Looking to the past for teaching music

by Alice Levine
Shinichi Suzuki didn’t come up with an original teaching method, 
but rather looked to the past, continuing the old tradition of teaching orally. This is what Suzuki refers to as the ‘Mother Tongue Method’. It is true that the act of recording things in writing is a relatively new task and that our ancient ancestors passed information to each other by basically telling stories or singing songs about them.  One can argue that  modern society has placed an importance on the visual sensory function over the aural sensory function, placing more importance on
reading and writing. However, let's consider people of The Golden Triangle, who are from the Himalayas in Burma, China, Thailand, and Laos who still use hearing as their primary sense. 

Music is used to celebrate the changing of seasons and during festivals or harvest rituals. Music is present in daily life. Mothers frequently sing babies to sleep with lullabies. When a new house is built, the villagers sing songs regarding good wishes for their future in the new house. Songs are also sung when a person is about to travel and take a long trip. Songs are sung by Shamans for people who are sick in hopes that they will recover in good health. Apparently, a boy and a girl will play music to and with each other for days as a form of courtship.

The step-wise and systematic organization of the pieces throughout the Suzuki method are not only organized technically but are also meant to expand the musicality of the student. The act of listening to songs in 
the Suzuki method strengthens a person’s ear to mind memory and  this is comparable to listening to chanting which is what our ancestors and the people of The Golden Triangle experience in their daily lives.

For more information read: http://www.tribalmusicasia.com/SAA%20Article-Songs-of-m-optim%20.pdf