Download all the Suzuki Violin Book Recordings - Updated Links for Audio

July 18, 2023 at 06:54 PM · Here is a suggestion from a Jaime Pier, for those who wish to purchase and download:

"For the Amazon link, use the "Purchase Options" dropdown and then choose "MP3 Music" - it will allow you to purchase the album and download the mp3 files to your computer without any subscription. iTunes will also let you buy the album (looks like it's $1 more than Amazon though) and download the mp3 files. Once you've purchased the mp3 files and have them on your computer, you can upload them to any device you like.

It may prompt you to download iTunes/Amazon's music downloading program if you don't have those installed, and I'm not sure that you can buy them from a phone."

July 19, 2023 at 02:47 AM · I wonder if these recordings are even a good idea. Obviously such recordings did not exist when I took my lessons. But I do not remember any of my teachers ever playing for me to demonstrate how it is done (I heard my very first teacher in a recital; my second teacher once promised me to play the Chaconne for me when she had it practiced enough but she never did). I hIf Ihaeard my fourth and last teacher several times in concerts, once an evening with all three Brahms sonatas* but in lessons he did not play.

My third teacher told me it was his policy to never play for students. He was afraid to discourage them when they heard the big distance between his execution and their honest efforts. I think he had a point and I am afraid the distance between youngsters and Hilary Hahn is at least as large and potentially discouraging.

* I was an adult at that point and I noticed an idiosyncrasy of his: He often started long notes senza vibrato and began vibrating eventually, in my opinion far too often. Nonetheless I have been using this trick too; I hope discreetly enough.

July 19, 2023 at 04:58 PM · Albrecht, listening is one of the best things that a student can do to improve their playing, just like immersing yourself in the sounds of another language is the best way to learn that language. There is out there a notion that listening is somehow "cheating," but it's a pretty old-fashioned idea. The Suzuki method has been extremely effective, and listening is one of its primary tools. Suzuki is predicated on language learning - children are immersed in language, and that helps them learn it and become fluent in their own language. Similarly, listening to well-played music helps a student to learn to play it. I - like most Suzuki teachers - would recommend listening to a variety of versions, but it has to start somewhere, and the Suzuki recordings keep getting better and better. Here are some more in-depth thoughts about the matter, in this article.

July 23, 2023 at 06:30 PM · Another vote here in favor of recordings - and in favor of pupils hearing accomplished teachers and performers as part of the learning process.

I did my first playing in elementary school, first by ear, on a half-sized fiddle, before I had my first teacher. Although I was never a Suzuki pupil, my early experience showed me the value of learning first to play by ear.

All six of my teachers helped me greatly, simply by playing portions of my then-current studies and repertoire during lessons. Far from intimidating me, this part of teaching inspired me. I will never forget the special “kick” I got at my first lesson - just from hearing and watching my first teacher tune up and then do something like 5 seconds of simple scales and arpeggios, ending with a nice vibrato on the top A. To this day, it’s still her sound in particular that I strive to emulate. In fairness to my five other teachers, I must add that they all had sounds I admired, sounds that inspired me.

Yes, I very much favor listening to multiple artists and interpretations. Thanks to today’s technology, it’s a lot quicker and easier to do this now than it was in my childhood. Cases in point: V.com and YouTube. I make use of such resources often - I’m sure a lot of us do - to get some brush-up training and valuable pointers.