Music Program

All students are required to participate in the enriching Suzuki Charter School music program. This program provides access to three half-hour instrument group lessons on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and two half-hour choral/theory lessons each week. Our trained Suzuki music staff provides group instruction for violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, guitar, flute and recorder. For students attaining a greater degree of proficiency, quartets or other chamber groups are offered. Children are given many opportunities to perform at monthly assemblies, at concerts and at various community events.

The music program for the 2010/11 year comprises of three themes:

Suzuki Repertoire
Baroque Music
Jazz Music

School group lessons are not a substitute for a student’s one-on-one individual lessons and his/her own group activities offered. Students are required to follow the Suzuki Approach music program outside of school (not provided by the Charter School) in order to keep up with the method of learning received at school group lessons.

Please note that a number of music organizations share the same premises, but are entities unto themselves and separate from Suzuki Charter School. The Society for Talent Education (Strings) and the Edmonton Suzuki Piano School have their offices in the north wing. These Suzuki organizations and a number of independent Suzuki music teachers use our rooms to teach private lessons.

Choral Instruction

The Choral Program at Suzuki Charter School attempts to teach more than singing. It actually teaches true musicianship, that is music literacy and capability, through singing. The pedagogical philosophy and principles involved have ancient European roots, but were solidified / collated into a “method”, primarily by a group of Hungarian teachers under the leadership of the composer Zoltan Kodaly, during the middle of the twentieth century.

It became known as the Kodaly method. A summary of the basic principles involved:

Music belongs to everyone, and it has the ability to profoundly influence the character of a human being for goodness and beauty, therefore everyone should be taught music.
The music education of a child should begin nine months before the birth of its mother.
Only the very best music is good enough for children (and adults): authentic folk music (including children’s folk songs, games and dances) and classical music. Imagine if children’s bodies where nourished only on a steady diet of junk food. Imagine if children’s hearts and ears were nourished only on pop music.
Singing is the basis of all music, and music making, therefore music education should be singing-based.
A child’s musical mother tongue is the children’s (folk) songs and nursery rhymes of the culture in which it is raised. The child who is aurally immersed in this rich treasury will emerge a musician.

Sound familiar? The Kodaly and Suzuki methods developed in different parts of the world roughly at the same time. They are different, each stressing slightly different aspects, but complement one another very well, creating a well-rounded musician. The children at Suzuki Charter School are very lucky.

Assemblies

Assemblies are scheduled once per month at 9 a.m. with the exception of the Beginning of School assembly. This assembly is on the first day of the school year at 11:00 a.m. Musical content is placed at the beginning. Parents are always warmly welcomed to attend. Students are given many opportunities to perform throughout the year featuring different instruments in a variety of combinations. Our music staff treats us to a wonderful motivating concert inspiring us all with the joy of music-making. All students are encouraged to wear their blue Suzuki t-shirts on these special assembly days.

Concerts

Concerts are a culmination of hard work by students, teachers, and parents. The events should be special and deserving of special attire. Parents are asked to have the following concert dress wardrobe ready to be worn for special performing venues:

Plain white top
Plain black bottom
Black socks or tights
Black shoes