Suzuki Early Childhood Education

Shinichi Suzuki, renowned pedagogue, who developed the Suzuki Method for teaching violin to very young children, always had broader goals for children than just learning to play a musical instrument.  Suzuki's goals for all children included developing an appreciation of beauty, giving a sense of purpose to life, learning the discipline of acquiring a skill and becoming a fine human being.

Suzuki Early Childhood Education seeks to build on the child's natural delight in learning and lays the foundation of life long learning.

Utilising a team teaching approach, the SECE teachers work together to plan, implement and evaluate the programme on a weekly basis.  This is combined with a healthy parent-teacher partnership.  Through parent participation in prenatal, baby and toddler classes, parents become partners in providing an enriched natural environment for the growth of their children.

Every Child Can Learn

Dr Suzuki said, "Talent is not inborn, ability has to be developed." We know every child has unlimited potential to learn and will learn at their own pace.  Our classes lay the foundation for all learning; listening, sequencing, understanding size, pitch, numeracy, motor skills, social/emotional development.  Encouragement is essential and in our classes parents encourage not only their own child but share the achievements of everyone.

Ability Develops Early

Skill Three

WHAT TO EXPECT
Our small, mixed-age music classes for newborns through to three year old meet weekly for an hour class led by two trained SECE teachers.  Parent (or caregiver) and child enjoy exploring the beautiful curriculum through singing, dancing, playing authentic musical instruments, reciting nursery rhymes, marching, twirling, counting, taking turns, reading and listening.

The outcomes of these activities include increased vocabulary, socially acceptable behaviour, sensitive group participation, and the ability to listen at an early age.

At the end of each class parents take time to reflect and write observations about their own child's development and successes that day.  Parents become expert observers of their children and enjoy watching as they gradually begin to imitate their actions and gain confidence.  This process is one to celebrated as each new development is observed - just as you do when your baby utters those first words.