Suzuki Voice Repertoire

The International Suzuki Voice Committee has decided 2007 that Suzuki Voice Volumes and materials will be available only to accredited Suzuki Voice Teachers and also accepted Suzuki Voice Teacher-in-trainings. They will make the orders to their students.

Volume One Folk songs predominantly accompanied by piano with piano (or quitar) doubling the melody line. As interests young children, the songs are about animals and daily activities. These songs are learned in the child’s native language first. Volume 1 also includes parents songs – some of these may not be sung by the children at all. In Volume 1 we encourage a child to use her / his voice and begin to sing. This is not a pre-instrumental class but one which focuses on learning voice as an instrument. However musical ability is created and therefore many students readily take up other instruments as well. Volume Two More folk songs accompanied by piano or guitar. Languages and part singing in canon and harmony are introduced. For the very young children, the teacher or parent may sing a duet part but older children can sing these together. Volume Three Art songs by well-known composers are introduced. These are short songs accompanied by a chamber orchestra of five instruments. Level Four: Song list (selected books) The main focus is on songs from around the world and art songs of the student’s own country. Antiche arias and Vaccai Vocalises are introduced and lieder and art songs of well-known composers are included in the list. This level is longer than the others and continues into the student’s teenage years. The level is achieved by performing one individual recital and two “Youth” recitals. Level Five: Song list (selected books) A more specialised focus on the repertoire including art songs from other countries (the main ones where Suzuki Voice is taught) and the opportunity to study and perform an operatic or musical role (e.g. Hänsel und Gretel in German, El Gato con Botas in Spanish). 

Engelbert Humperdick "Hänsel und Gretel" -opera 2002 in German - Suzuki Voice 15th Anniversary production

Xavier Montsalvatge "El Gato con Botas" -opera in Spanish 2005

There are no exams for students in Suzuki Voice Program – the reward of learning is learning itself and the experience of performing for others from an early age (book recitals at the completion of each book level, graduation recital, performances for family and friends, teachers’ recitals, Suzuki Association concerts, Suzuki workshops, festival, conventions – performing together and learning from visiting teachers). There are five exams for teachers. One exam level takes about 1-2 years.