The Music Within Us

Q: I’ve heard of the “Suzuki Method”. How is this different?

Frequently Asked Questions

A: We at The Music Within Us™ actually share several key philosophies with those of Dr. Suzuki: namely, that children are capable of being taught to produce beautiful music on an instrument at an early age, and that parental involvement is a key determinant in a child’s interest and ability to develop their highest potential through music.

However, our approach is a unique developmental program in violin tailored to the needs of the individual child, and was created and refined by Betty Haag-Kuhnke over the past thirty years in Chicago. We do not believe that there is a single “formula” or even a pre-defined sequence of repertoire that can be followed with every child to achieve their highest potential.

Instead, our years of experience and unparalleled results have shown us that the teacher’s judgment and ability to provide what the child needs when the child needs it—in cooperation with involved parents working together for the sake of the child—are the key determinants in achieving the shared goals of lifelong learning and music appreciation through study of the violin.

Q: Why do all preschool-aged children begin with group lessons? Aren’t private lessons better?

A: Over the past thirty years that this approach has been applied successfully in the Chicago area, we have seen that children, especially in early childhood (ages 3-5), learn and progress faster and with greater enjoyment of the instrument when taught initially in a group setting. We maintain class sizes for weekly lessons at a maximum of four students, in order to ensure a proper balance of peer-to-peer and teacher-to-student interaction. We have also found that the supportive learning environment created by multiple parents with similar aged children going through a process together is an important feature of The Music Within Us™ experience.

This being said, we recognize that every child progresses at his or her own pace. Therefore, we closely monitor each child’s progress within a group and may regroup children after a semester according to their rate of progress. This enables the faster learners not to be held back and slower ones not to feel intimidated. At the appropriate time in every child’s development, the lesson format transitions to a weekly private session for the student, their parent, and the teacher.

The concept of mutual learning, which is established from the start of the program, is reinforced throughout development in biweekly repertoire class for students at all levels, which are supplemental to the weekly lessons and integral to the overall program.

Q: What are the advantages of a program-based approach versus other private studios offering violin lessons to children?

A: Just as you may choose a preschool or primary school program for its ability to nurture and provide your child with solid preparation for the next phase of their education, you should be comfortable that your child’s first teacher on the violin is providing a framework for techniques that will enable your child to advance and develop as a player, and eventually have the skills and freedom to choose what role music will play in his or her life.

We offer a developmental program beginning in preschool and continuing through high school, which is based on the belief that music training is a long-term process and part of a comprehensive educational plan for your child. Our faculty are required to have a high level of proficiency on their instrument, extensive performing experience, and importantly, other life experiences which inform their teaching of music in the context of its relevance to pursuing excellence in any chosen field.

Our goal at The Music Within Us™ is to provide an opportunity for your child to develop a long-term relationship with a teacher as well as other students of all ages, and for you to experience the benefits of a learning community of other families with a shared vision of music training in their children’s lives.

Come observe a class to learn more...