Wyandotte Suzuki Violin Program Year-End Recital

Join our Wyandotte Suzuki Violin Program students at their year-end recital! The admission is free and is open to all.

A little-known gem in the Wyandotte Public School District, the Suzuki Violin Program, led by the instruction of music teacher and gifted professional musician, Mrs. Marilyn McKenna, has given the gift of the love of music to many children over the years. Many of Mrs. McKenna's former students have moved on to perform in youth and adult symphonies, teach privately and also pursue degrees in music and music education.

Mrs. McKenna continues to demonstrate the importance of music both in curricular and extracurricular activities in the lives of our children and does what she can to offer that experience and opportunity to those in the Wyandotte Public School District.

Please see the city's website regarding registration for the WPS Summer Music Program and information for more opportunites to develop your child's love of music.

Some background on the Suzuki method:

Every Child Can Learn

More than fifty years ago, Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki realized the implications of the fact that children the world over learn to speak their native language with ease. He began to apply the basic principles of language acquisition to the learning of music, and called his method the mother-tongue approach. The ideas of parent responsibility, loving encouragement, constant repetition, etc., are some of the special features of the Suzuki approach.

Parent Involvement

As when a child learns to talk, parents are involved in the musical learning of their child. They attend lessons with the child and serve as “home teachers” during the week. One parent often learns to play before the child, so that s/he understands what the child is expected to do. Parents work with the teacher to create an enjoyable learning environment.

Early Beginning

The early years are crucial for developing mental processes and muscle coordination. Listening to music should begin at birth; formal training may begin at age three or four, but it is never too late to begin.

Listening

Children learn words after hearing them spoken hundreds of times by others. Listening to music every day is important, especially listening to pieces in the Suzuki repertoire so the child knows them immediately.

Repetition

Constant repetition is essential in learning to play an instrument. Children do not learn a word or piece of music and then discard it. They add it to their vocabulary or repertoire, gradually using it in new and more sophisticated ways.

Encouragement

As with language, the child’s effort to learn an instrument should be met with sincere praise and encouragement. Each child learns at his/her own rate, building on small steps so that each one can be mastered. Children are also encouraged to support each other’s efforts, fostering an attitude of generosity and cooperation.

Learning with Other Children

In addition to private lessons, children participate in regular group lessons and performance at which they learn from an are motivated by each other.

Graded Repertoire

Children do not practice exercises to learn to talk, but use language for its natural purpose of communication and self-expression. Pieces in the Suzuki repertoire are designed to present technical problems to be learned in the context of the music rather than through dry technical exercises.

Delayed Reading

Children learn to read after their ability to talk has been well established. in the same way, children should develop basic technical competence on their instruments before being taught to read music.