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The Role of the Suzuki Parent

Of the three parts of the Suzuki triangle (teacher, parent and child), the parent has the power to create the most change.  It is also the most difficult of the three roles as the parent must assume the role of both student and teacher.

The role of the Suzuki parent is complex, especially if the parent does not know how to play the musical instrument.  In the private lesson the parent must be the student.  The parent's job is to observe and take notes so the lesson may be recreated at home.

In order to have a young child to succeed at such a complicated task, a Suzuki parent must completely internalize the concept that he or she is the at-home teacher.  What's more, the child will be having lessons with his or her at-home teacher more often than lessons with a private instructor.  Again, heady stuff if the parent does not personally know how to play.

A Suzuki parent must approach the lesson with an open mind and be willing to accept that the child will not be the only one learning.  Learning an instrument is not a dump-your-kid-and-leave type of event.  It is a parent and child bonding experience.  The "experience" being the bottom line.

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