Review
- The habit of review, if established early, provides the benefit of a repertoire always at the student's fingertips. Review allows for very positive, pleasant experiences in solo playing and the fun of playing with a group at any time, without the bother of music books or stands.
- A Suzuki instructor at a Dubuque workshop commented, "You don't gain ability by learning new songs; you gain ability when you play review." Suzuki himself said that once the notes are learned, we can begin to make music with a piece. Here are some suggestions for beginning to make music.
- Review during each practice session, not just a matter of happenstance but as a planned part of the session.
- On a day when, for some reason, a full practice session on new or current materials is impossible, have the child perform an individual "play through" of old and familiar pieces.
- Include review listening in your regular listening schedule. The ease of review and depth of refinement is contingent on review listening.
- When a particularly tricky spot in a piece seems to have gotten away from the fingers, take these measures out of the piece and practice them in exactly the same disciplined manner as when you first learned them (e.g., play a particular shift correctly ten times, or stop before a low second finger spot and place the finger low, ten times). This should not take more than two or three minutes a day and, in a week, the skill will have been restored.
- Ask your child questions about earlier pieces. Encourage him or her to know what string and finger a piece begins on, what direction the bow goes, who the composer is--without your having to sing or hum the piece. (This is a good car game!)
- As your child plays a review piece, he/she should play at his/her current level of achievement. For example, if your child plays in book 4, he/she should play even "Twinkle" like a Book 4 piece!
- Have a system (list, chart, cards--be creative) recording every known piece for regular review. Some parents use two jars labeled "Do It" and Done It." All review pieces in the child's repertoire are written on slips of paper and placed in "Do It"; each day the child draws a seventh of the slips, plays those review pieces, and deposits the slips in "Done It." By the end of the week, "Do It" is empty, "Done It" is full, and all pieces --not just the favorites--have been reviewed equally. Charts are also available to facilitate the review process.
- Finally, enjoy review and the depth of refinement it offers. Rejoice in your child's expanding memory. One must be a little awed at the capacity for retention Suzuki children demonstrate and thrilled at the carry-over into other areas of life, both practically and philosophically.