Category: Articles & eBooks (English & Spanish)
1. Research Goals and Methods
This thesis investigates the educational concept of the so-called Suzuki Method [suzuki mesōdo: スズキ・メソード], which was developed by the Japanese violinist and violin teacher Shinichi Suzuki (1898–1998) since the 1930s. The purpose of this endeavour is a retrospective exposure of the Suzuki Method taking into account the original sources and putting them into context. In doing so, two partial aspects are focused: a) a reconstruction of the original conception and b) an analysis of its further development and the international transfer as a transculturation process. Both aspects are to be treated as comprehensively as possible with an historical-critical approach (chapter 1.3).
Epistemologically, this study is in the field of comparative music education, which according to Bernd Clausen (2009) puts a fundamental focus on the continuous reflection of cultural contexts regarding the research object. A first and fundamental step is the continuous reflection on my own position as researcher and interpreter. Along with this goes the awareness of problems in translating Japanese terms into the German language as both Japanese and German are already culturally connotated (chapter 1.5, 1.5.1). Furthermore, an analysis was undertaken of all available texts as well as audio and video files in the context of Suzuki method. Among these are in particular the works of Shinichi Suzuki, the secondary literature about his persona and the Suzuki Method, the publications of the Talent Education Research Institute (Suzuki Association in Japan), brochures on the Suzuki teacher training, the music recordings of Shinichi Suzuki, and the radio and television contributions on the Suzuki Method in German, English and Japanese. In addition, a specifically designed qualitative interview study was conducted by the author with authorized Suzuki teachers in Japan and Germany who were interviewed comparatively with the goal to explore the historical circumstances through reports and to unlock their practical and personal approach to this method (chapter 1.6).
Japanese Summary
概要
スズキ・メソードとその発祥
――音楽教育におけるトランスカルチュレーションの事例――
Doctoral Thesis in GERMAN
Die Suzuki-Methode und ihre Genese:
Fallstudie zu einem musikpädagischen Transkulturationsprozess
Komparative und ethnomusikologische musikpädagogische Forschungen
Ursprungsaufbewahrungsort ("Universität Siegen", "universi - Universitätsverlag Siegen", "OPUS“). Die Kennung http://dx.doi.org/10.25819/ubsi/9986