A Study of Suzuki Piano Pedagogy

• Main Authors: Chang, Tzu-Yun, 張慈芸
• Other Authors: Chen, Hsiao-Shien
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/8ke9dd

碩士 === 國立臺中教育大學 === 音樂學系碩士班 === 103 === Suzuki is known as Mother Tongue Approach in musical instrument teaching, and employed successfully in the world by abundant listening as major learning strategy. The philosophy of Suzuki method emphasizes learning form listening, and children can be trained in very young age. The most important thing in the method is the relationship among teachers, students, and parents. The goal of Suzuki is to foster beautiful minds of students instead of instrument training, help them think positively and establish self confidence. This study aimed to understand the philosophy of Suzuki piano Pedagogy by interviewing two experienced teachers with semi-structured interview outlines. Researcher discussed the teaching beliefs, teaching approach, and the effects on students, and analysis the contact of Suzuki Piano School. Researcher-developed instruments, “The Analysis of musical styles on Suzuki Piano School” and “Content Analysis of Suzuki Piano School,” were formulated to investigate the teaching materials. The results were as follows. According to the interviews of teachers, three aspects were concluded. a) Fostering a beautiful mind Instead of musician. Most teaching methods aimed to train great musicians with performance techniques but not mind. Suzuki piano pedagogy led children to experience the beauty of music beyond training skills, and made them learn to appreciate others and have conversation with themselves. b) Teaching mainly through private lessons and supported by group classes. Students can observe each other and practice ensembles in group classes, moreover, they can learn to wait and listen to others. c) Building students’ confidences and positive thinking. Students could have insights of their attitudes, motivations, weaknesses, and strengths. And through learning music, they could sense and face pressures, and further gain confidence to love music more in a positive cycle. Suzuki Piano School New International Edition included seven volumes with 98 pieces of compositions. From the views of periodical style and music elements, musical works from Classical period were the majority while German and Austrian composers occupied the most. In the Content Analysis of Suzuki Piano School, meter, rhythm, tonality, range, harmony, form, terminology, and playing skills were analyzed. In the seven volumes, meter 4/4 happened most frequently while 32nd note and rest were the minimum value. C Major had the most among all the compositions, range was C1 to F7, and ABA form was utilized most often. In addition, researcher analyzed all the musical terminologies, harmony, and playing skills from piece to piece. In the Suzuki Piano School, orders of pieces were not put in order from easy to difficult, because learners would have more confidences to practice in such way. Moreover, every piece has listening examples in the CDs according to the philosophy of Suzuki method: creating talent based on love. According to the results, the recommendations were proposed to piano teachers and future researchers.