Teaching Suzuki Bass

[SteveFreides]

I have never taught, or been taught myself, by the Suzuki method. If anything, earlier in my life I argued against it - I'm Mr. Music Reader and the idea of learning to play without learning to read really rubbed me the wrong way.

It's a few decades later and not only have I mellowed as a human being, I hope, but I've taught enough kids who can't quite read English to realize that learning to read music is tough below, in rough terms, age 8 or 9 or about the third grade. I know that's a generalization, but I have to say that my experience in teaching music reading goes along with what I've seen in my own children - once they get to second or third grade in school, they basically "get" how to read English, and at that point, teaching them to read music is a whole lot easier for everyone involved, both student and teacher.

So I'm interested in knowing about Suzuki for bass. In particular, I'm interested because my wife is also a music teacher - she works as a general music teacher at a private elementary and middle school that has a very strong Suzuki violin program but not so much for the other members of the string family, and the middle school orchestra often ends up having dozens upon dozens of violinists and maybe one bass. My self-interested thinking is that this might also be a way for me to expand my teaching offerings, if not as a part-timer at my wife's school, then just at my own private studio here at home.

Many thanks in advance for any and all comments about Suzuki in general (although I've definitely decided to learn about it), Suzuki as it applies to the very young and the upright bass (I'm thinking I will need some 1/10 and 1/8 sized instruments), and especially two things: how Suzuki on bass is different, if it is, than on violin (no idea what this might be) and Suzuki books and materials - I definitely need to get some Suzuki materials here and start getting familiar with them, and if any/all think some sort of Suzuki teacher training is in order, then please let me know that, too.

-S-

[Mike Goodbar]

I would suggest contacting Virginia Dixon, who I think still teaches at Elmhurst University in Illinois. The last e-mail address I had for her was virginia("@"symbol")elmhurst.edu.

She's a big advocate of the Suzuki method for bass and could probably tell you anything you need to know about it.

Also found this article: http://gluedtothestring.blogspot.com...-bassists.html

[SteveFreides]

Great info in that article, many thanks.

-S-