Suzuki Voice is based on the Suzuki method, which is a teaching method based on learning the mother tongue developed by the Japanese violin pedagogue Shinichi Suzuki. The international Suzuki Voice Program was born in Finland in Vantaa in 1986 and was developed by music doctor Päivi Kukkamäki.
Suzuki Voice has been developed especially for teaching singing to young children but it is possible to start singing lessons at any age. The age range of the students is from babies to adults. It is also possible to start singing suzuki already during the waiting period, when singing supports the interaction and musical relationship between child and parent and helps to continue singing and playing music even after birth. Babies and toddlers attend singing suzuki lessons in a small group if possible, where the company of the same age inspires and encourages them to sing. Solo singing lessons can be started when the child is about 3 years old.
Suzuki Voice’s teaching progresses by teaching level according to the child’s own pace of development. There are no entrance exams for singing lessons but everyone can develop according to their own skills. The lessons aim to understand the child’s world and support the development of the overall personality of the child and young person. Learning to sing happens with young children initially through play, based on the principle of listening, imitating and repeating. During the lessons, we play, rhyme, listen, do exercises and sing songs.
The singing voice is an instrument built inside everyone, so practicing it is different from other instruments. The vocal instrument is built with the help of various vocal exercises that support the child’s natural singing voice. These include e.g. various relaxation, breathing, posture, coordination and articulation exercises. With the help of exercises, the body is relaxed and the muscles are sensitized and activated to work as needed. Brushing up your singing skills involves singing every day. At home, a small child needs an adult’s help in training. The child does not necessarily find training every day fun, and does not remember such a thing during play. The task of an adult is to remember the exercise, and try to find a suitable point in the day for it. You can practice singing as part of play. In the beginning, home training doesn’t have to be more than just a short moment – the routine is more important than the amount of training. If you get used to training as a daily, natural thing, it will be a part of the day’s activities for the child.
Suzuki Voice also includes international education. We learn to understand the cultures of other countries, e.g. singing folk songs from different countries and learning about new languages through songs.
More information:
www.laulusuzukiliitto.fi
www.suomensuzukiyhdistys.net
