Customer Reviews

Suzuki Violin School (Suzuki Violin School Cd): Vol. 1

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The Suzuki philosophy is based upon the idea that children can learn music in the same manner they do their native language, through repetitive listening. This listening is then followed up with 1) Individual Instruction with a trained Suzuki teacher 2) Group lessons on a bi-weekly / weekly basis 3) Parent Involvement 4) Encouragement. Students begin lessons as early as two years old and through repetition of small and enjoyable steps begin building a music vocabulary. This high quality CD gives a foundation for pitch memory and a framework of music language from which a well trained teacher can build upon. There is also a version of this CD which is performed by David Nadien; the benefit is there are also recordings of the piano accompaniments without the violin so that students can practice with the piano. Both the Suzuki and Nadien versions of the Suzuki Violin School recordings are fabulous. My only wish is that the final two volumes, 9 and 10, were also on recordings.

I am a "Suzuki kid" myself, now a Suzuki Violin teacher. This is Volume I of 10 in the Suzuki Method Violin repertoire. It is vital that you read Dr. Suzuki's book, "Nurtured By Love" before beginning any Suzuki program. Technique is nothing without a full understanding of the underlying philosophy here, so make sure you agree with Dr. Suzuki's ideas, then find a teacher who feels the same way. You and your child are in for the time of your lives!

As a violin teacher, I bought this CD for one of my students. However, I am NOW ordering the Cd of the same volume performed by a different violinist. The performances on this CD are, unfortunately, all very sharp, in other words, not in tune. I do not recommend any student listening to them, as their use as a reference for intonation will be incorrect.

Several people have commented on this recording sounding sharp. I suspect it has to do with different tuning standards. the standard tuning pitch here in the States is A 440, but in other parts of the world A 445 is often used. It would sound sharp by comparison, but is not necessarily "wrong".

Suzuki's selections for volume 2 are not only carefully paced for the advancing student, but a joy to listen to. The songs are varied and engaging for children and parents alike. The melodies are more complicated than volume 1, and explore several different keys and techniques. Gavotte from Mignon is especially enjoyable, with its changes in texture. The song is as fun to play as it is to listen to. Other favorites include a Handel Bouree, Schumann's "The Two Grenadiers", and Paganini's "Theme from the Witches Dance". There are also several "essentials" such as Schubert's Waltz and Minuet in G.

I highly recommend this CD as a way to engage young children in classical music. The songs are not so long, the melodies are clear and catchy, and the music introduces the violin in a child-friendly format.

It's really unfortunate that the performance on this CD does seem to sound too sharp as pointed out by a previous reviewer, who's a Suzuki teacher. Our violins (both mine and my daugther's) always sound quite a bit flatter than this CD after being tuned by my daughter's Suzuki teacher, who has perfect pitch. One time earlier on, I also tried tuning our violins w/ this CD as aid (thinking our violins had gone too flat), and the teacher thought they were oddly out of tune more than usual (or in an odd way I guess since they were sharp, not flat) -- well, she didn't really say so, but her facial expression and gesture said it all. :-) I never really brought this up w/ her before, but I think I will in our next lesson. And perhaps, I'll buy a different CD for this series as well -- maybe the David Nadien version as suggested elsewhere.

This CD is incomplete. Song No. 6 is supposed to repeat and it does not. It also does not include the piano accompaniment tracks as most other versions do. There are way better Suzuki CDs out there.

Okay, I have to pipe up after having read more than one review saying that the pitch on the cd is sharp.
Please, ignore them.
The performing artist on the cd is a master. It's Dr. Suzuki himself. I guarantee you, he does not play out of tune.
What the other reviewers are talking about is the fact that they themselves are actually flat and just don't realize it. Very common for musicians who are good but not great. As for the whole perfect pitch to verify it, again, ignore it. All perfect pitch is, is the ability to recognize a tone with no reference. Doesn't mean they are perfectly in tune. I know. I have perfect pitch myself. I've been playing 27 years, majored in violin performance at college, and have played for recording studios and various professional orchestras throughout the midwest. I use a KORG tuner when I practice to make sure every note is EXACTLY in tune. I was pretty surprised when I first started using the tuner at how flat I had been playing.
Point is, don't let those comments change your mind about the cd. Buy it or don't buy it based on if you want a cd played by Suzuki or someone else; if you want just the pieces played or if you want additional tracks with piano only.

The product came very quickly, which was nice. However, the book is all crinkled up and crushed, like people sat on it.

Thanks for sending this so quickly. It is just what we needed. I appreciate your attention to this order. You did a great job with it.