The "Mother Song" Method

Much has been taken by numerous music education scholars from Shinichi Suzuki's approach to music learning. The Suzuki method is based on the notion that all children learn to speak their mother tongue easily without having to formally study the language. He began to apply the basic principles of language acquisition to the learning of music, and called his method the mother-tongue approach. The ideas of parent responsibility, loving encouragement, constant repetition, etc., are some of the special features of the Suzuki approach.

As listening plays the most important role in the acquisition of basic musical knowledge, the kind of sounds the child listens to when he/she is growing up will determine the nature and quality of the sounds produced by the child's voice or instrument. In the same manner we as children speak our parents' language and accent, we as musicians mimic the musical sounds that we hear as models.

I am privileged to have a mother who not only is a nurturing, loving, and encouraging person; but who also is a wonderful singer. Though she never walked the venue of being a professional singer, she possesses a wonderful lyric voice that touches the heart. Her vibrant singing voice exposes a perfect pitch center and a well-controlled and expressive vibrato.

I remember many times hearing her sing, enjoying her voice's beauty and expressiveness. I always wanted to somehow imitate those melodic lines emanating from her musically well-rounded voice.

As a child, I always liked music and played recorder, harmonica, and guitar. I remember very vividly when I first hear my first violin teacher play at a school event. I thought, "That's it! I want to play violin!" That day, I found the answer to my desire to imitate my mom's wonderful singing sounds. After some talking over and asking for lessons, I managed to leave my guitar studies in exchange for a thriving desire to learn to play the violin. I began my musical journey to melodic exploration and deeper musical expression.

Thanks mom! Thanks for the nurturing experience of your musical voice.

In various occasions, I have been labeled by my colleagues and listeners as a "romantic violinist," or someone who they perceive is an ideal "inspiring singing violinist." I know that I am very unlikely to be enlisted along with Permlan's sound and flawless technique, or Heifetz's solid and knightly interpretations. I have always had a deep respect for both of these masters' accomplishments and superb artistic capabilities. However, one thing is certain: If my violin's sound and melodic lines have inspired some, it is due to the wonderful, God-given gift of having a model for good nature, sound and musical expression I have had in my mother.

Though my exposure to the Talent Education movement and encounter with Dr. Suzuki's mother-tongue approach began much later, I can say that I have experienced the reality of Suzuki's method through my childhood search for the musical sounds I heard from my mother's enchanting voice.

I am grateful to God of having such an experience with the "Mother-Song" method.

Thank you mom!

- Rigo.

The First Musician in the Bible

Question:

Have you wondered who was the first musician recorded in the bible? What instrument did he play?

Answer:

Jubal, Harp and "Organ" (it was really the flute, which the King James translates as"organ")

Jubal had a brother named Jabal, who was a country cowboy/camper, and an old-fashioned one (he used tents).

He also had another brother who was a welder, Tubalcain.

Genesis 4:20-22 (King James Version):

20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

Lamech and his wives, The skill of Cain's descendants

One of Cain's wicked race is the first recorded, as having broken the law of marriage. Hitherto, one man had but one wife at a time; but Lamech took two. Wordly things, are the only things that carnal, wicked people set their hearts upon, and are most clever and industrious about. So it was with this race of Cain. Here was a father of shepherds, and a father of musicians, but not a father of the faithful. Here is one to teach about brass and iron, but none to teach the good knowledge of the Lord: here are devices how to be rich, and how to be mighty, and how to be merry; but nothing of God, of his fear and service. Present things fill the heads of most. Lamech had enemies, whom he had provoked. He draws a comparison betwixt himself and his ancestor Cain; and flatters himself that he is much less criminal. He seems to abuse the patience of God in sparing Cain, into an encouragement to expect that he may sin unpunished. (Ge 4:25)
- Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible -

The Real Purpose of Music

J. S. Bach, the proliferous composer of the late baroque period once wrote;

"The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul."

Let's keep focusing on the good and greater values of music!

-Rigo Murillo

Somebody's Thought

Anybody can become somebody. However, not everybody believes that. If you believe that anybody can become somebody, you probably will. In fact, you can't become somebody if you think you're just anybody. But everybody who believes and acts upon the notion that anybody can become somebody certainly will.

Just for thought.

Violin Studio Group Lessons

Hi.

My studio's violin group lessons will start in November. They will take place on Saturday at 10:00 AM at our home in Rowlett. We will be working on music for the recital in December as well as on other material for the upcoming concerts.