| What is the London Suzuki Group? |
| The London Suzuki Group (LSG) originates from 1972 when it was the pioneer Group teaching music in the Suzuki method in the United Kingdom. In 1978 it was established as a charity. Its primary objective is the provision of a broad musical education for children, normally aged from 3 to mid-teens, in line with the method and precepts of Dr Shinichi Suzuki. Every member of the LSG is also a member of the British Suzuki Institute which has the responsibility for training teachers, and furthering Dr Suzuki's work. |
| UK Suzuki teachers give lessons on an independent basis; there is no central Suzuki school or venue. The LSG invites all trained Suzuki teachers working in London to become members and puts on events to benefit the families of those teachers. It is an umbrella organisation which offers its teachers greater opportunities for their students than they could provide on their own. |
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The LSG specifically runs an annual concert, regular solo concerts, and the Bryanston residential summer music school. All the teachers organise regular public and private concerts to provide performing experience for their students. The LSG teachers also organise many workshops and music courses (both residential and nonresidential) during the year. Many teachers have amalgamated to make local Suzuki groups. The LSG now has instrumental groups like this in Dulwich, Bayswater, and North London. There is also a Thames Suzuki piano group. |
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Instruments taught are violin, viola, cello and piano
If you are interested in finding a Suzuki teacher for your child(ren), please have a look at our 'Teacher Profile' pages, under 'Teaching Information'. We advise that you select two or three teachers in your area and contact them directly using the details provided to enquire about beginning lessons. Once you have begun Suzuki lessons, please ask your teacher to talk to you about joining the LSG. |
| Structure of the LSG |
| The LSG consists of: teacher committee, teacher members, parents and children taught by the LSG teachers, trustees, a paid part-time administrator and a bursary committee. |
| The teacher committee meets regularly three times per term to further the work of the organisation |
| The trustees meet once or twice a term to oversee the financial affairs and the overall development plans of the LSG |
| The administrator coordinates all the activities of the membership |
| The bursary committee is responsible for allocating the money from our bursary fund. This fund assists lower income families who have shown great commitment to the Suzuki programme of learning, and yet cannot benefit from everything that is offered due to financial hardship |
| The LSG provides events that create a forum for all LSG teachers to meet and share ideas |
| The LSG produces a termly brochure called Stop Press which disseminates information around the whole group |
| The LSG is supporting an outreach project which is to take private Suzuki lessons into school ( Suzuki in Schools Initiative SuSI ) This means that many more children from lower income families are benefitting from the Suzuki Method of learning |
| The LSG always appreciates donations and sponsorship to support this project. |
| LSG Activities |
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Currently there are over 30 qualified Suzuki teachers and nearly 500 children receiving tuition. Each child has a weekly individual lesson and regular group instrumental classes. The parent has a very active role and is expected to attend both these classes and help with daily practise. |
| Who was Dr Suzuki and how did he teach? |
| Tuition follows the method and precepts of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki who began his school of music in Japan in 1948 and who aimed to stimulate and develop the inherent music abilities to be found in all children |
| The Suzuki approach requires considerable parent participation, regular practice and an understanding of Suzuki's Mother Tongue method. It is not necessary for the parent to have had any musical training themselves. The careful step-by-step learning and enjoyable group activities encourage the development of excellent technical skills, good musicianship and individually expressive and intelligent playing |
| Some Suzuki trained students will pursue a career in music but many others will carry with them into other walks of life the sensitivity, discipline and commitment to excellence developed through their musical training. To find out more follow the links from the About Suzuki Method menu |
