:
Suzuki Association of the Americas
The Suzuki Association of Ontario
For more information about, or to enroll in the Royal Suzuki Program, please contact The Royal Conservatory School at 416.408.2825.
