Suzuki Talent Education Association Of Australia (Wa) Inc
School in Nedlands

Born into a important family of seven children, he was the son of a violin manufacturer and spent much of his time as a child in his father’s factory. At the age of seventeen and during a trip to a local book store, Suzuki by chance came across Tolstoy’s Diary. It was during this time that he was introduced to Albert Einstein, who in turn introduced him to a fresh circle of intellectuals. This exposure served to further enhance his belief in the correct of all children to become sensitive and noble human beings of lofty character’. It was also during this period that Suzuki became greatly moved by the music of Mozart. He describes Mozart’s music as a tool by which I can further the happiness of all children’. After eight years in Germany Suzuki returned home with the intention to perform and teach music. Teaching soon took precedence in his life and it was the ideals presented through Tolstoy, Einstein and Mozart that formed the base of his tomorrow approach to music education. Suzuki was teaching violin at the Imperial Conservatory and had formed a string quartet with his brothers, called the Suzuki Quartet, when one day he was struck with a discovery that all Japanese children speak Japanese’. He realized that it was taken for granted that all children around the world master language, grammar and subtle variations of sound at a very young age and people in general felt that the skill children display was inborn. He then concluded that any kid is able to display highly best abilities if only the correct methods are used in training. It was during this time that a father came to him and asked him to teach his four year impaired son to play the violin. At first Suzuki had no idea how to approach teaching such a young child, then he realized that his discovery about language would apply to learning a musical instrument. And thus the Mother Tongue’ method was born. Suzuki called his method Talent Education’ which began an educational movement which has spread around the world. He spent the rest of his life teaching his philosophy in a search for human potentials. Students, teachers, and performers all around the world mourned the loss. Suzuki was a unique human being who was concerned with the emotional welfare of all humanity and old his artistry to further his commitment. His teaching reflected his philosophy that there were no limitations to the capabilities of young people. Established in the hasty 1970’s, the Association now has over 600 families and teacher members.