One of the best things you can do to support your child’s musical journey is to help them listen regularly to their pieces. Listening is the foundation of the Suzuki method—it enables children to learn music the same way they learn to speak: by hearing it every day.
Listening acts like a musical stencil. When your child hears a piece over and over, they build a mental outline of how it sounds. Then, when they sit down to learn it, they’re just filling in the shapes. Students who listen regularly remember their music better, understand it more deeply, and tend to play with more confidence and expression.
Even passive listening—having the music on in the background—makes a huge difference. You can play the CD* during car rides, meals, homework, playtime, or bedtime. Over time, this consistent exposure builds memory, improves musicality, and helps performances feel more natural and fluid.
And on days when your child is reluctant to practice, or when you want to help them engage more actively with what they’re hearing, active listening games can offer a fun and meaningful way to connect.
Here are some of my favorites, try one or two of them this week and see how it goes:
Clap, Step, or Toss to the Beat
A simple but effective way to get your child physically connecting to the pulse of the music. Clap along to the beat of the recording, or try it with the Twinkle rhythms for an extra challenge.
You can also step to the beat—taking one step per beat—or toss a soft ball back and forth, catching it in time with the music. This kind of rhythmic play builds a strong internal sense of timing and coordination.
Draw What You Hear
Play a piece and ask your child to draw what the music makes them think of—colors, shapes, scenes, or even imaginary creatures. This builds expressive listening skills and sparks their imagination.
Freeze Dance
Turn on a Suzuki recording and let your child dance, wiggle, or jump around however they like. Then pause the music at random moments—when the music stops, they have to freeze! Start it up again for more movement. This silly game builds listening awareness and teaches them to notice musical starts and stops.
Guess That Song
Play short clips from their Suzuki CD and see if your child can name the piece or sing what comes next. You can even create a little “quiz show” format with siblings or friends for extra fun.
Match Songs to Actions
Assign silly or meaningful actions to specific pieces: when “Lightly Row” plays, spin in a circle three times; when “Song of the Wind” starts, go pet the dog; when you hear “May Song,” give mom a hug.
You can also turn listening time into a challenge: how many toys can you clean up before the end of “Allegretto?” Or how many songs does it take to clean your whole room? Keep score and try to beat it next time!
Musical Treasure Hunt
Hide a small toy or treat somewhere in the house, and turn on a Suzuki piece. Your child can search while the music plays—but they have to freeze when the music stops! It’s a mix of active listening and excitement that helps them associate the music with focus and fun.
Remember:
Consistent listening at home is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways you can support your child’s musical development—even just 10-15 minutes daily builds the musical mind that will serve them for a lifetime
*Don’t have a CD player handy? No problem! You can access all your child’s Suzuki listening tracks through various streaming platforms. Check out the Listening Resources page for direct links to playlists organized by book level or contact Dr. Ben for more inforamtion.