Suzuki French Horn
Music is often described as a universal language. And like any language, it is something in which fluency can be developed. This idea sits at the core of Shinichi Suzuki’s approach to talent education.
Suzuki posed a simple but powerful question: If all Japanese children can learn to speak Japanese, why can’t all Japanese children develop a basic musical understanding? He recognized that learning begins long before formal instruction. Newborn babies are constantly listening—first in the womb, once their ears have developed, and then continuously after birth. By one year of age, children understand roughly half of what is said around them. By age two, their comprehension is essentially fluent, even though most are not yet fully expressive. This natural process explains why nearly every child learns their native language.
Suzuki teachers apply this same process to music learning. Young musicians are first encouraged to listen, then to imitate sounds on their instrument. Just as children listen and speak before they read and write, students in the Suzuki Method progress from listening to playing and finally to reading musical notation. With this method, children as young as 4 years old can learn to play a brass instrument.
I am honored to be among the 132 Suzuki Brass Teachers across 22 countries worldwide. This growing, thriving movement is dedicated to giving young brass players the strongest possible start—grounded in solid fundamentals, meaningful musical understanding, and a deep sense of joy and wonder in making music.