Philosophy

Little Stars Philosophy

We believe young children should:

• Experience music in a variety of ways that will bring pleasure and enjoyment to them throughout their lives.
• Experience musical activities and materials appropriate to their developmental needs and age.
• Be allowed to develop their musical potential to the fullest.
• Be encouraged to express themselves musically and often in an environment which nurtures and reinforces in a positive manner.

Adults working with Children will:

• Provide musical activities, whether planned or spontaneous, as a part of daily life.
• Offer musical opportunities—listening, singing, creating, moving, and experimenting with sound.
• Emphasise enjoyment of the experience, rather than an 'expected' outcome.
• Participate in musical activities that enhance further learning—language acquisition, listening skills, auditory discrimination, and social skills.
• Supply an environment in which children can freely explore and engage in musical experiences.

Why?

• A main goal of music is to enrich lives through music by developing aesthetic senses.
• Balanced musical activities will contribute to the development of every child.
• Music can support developing concepts and skills in children enjoyably and without pressure.
• Children are natural musicians! Given the opportunity, they will express themselves musically in many creative ways. Nurture this.

Suzuki Early Childhood Concepts

Every Child Can Learn

We should hold high expectations for each and every child. Each child's response to a particular learning experience will be unique, but whether the child appears to learn quickly or not, learning does and will occur. Just as a parent expects that their child will eventually speak, so they should expect each child to excel. Keep the steps small until mastery is achieved, and then continue to nurture ability toward excellence.

Ability Develops Early

Young children are capable of extraordinary accomplishments. If they can learn language, they can accomplish many other tasks as well. An early start, while the pathways in the brain are at their optimum growth rate, will create stronger brain connections and a great foundation on which to build. The time will come when this growth rate slows and the best chance to develop those abilities has passed.

Environment Nurtures Growth

"Change the environment, not the child." Dr. Suzuki said this after adopting a nephew into his family. Man is the son of his environment, and will constantly absorb and change in response to the stimuli surrounding him. Children will respond both positively and negatively to their surrounds. It is an adult's responsibility to demonstrate the behaviour you would like to see in your child, and let them learn by example.

Children Learn from One Another

In younger children, seeing an older student, whom they perceive as being 'like them' motivates them in a way that their parents or adult teachers cannot. They see what another child is doing and they want to do it, too. When they see another child 'do' successfully, they believe that they can too. Often, the memory that a young child will have is of active participation even thought they are passivley observing.

Success Breeds Success

With each step achieved, more can be added. The first words may take months to speak, but soon many more follow quickly. Children love repetition and are happy to continue the learning process if given the opportunity. Parents must indulge the desire for constant review and repetition.

Parental Involvement is Critical

The parent sees their child more than any other person. The child hears his mother's voice from before birth. The parent is, therefore, each child's first teacher. If this opportunity is maximized, the child's development will be stronger and his future abilities more secure.

Encouragement is Essential

A colleague once said, "I have never met anyone who says 'Please, don't praise me!'" Everyone needs encouragement. Praise for a good effort, a hug or a smile—all of these communicate acceptance and make a person want to try again. This is an important facet of creating a desire to learn.