Learner-centered education focus on the student's current level of development and knowledge. This model of teaching can be difficult in a large classroom, but Suzuki teachers are ideally set-up to engage with students in private lessons.

Learned-centered instruction contrasts with "teacher-centered" instruction, a more traditional method of teaching in a classroom setting (see quotes at the end for details). Teachers can easily get caught up in imparting their knowledge to students, communicating in ways that are not translated into learning, understanding or connecting in the student's mind. Teacher-centered instruction usually takes the form of talking (lecture), which may or may not relate to the student's experiences in a meaningful way (for retension). The amount and pacing of the information delivered by words is key for understanding, and can be tailored to the individual student during private lessons.

Lesson Example:

I will refer to the student by the name Andrew. He is about 9 years old. Andrew came to a summer lesson having forgotten how to play a B-flat major Twinkle (an exercise to help with the intonation in Gavotte from Mignon). He is bright, entertaining, and very good at getting people to answer questions for him without puzzling out an answer. His mom simply stated that they didn't do the exercise because they forgot how to do it.

I was in the middle of reading a text on the Montessori Method, so I decided to "guide" him toward an answer rather than "instruct" him. Well, if you were at home without me to help you, how might you start? (I don't know.) What's the name of the exercise? (B flat major twinkle.) What do you think the first note of the B flat major twinkle is? (I don't know.) What's the first note of the regular Twinkle? (~plays aaee~ "A".) Okay, so we have to find B flat, right? (I don't know what B flat is.) Sure you do. (Andrew plays a random note.) That's D. (Another random note.) That's F#.... [this happens a few more times].

Let's think about the alphabet. What letter comes after A? (B.) What finger comes after open A string? (1.) Does 1 make a B sound? (Yes.) Do we want B or B flat? (B flat.) Do you remember how to make a B flat? (~plays B flat~.) Good. You found B flat. That's where you're going to start twinkle! (~plays Bb Bb EE~ stops.) You can do it. Try again. (~plays BbBb GG~ ~plays BbBb FF~ stops and looking at mom with a huge grin.) That sounds right to me. (Andrew plays all of twinkle until Eb and gets stuck sliding 3 and 4 around haphazardly.) Do you remember this section of Gavotte from Mignon where we were practicing getting 2 fingers really close together? ~I play D G F- CDEbFEbDCD~. (Yes! ~Plays twinkle from the beginning and plays a H3 for the Eb~.) Let's use a 4 for that note so we can put the 3 right next to it, like in the song. (~Plays the whole first part of twinkle correctly~ stops.) Wow, that was awesome, can you play the whole twinkle? (~Plays it falteringly, then plays it again~.) You figured that out by yourself! I barely told you anything! Next time, you will be able to remember at home, too.

This process took 15 minutes instead of the 1 minute it would have taken me to "remind" him or write the Bb Major Twinkle notes out on the paper. But it was worth it. Andrew was elated that he could play the twinkle by himself. He took ownership of what he'd learned, and smiled for the whole lesson, proud of HIS accomplishment.

Learner-Centered Education:

Learner centered environments "pay careful attention to the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs that learners bring to the educational setting" (HPL 133).

"If teaching is conceived as constructing a bridge between the subject matter and the student, learner-centered teachers keep a constant eye on both ends of the bridge" (HPL 136).

Teacher-Centered Education:

"The legitimacy of traditional classroom instruction rests on the teacher's expertise as the source of legitimate knowledge" (Collins & Halverson, 44).

"Traditionally, teacher-centered philosophies emphasize the importance of transferring knowledge, information, and skills from the older (presumably wiser) generation to the younger one. The teacher's role is to instill respect for authority, perseverance, duty, consideration, and practicality. When students demonstrate through tests and writings that they are competent in academic subjects and traditional skills, and through their actions that they have disciplined minds and adhere to traditional morals and behavior, then both the school and the teacher have been successful" (Go to Education.com to read more).