The Power of Listening & Review in the Suzuki Method

• This insightful discussion explored two foundational elements of the Suzuki method—listening and review—and how they shape a child's musical development.

  Key Takeaways

  🎵 Listening as Immersion – Just as children learn language by being surrounded by it, listening to music daily allows them to internalize melodies, phrasing, and tone naturally. The panelists emphasized that listening provides far more information than written notes, helping music come from within rather than being simply memorized.

  🔄 Review as a Path to Mastery – The panel reinforced that review is not about remembering pieces but refining them. Each time a student revisits a piece, they uncover new details, deepening their relationship with the music. As Ed Kreitman and Helen Brunner say, "We review to refine."

  🛠 Practical Strategies for Parents & Teachers – The session offered concrete ways to integrate listening and review into daily practice, including:

  • Using review sheets, timers, and apps to keep practice engaging.
  • Making review a fun, interactive process rather than a chore.
  • Embedding listening into daily routines, just like background language immersion.

  Insights from the Panel

  • Kristine She shared research from Suzuki’s writings in Japan, underscoring his unwavering emphasis on daily listening and repeated review. She connected this to the mother-tongue approach, highlighting how children’s musical vocabulary expands through consistent exposure.
  • David Zipperle used the metaphor of a tree (download below) to illustrate growth in music—daily listening and review serve as the roots that nourish posture, sound, and expression (the soil and rain of development). He introduced active listening, encouraging students to hear music without preconceptions, using exercises like imagining greeting a baby with a piece.

  The talk also stressed the ongoing role of parent education, ensuring families understand how to support their children’s progress in meaningful and sustainable ways.

  
  📜 Read the full transcript here: [Otter link – https://otter.ai/u/yMKEZu_nl2h791zO_cn9DIh8MPM?utm_source=copy_url]

Speakers Bios

David Zipperle – Suzuki Guitar Teacher and Trainer

Born in Merano, Italy, David began playing the guitar at the age of nine. He pursued formal studies at the Conservatory "C. Monteverdi" in Bolzano under the guidance of Walter Zanetti. David furthered his education with Elio Galvagno in Saluzzo, Italy, where he completed his Suzuki teacher training for guitar. As a soloist, he has performed with ensembles such as the Elfenau Orchestra Bern and the Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano and Trento. David is dedicated to nurturing young talent through the Suzuki method and has been actively involved in various workshops and concerts, including conducting guitar groups at the British Suzuki Gala Concert in London's Royal Albert Hall.

Kristīne Rāviņa – Suzuki Piano Teacher and Trainer

Kristīne is a Suzuki Piano Teacher from Latvia. She traveled to various countries within the European Suzuki Association (ESA) region to study the Suzuki Method, as it had not yet been established in Latvia at that time. In 2013, Kristīne became one of the founding members of the Latvian Suzuki Association (LvSA). She has served on the boards of both the LvSA and the ESA, contributing significantly to the development and promotion of the Suzuki Method in the region, and also leading the piano groups at the British Suzuki Gala in London's Royal Albert Hall.

Guillem Calvo - Suzuki Violin Teacher and Trainer

Guillem’s journey as a Suzuki violin teacher has been inspired by his own experiences as a young Suzuki student, developing into a passion for music education. His teaching spans workshops and group lessons across the UK, Europe, and online, with a focus on creating supportive, engaging environments for his students and their parents. Guillem is also a co-founder of Insight Suzuki, an initiative aimed at bringing Suzuki teachers and parents together for training and community. His teaching is rooted in fostering both musical skills and personal development, emphasizing the transformative power of consistent practice and mindful listening.