The Hartt Suzuki Program is one of the largest and most reputable Suzuki programs in the country.
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki said, “Musical ability is not an inborn talent, but an ability which can be developed. Any child who is properly trained can develop musical ability, just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential of every child is unlimited.” The faculty in the Hartt Suzuki Program utilize the Suzuki Method to harness the potential of every child, providing a high level of musical education and excellence while promoting character development.
We offer Suzuki instruction in violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, trumpet, trombone, French horn, and piano for children as young as four. Students attend weekly private lessons and group classes (monthly for pianists and brass students).
In the Suzuki Program, parents/guardians are highly involved in the child’s learning - they attend all lessons and group classes, take notes for home practice, and serve as the home practice partner. Families in the Hartt Suzuki Program become a part of a larger community, developing relationships with other families and all faculty, not just their private teacher. It is a nurturing, supportive, child-first environment.
In addition to weekly lessons and group classes, we also offer multiple Suzuki string orchestras, the annual summer Hartt Suzuki Institute, and the annual Spring Suzuki String and Guitar Workshop.
The root of the Suzuki Method and its philosophy is that every child has talent. It is the learning environment, not their genetics, that determines the success of each child. Dr. Suzuki observed that all children learn to communicate and speak their native languages with ease. Through repetition in their environments and a nurturing atmosphere, they learn. The same process can be used to teach music. New skills are broken down into small, attainable steps, and we encourage listening to the Suzuki reference recordings as a sound model. Relationships between the child, caregiver, and the teacher are built through mutual support and respect.
In addition to their private lessons, Suzuki students participate in group classes, which reinforce what they’re learning in their private lessons. Students and families support each other and grow together. The social aspects of being in a group class with other children motivates home practice. By learning a shared repertoire, Suzuki students can play together with students from our program, as well as those throughout the country and across the world.
Dr. Suzuki’s goal was not simply to develop professional musicians, but to nurture loving human beings and help develop each child’s character through the study of music.
How to Enroll
Families in the Hartt Suzuki Program begin by completing a series of observations of private lessons and group classes the semester before their own formal instruction begins. These observations are free of charge and allow children and their practice partners to see the “Suzuki Triangle” - the relationship between child, teacher, and caregiver - at work.
After observations, students are placed with a private teacher on their chosen instrument. For the first six-weeks of the semester, caregivers attend parent education classes, to develop tools for working with their children at home.
| Type of Lesson | 30 minutes | 45 minutes | 60 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki piano, flute, trumpet, or French horn | $51.50 | $69.50 | $89.50 |
| Suzuki strings or guitar | $64.50 | $81.00 | $103.00 |
Meet Our Team
Suzuki Faculty
Instrumental Studies
HCD Music
HCD Music
HCD Music
Instrumental Studies
Dean's Office for Hartt
Questions?
Call us at 860.768.5593 or e-mail us at hcdlesson@hartford.edu.