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Whatever the method is used, how well a student learns and competes appears to depend on the the individual and the teacher (e.g., after a certain level, how polished a piece needs to be before the teacher allows the student to move on to the next piece.)</p>
<p>Before DS’s teacher taught DS, I think she used the traditional method (whatever it means) and she often took a job of taking in high school students for preparing for music competition. She is not the kind of teacher who would pamper the student, especially who she thinks has the potential of learning well. DS knew the consequence if he did not make enough progress in the assigned piece. She mellowed a little bit when DS was older. When he was young, many times he was in tears after lesson. I heard at one time when a student was particular lazy and did not practice without a good reason, she just asked the student leave in the middle of her lesson. She was the most strict teacher DS had ever had.</p>
<p>Strictly speaking, Suzuki method is not for bringing up a musician. It is more a education philosophy whose purpose is to bring up a “fine” person. The music instrument happens to be the tool. It does not care about the end results (i.e., the student performs well or not) or the achievement. It pays attention to the process itself only. It thinks it is a good discipline when a child does this consistently since young age and over the long time. So, whether it is a good or effective music learning method is irrelevant.</p>