It’s 9:30 am, as parents with their infants and toddlers gather with me around our circle. I see their smiles widen as we listen to “Eine Kliene Nachtmusik” by Mozart. The children begin to focus as they gently roll a brightly colored ball back and forth to each other.

“Good Morning, Good Morning!” we sing aloud as we greet each other and shake hands. The class moves smoothly along with plenty of turns for each child or parent on the lollypop drum, xylophone, glockenspiel, woodblock and triangle.

In the Suzuki baby toddler class, “taking turns” develops independence and allows the child to also learn patience. If a child doesn’t want to take the turn, I quickly hand the mallet to mom for the turn. It’s a no pressure environment.

We sing familiar songs, creatively dance with scarves and shakers, chant familiar rhymes, count, and use our bodies to make the rhythm. “Can you find the beat on your knees?” as we chant “Pease Porridge Hot.” We continue to explore the rhythm on our shoulders, nose and on our heads! We have parents in class whose first language is other than English and we take turns counting in Spanish, Tagalog, Mandarin, Thai and Korean.

The hour has flown by, and we are now at our last activity of the class. I’m reading my favorite Mem Fox book, “Where is the Green Sheep?” The children sit as close as possible to listen and watch in rapt attention. They take delight as the story unfolds. “Recipe” cards are handed to each parent at the end of class so they can note their child’s newest accomplishment. We celebrate each child’s small step toward independence and increased confidence.

“My child is too young for music lessons!” I hear time and again from parents. I know that many are skeptical, but as a Suzuki teacher, I believe that musical ability can be developed in all children from a very young age. No prior knowledge or musical training is required to participate in this class. It is carefully designed so that every child has the opportunity to develop language and listening skills, to recognize size, pitch and motion, to develop counting and motor skills, and to develop social and emotional skills.

Children are not separated by age, because Suzuki teachers believe that children grow steadily under the stimulating environment offered by the older children. The experiences in Suzuki baby toddler class lay the foundation for all later learning and develop skills necessary to succeed in school and later in life.

The famous Japanese music educator-philosopher Sinichi Suzuki (1898-1998) recognized that all children throughout the world learn to speak their native language effortlessly by listening to adults and children in their environment. He believed that the “mother-tongue” approach to learning can be applied to the study of music and all subjects. This natural approach includes much listening, repetition, praise and performance. Dr. Suzuki believed that the earlier children started, the better. What is truly unique about Suzuki early childhood education, whether it is for music lessons or classroom study of math and science, is the sincere belief in the unlimited potential of all children.

Alyse Korn holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami and a Master of Music degree from CalArts in Jazz piano performance. She is a Suzuki piano and Early Childhood Music specialist certified by the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Alyse serves as the State Community Outreach chair of the Music Teacher Association of California, and in the Santa Clarita Valley branch is Improvisation chair. She has been teaching music to all ages for 24 years and maintains a full piano studio in Canyon Country. She offers free trial classes in the Suzuki method for children ages 0-3. For more information and registration visit www.alysekorn.com or call (661) 510-7506.