The Suzuki and O’Connor Methods: A Foundational Comparison of Methodology for the Beginning Violinist
Chelsea Goolcharan · Aquila Digital Community (University of Southern Mississippi) · 2018
This research examines both the Suzuki and O’Connor violin methods for the beginner. Varying aspects of the methods are studied including theory, printed materials, recordings of the music to be played, observations of the methods in action, and the teacher’s approach to the beginner violinist. In both methods, teachers begin lessons with scales and progress to simple compositions. The differences lie in the musical genre taught, the vocabulary used, and notation style. The Suzuki method emphasizes a classical style while the O’Connor method focuses on improvisation. Both methods included both group and individual classes. One major difference in instruction is parental participation in the Suzuki method. The style of instrument used is another difference: the Suzuki method starts with a box violin while the O’Connor method uses a standard violin. This research serves as a tool to better understand the different teaching methods and techniques.