Are Competitions Good for Children?

I have been asked -- do Suzuki students win competitions? The short answer is yes. Who? The two who come immediately to mind are Joshua Bell, violinist and Seizo Azuma, pianist. But this is not the emphasis of the Suzuki approach to music.

The Suzuki philosophy is based upon the spirit that all children can learn to make beautiful music and develop beautiful hearts. The creativity of being a musician is a "talent" that is nurtured and trained. With the belief that all children should learn to play a musical instrument came a pedagogy that has proven it is possible. Well-trained teachers, high expectations and a nurturing environment make learning this way successful.

Because music is meant to be shared, listened to, and created in the moment, we need an audience. We have many performance opportunities at the Suzuki School of Newton. This weekend is just another example with our student solo recitals. Our faculty are the first to step right up to perform in our faculty recitals (see recordings on our Facebook page). In our Suzuki community, the emphasis on performing is because of its educational aspects and sharing with others. Each performance can lead to better understanding and encourage effort -- the heart of accomplishment is hard work. Performing is a celebration, not a competition.

So what may be the value of "competitions"? First and foremost, as cited in these articles, is the opportunity to challenge oneself to do better. Again, if used to incite personal growth and effort, it can be positive. However, the "competition" itself -- often a series of public performances -- are meant as entertainment for the audience. It is also used for publicity and not necessarily for the inner growth of the musician. The pressure can become debilitating. As mentioned in both of these articles, competitions can be productive if used for their educational aspect. If winning becomes the focus, it can be seriously detrimental.

But I do believe that we should aspire towards excellence. At the heart of the Suzuki training that is part of the Suzuki teacher development program, precise and systematic training is part of our methodology. The repertoire has been chosen for specific pedagogic goals, and this is learned through the teacher courses and workshops our faculty have attended. We strive to encourage and nurture the best out of each student. We believe that every child can -- thus all our Suzuki Preschool students receive music instruction as part of our curriculum just as they learn the alphabet and counting. However, when a good Suzuki students plays so beautifully and precisely, we are tempted by the idea of competitions.

By not inciting the spirit of "winning" we also avoid the consequence of "losing." Thus, we celebrate each step along the way, and performances become part of the educational experience. We submit positive comments in the "chat" at our Zoom recitals because there is always something good we can find in the student's effort as they performed in the recital. And in this way of thinking, we "win" because the student does not give up. Winning for us, is when every student succeeds.

Sachiko Isihara
Executive Director