Compare And Contrast Suzuki With Abrsm Curriculum?, How would you Compare Suzuki with ABRSM? Options

[stephensutherland]

Greetings;

How would you Compare Suzuki Music Instruction Method with ABRSM?

In what ways are they different and similar?

Sincerely Yours,
Stephen

[newmonk]

Stephen, I am unable to reply since I have never heard of the Suzuki method...can you share some more info or a link so that I can inform myself??

[Violinia]

The two methods are very, very different. With the Suzuki method, pupils are encouraged to start as young as possible - 2 isn't unusual. The teacher must be trained in the Suzuki method, and the mother of the child is expected to take a longterm and active role, including learning to play the instrument herself in the beginning, until the child begs to be allowed to have a go him/herself. From then on, the child must listen to recordings of the pieces he/she learns, and thus play them by ear. Lessons are individual with a 10-minute crossover period so each pupil can observe part of another pupil's lesson. Reading from music isn't introduced until book 3, as far as I know.

ABRSM isn't a method as such, because there aren't really any specific "beginner" AB books; teachers use whatever beginner methods they best feel suit their pupils, and get them ready to tackle the AB syllabus as and when it suits. It usually takes 1-2 years to reach Grade 1, give or take aptitude and amount of practice time available etc etc.

[Louise]

You can't really compare the two. The ABRSM isn't a method of learning an instrument, rather a set of exams you can take whilst following some other method.

The Suzuki method doesn't include exams. It would be better to try to compare the Suzuki method with the more traditional approach.

Most methods start with learning from the written notation. You get a teacher, you buy whatever method book the teacher uses, you learn how to read music alongside learning how to play.

The Suzuki method is very different. Suzuki students often start as young as 3, the Suzuki book is bought, but only really for the teacher or parent to refer to. Parents attend the lessons and are expected to supervise the childs practise. What makes this system unique, is that the student spends much longer learning tunes by ear (and rote). Most Suzuki instructors (who should be Suzuki trained), start teaching the child how to read music after book 1.

BTW, book 1 isn't quite as simple as most book 1's!!! I can only speak for the Suzuki piano method....Book 1 ends at about Grade 2-3 ABRSM. The music in the Suzuki books starts off with folk tunes but soon it is mainly baroque/classical.

As the child isn't bogged down with reading, but is having to use their memory and aural skills to learn, they often become very good at memorising. Technique is very important in this method and it's absolutely incredible to watch a Suzuki teacher teaching quite complex pieces and techniques to very small children. They usually reach a very high standard of playing though the SR often lags behind.

I have never taught using the Suzuki method, but my son followed it for about 2 years and I attended the lessons. It was a great learning opportunity for me as a 'traditional' teacher. I would never want to teach this way though. It wouldn't suit my personality and teaching style.