I remember my first Suzuki group violin lesson. I was four and a half and I had my tiny 16th size violin with me. We sat on the white carpet facing Mrs. Douglas, our instructor, with violins resting horizontally in front of us. On that particular first day we learned the parts of the violin and how to hold it. I remember learning how to rosin the bow. Her house always had a wonderful aroma, like maybe she was going to surprise us with a delicious treat. This was the beginning of my Suzuki experience.
Now, you may not know that Suzuki is the art of training a young musician to play by ear. This is accomplished by listening over and over again to pieces of music, which you then learn to play by imitation. As a youngster I listened to the Suzuki book one and book two tapes daily. Even now, at thirty four I can pick up my violin, as rusty as I am with my instrument, and play any of those pieces. Its an amazing way of learning referred to as the ‘mother tongue method.’
The basic principle is this: As infants and toddlers, one learns to talk first by listening to their mother and repeating what she says. It is later on in life that one is able to read. This is also the musical approach – learn by listening and repetition while learning to read the music later. Just as it works with speech, it applies to music as well. And I am the poster child.
Today I became acutely aware that this can be true in other areas of life. My daughter Emily and I memorize Scripture verses together. Each week we learn a new one. Right now we are working through the Scripture packet for children from John Piper called, “Foundation Verses.” We read them, we write them for copy work, I say them and she repeats them. I am attempting to help her not just learn them, but understand them. Its my hope that they are sinking in because of our listening and repetition.
It may be working…
It just so happens that Emily has a few anxieties. They seem to overcome her late in the evening and they grow stronger as bed time rolls around. Some nights she gets wound up and cannot relax. Because she is a thinker, her questions are often deep and difficult to answer. Eventually she manages to go to sleep, but some nights it is just too much for her little mind. Tonight as she was asking me about tornadoes, the newest in her line up of self torturing fears, I asked her if she remembered a few of our recent Scripture verses. And she did!
“The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” And then she began quoting all of our verses that we have rehearsed over and over. “He who keeps you will not slumber.” As she spoke these verses, I felt her fears leaving. My sweet Emily went to her room knowing her Heavenly Father was keeping watch over her. His peace seemed to be like a warm blanket wrapping around her as she went to bed tonight.
Scripture sort of gives its own approach to the Suzuki method :
From Deuteronomy 11
“Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. Inscribe them on the doorposts and gates of your cities so that you’ll live a long time, and your children with you, on the soil that God promised to give your ancestors for as long as there is a sky over the Earth.”
Even though this was a word given to the Israelites, in their particular situation, I believe its still true for our family today. Just like I can play any of those Suzuki violin songs that I learned more than twenty five years ago – it is my prayer that this repertoire of Scripture verses will be a part of Emily’s being in that same way.
Some day when she is thirty four they will remain a part of her, brining peace and comfort from the Heavenly Father at a moments notice. Hearing her say those verses tonight was beautiful music to my ears. Thank you, God, for being the original Suzuki instructor.
md
(written March 7, 2010)
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