I think finding a good teacher is the key, no matter which method you choose. Teachers who understand little kids can do wonders with them--DS8 learns piano and violin with traditional methods, and if I make a list of what goes right in DS's education, music would be no. 1 on the list. As for Suzuki, we don't use it, I've heard both good and bad things about it: kids can start at a younger age and develop good ears with Suzuki but some students end up being weak readers. But on the other hand experienced teachers can usually supplement whatever is lacking in a particular method with things borrowed from other methods. Parents do have to put in lots of time with Suzuki, but kids who start music at 4 will need parental supervision even with traditional methods. Suzuki wouldn't work for us because I for one would be driven crazy by the repeated play of the same CD, and DS is an amazing sight reader.
