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Why Start Musical Training at Such an Early Age?
by Kay C. Clone
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Even at birth the ear as a sense organ is fully developed. Why wait longer?
By the time a child is three he has received three years of education--planned or accidental.
- A child's powers of observation and ability to imitate are tremendous by age three.
- Musical responses, like language, can become intuitive or
built-in if one begins early.
- Challenges for coordination of each hand and ear can help a child's general development.
- Music study following Suzuki's philosophy and methods becomes a shared source of pleasure for parent and child, building a relationship that can develop most easily before the child's school years.
- Good healthy outlets, especially social ones, are provided in the Suzuki method. The children's shared playing skills provide an early team experience without competition.
- As pupils of all ages play together, the music which they play tends to unite them.
- Children are less self-conscious in the early years and are more likely to share their enthusiasm with friends, playing for them, etc., and developing a good self-image.
- They have more time now than they ever will again. The higher level of accomplishment before age 8 makes drop-outs minimal.
- Young children don't get bored with repetition of basic skills and don't become impatient when progress is slow. They just love to play.
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