Competent Toastmaster Speaker Series (6) Work with words

Nurtured by Love

Once upon a time, when men wore powdered wigs and rode in gilded carriages, a baby boy was born in the beautiful town of Salzburg, Austria. When he grew up, that boy produced many pieces of beautiful music like this for people to enjoy even after hundreds of years. Yes, as you probably can tell from the music, that boy was Mozart and he has established himself as one of the greatest composer known to the mankind.

I am sure that you all believe that talent like Mozart exists. But do you believe that talent is inborn?

About fifty years ago, a Japanese scholar and educator, Dr. Suzuki made a startling discovery. Contrary to most traditional theories about talent, he found that talent is not inherited. The potential of each child is unlimited. This unlimited ability needs to be appreciated, nurtured and cultivated within a loving and positive environment. Talent can be learned and ability can be developed.

His discovery was based on his observation that young children all over the world learn speak their mother tongue naturally and easily, by simply hearing the sounds and rhythms of the language in the environment they grow up. They learn through hearing worlds and phrases repeatedly, then trying to imitate the sounds. Loving parents encourage and reinforce their children’s efforts to learn their language.

To Dr. Suzuki, music is just another language – a universal language to all children. Children are capable of developing their musical abilities as well as their linguistic abilities. An interesting research shows that from even before birth, children who listen to music are much happier and serener. They enjoy Vivaldi because the pulse matches their mothers’ heart beat. The music teaching method devised by Dr. Suzuki mimics the natural process of learning a language. Students learn to play music by listening to a teacher playing and /or a recording repeatedly, then imitating it. Very soon, the sounds and the rhythms of music will start to make sense and become nature to them. The music note reading only comes after the children have mastered the basic music playing techniques. Children can start this music learning program as early as three year old.

Another important aspect of the Suzuki method is to make learning a fun and loving experience. It emphasizes that teaching should instill enthusiasm and joy in students while maintaining a high learning standard. The Suzuki method requires children to learn music with the loving support and active participation from their parents. As a side effect of participating the Suzuki program, the relationship between children and parents become even closer. Mozart was probably one of the greatest musical geniuses who ever lived. However it was not just a coincidence that he was given a father, who was also a very good musician and composer. It was his father, who discovered his love for music in his early age, appreciated and nurtured his incredible music talent.

Just as Dr. Suzuki is not only a music educator, his theory is not limited to music education. His ultimate goals are for children to build a noble soul, to develop an appreciation of beauty, to give a sense of purpose to life, to learn the discipline of acquiring a skill and to become a fine human being. Hence the Suzuki theory is a valuable resource for parents who wish to teach their children and skills. The benefits of Suzuki method can be extended to many faces of the children’s life.

Dr. Suzuki has opened our hearts and minds to the fact that learning with love can be a great and glorious adventure and that miracles can happen anywhere when the environment of love is surrounding us.

Let me finish this speech with Dr. Suzuki’s famous words – “Where love is deep, much can be accomplished. ”

2001. 3. 22.Victoria