Cleveland Suzuki Guitar Ensemble

Cleveland Suzuki Guitar Ensemble The Cleveland Suzuki Guitar Ensemble is an outgrowth of the Cleveland Suzuki Guitar Program founded by Robert Gruca at The Music Settlement. The Suzuki Guitar Program is based on the Suzuki triangle: child, music instructor, and parent. This Method develops a child’s ear through listening, repetition, and encouragement. In addition to their private lessons, Suzuki students learn from and motivate each other by participating in regular group lessons and performances.

The Suzuki Method was created by Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki. Suzuki was an educator, philosopher, and humanitarian. He believed that “musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed” through proper training. He believed that a child could learn to play a musical instrument as naturally as a child learns to speak his or her native language. To this end, Suzuki's goal was not simply to develop professional musicians but to develop each child’s character through the study of music.

Robert Gruca is a dedicated, highly motivated guitar instructor who teaches classical guitar for The Music Settlement. He is the founder of the first Suzuki guitar program in Northeast Ohio and has completed "Every Child Can!, Guitar Unit 1, 2, and 3," and "Suzuki Principles in Action." Mr. Gruca holds a Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with classical guitarists John Holmquist and Jason Vieaux.

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