Dr. Suzuki called his approach the “Mother Tongue Approach” because it uses basic ideas from language development. He noticed that very young children from all over Japan were able to successfully imitate their own language and dialect. He thought that this represented a high level of ability that could be duplicated in music study if only he used the same approach. Hundreds of thousands of children all over the world have benefited from his method, which is based on the following ten points:

1. Early Start
   Education begins at birth and lessons can start as early as
   age 3, but it is never too late to begin.
   
   
2. Every Child Can Learn
   Dr. Suzuki believes that every child can be educated. He believes that tests for so called "musical talent" are a waste of time because every child has the potential to achieve at a high level. The most important factor is a commitment to devote time every day to home practice and to listen to the recordings.
   
   
3. Parent Involvement
   One parent learns the basic skills on the child's instrument as well as techniques for home practice. Enthusiasm and patience are more important than musical experience.
   
   
4. Daily Listening
   Children listen for several hours each day to recordings of the pieces they are studying, as well as performances by concert artists, to develop memory and musical sensitivity. They learn the music naturally while doing other things.
   
   
5. Repetition for Mastery
   Students review their old pieces with the accompaniment CD daily to improve their technique as well as sensitivity to phrasing and musical feeling.
   
   
6. Developing Basic Skills
   Each child works at his/her own rate. The initial rate of progress has little to do with the final level of achievement. Many fine students have started very slowly. Students learn how to learn by using a patient and systematic approach to master new skills.
   
   
7. Positive Approach
   Enjoyment is a basic part of the learning process, not something added later. The teacher demonstrates constructive ways to praise the child's success as well as supportive and creative ways to work for further improvement.
   
   
8. Individual and Group Lessons Each Week
   In addition to the individual lesson, children learn ensemble skills while gaining confidence and enthusiasm through games, solos, and group practice at the weekly group lesson. Students and parents are also expected to observe other lessons.
   
   
9. Music Reading
   Children learn to speak before they learn to read, and students learn to play with good tone, posture, and musical technique before learning the musical symbols for the sounds that they can produce. The Kodaly music class teaches the basic skills of singing, ear training, and music theory through songs and games. This prepares students for music reading class and string ensemble.
   
   
10. Accompaniment CD
    After careful study of the teaching points of each piece, students practice with the accompaniment CD to improve rhythmic skills, timing, and musical expression. Ensemble students learn their parts much more quickly by working with the special ensemble practice CD of their own part.