Piano Suzuki Book 2

[Kelsi Corsi]

Iam suspecting that my youngest may have an aptitude for music, and I've considered starting him in piano sometime in the next year or so. Any advice? Experience? Suggestions regarding finding the right teacher?

I would say ask any potential teacher what their sight reading philosophy is. Many times in our program (large Suzuki program, many instruments) the kids/parents are more bottlenecks to learn to sight read than the teachers. My kid sight reads ALL his music now Suzuki or no. He didn't start until age 5 1/2 and started in a reading book day 1. I would expect Suzuki teachers to start kids reading by ages 5-6 if a child started younger. And maybe even working on pre reading skills sooner. Many suzuki kids do not like to practice reading, so they don't. Our teacher is very much in favor of daily sight reading, but unless you add it to your practice agenda daily, you aren't going to improve at it. These families that just want to push through Suzuki repertoire full speed ahead drive him nuts.

Suzuki piano has been GREAT for us (my daughter does Suzuki violin). We have a great musical community. My 5th grader is learning things like Bach Inventions and early Sonatas right now (we are only doing about 1/3 of our repertoire out of Suzuki books right now). Our teacher is amazing. He has a very dedicated studio.

In looking for a teacher, I'd find someone who clicks with your child now. The teacher/child relationship for something one on one like this is huge. My kids have had several teacher switches and it pays to work to find a good fit that will last several years from the get go.

Her 'twinkle' class consisted of clapping, singing, leaning the numbers of the fingers, correct finger position, learning 'C,D,G", and very little piano playing. It was great for a three year old. It was a group class (parents participated as well) with 5 min individual lesson before or after the group class. In an individual lesson the child might learn to find all the C's while saying "C." That can take a while for a 3 year old to learn, lol. You are also expected to listen to the Suzuki CD every day and sing the songs etc.

My son is now almost 7 and is still taking piano lessons, but not suzuki. He is neither ahead or behind his brother at the same age in terms of playing. He is learning to read music etc like any other kid his age.

So, from my experience and from talking to my friend who is a Suzuki piano teacher, the lessons for the little ones are fun and nice for them, but it isn't necessarily going to give you a kid who is leaps and bounds ahead of any other 5 or 6 year old who is taking lessons.

The philosophy of suzuki is learning music is like learning a language - immersion. My DD's teacher recommends adding in note reading from about book 3 in the suzuki series - but this is different for each student, my DD does better visually than audibly so she is recommending this earlier for her than for other students. Talk with the teacher.

My dd started Suzuki violin at 3yo. Her teacher started beginning music reading skills as part of every group class from the beginning though dd didn't read well until she was in her first orchestra at 7yo. She now sight-reads at the level she plays and reads all her classical music.

I have heard that the prevailing idea that Suzuki kids do not learn to read music stems from the fact that children in the first Suzuki programs in Japan were taught music reading skills in school so the Suzuki program did not need to teach that skill.

I've been told that kids who start younger have more natural/comfortable musicality than those who start later. A professional musician once told me that other professional musicians can *easily* tell who started at 4 vs. who started at 9. I was surprised, but she was adamant. Now, for most people, that will never matter, but it was interesting to hear that there is *some* noticeable impact to starting young.

In our experience, the Suzuki method presents ZERO roadblock to learning to sightread. The Suzuki teachers/music schools we've been involved with have all included sightreading and scales (and then later more scales, etudes, and technique books). I have seen hundreds of Suzuki-trained kids play in orchestras and chamber groups. I'm sure there are *some* Suzuki-trained and *some* traditionally-trained kids who have difficulties with sightreading and/or quality of playing. There are many factors that contribute to this -- one of which could be a specific teacher or a specific attitude.

We teach beginning, intermediate and advanced students. Private lessons, recitals, festivals, competitions and community events instill a life-long ability to play an instrument and the appreciation of classical music.

Founded by Bette Hunting in 1980, Suzuki Music provides private instruction and music concerts in the community. Students perform at events such as the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, Lake Lily Seasons of Light as well as retirement centers.

Students participate in the National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Festival at the local and state level where Suzuki Music students have earned first-place in piano and violin. Piano students perform in Guild Auditions sponsored by the American College of Musicians held at our school which is a Guild Center. Additionally, students have won 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards at the Orlando Music Club competition.

Suzuki Music has four studios with state-of-the-art instruments including Steinway and Grotrian grand pianos. As a dedicated music school facility, it enables students to focus on instruction without distractions which are present in most home environments. Students can try multiple instruments and have instruction in strings and piano as well as play in small ensembles. Group classes on a regular basis so students can socialize and learn from each other as they play a shared repertoire.

Our certified expert faculty have decades of teaching experience and have studied at the most highly regarded music schools in the country including the Eastman School of Music, Indiana University and New England Conservatory.

MIC Suzuki faculty members have taken specialized training endorsed by the Suzuki Association of the Americas and provide the highest quality private and group class instruction. Suzuki instruction is available for piano, violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, guitar, harp, and recorder. Lessons are available in lengths of 30, 45, and 60 minutes. Numerous performance opportunities are offered throughout the year.

The Suzuki Talent Education Method was pioneered in Japan over 60 years ago by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. It is based on the philosophy that all children are born with a high potential for learning. If given the opportunity and a proper environment, any child can learn to play a musical instrument.

Children learn to speak by imitating the language they hear in their daily environment. The mother repeats simple words for her baby and provides encouragement as her child successfully imitates the sounds. Such is the case with music. If the child hears an instrument played beautifully and is encouraged by the parents and teacher in a nurturing environment, s/he will learn to play.

The goals of the Suzuki Method are to enrich the lives of children by playing a musical instrument and to give each child the satisfaction that comes from the ability to do something well.

In the Suzuki Method, the child begins playing simple pieces prior to learning how to read music. Just as a child learns to speak first and then read, music reading is delayed until the student acquires a level of skill and fluency at the instrument. Until note reading begins, the parent follows the music and teaches the correct fingering (and bowing for stringed instruments) as instructed by the teacher.

Students spend part of each practice session reviewing previously learned material. Here they apply new skills and techniques to pieces they already know, hearing for themselves the progress they have made.

At the group lesson, students have the pleasure of playing together and for one another. Younger students hear the performances of older students and are inspired to work harder in order to play those pieces. With a spirit of cooperation and enthusiasm, the students and parents encourage each other. It is enjoyable to participate in the social aspect of music from the very beginning.

Prospective families are encouraged to observe lessons or classes at the Music Institute prior to enrolling in the Suzuki Program. We strongly suggest that parents read Nurtured by Love by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki to understand the fundamentals of Suzuki philosophy before making a commitment to the program.

The developmental note-reading program at the Music Institute is designed to ensure that the student learns to read music successfully. At early repertoire levels or at pre-school age levels, a pre-musicianship class is available. Later, in music reading classes, students learn and master a step-by-step progression of note-reading skills. As the child progresses, reading techniques are used in mixed groups where the children play their instruments in elementary ensembles.

While I would not consider myself to be an expert, or even the ideal candidate to write this post, I may know more than the average person due to my work experiences and so I figure I will give it a go since I have seen people requesting suggestions on how to work with children with autism or ADHD.

Before I began teaching Suzuki piano, I worked in the mental health field for 5 years. At my first job, I worked as a therapeutic day treatment clinician in public schools, mostly elementary, but I also did a year stint at the local high school. After doing 3 years of day treatment, I went to work for a private day school for children with autism. My job duties as a day treatment clinician were to provide in-school support for children with various mental health diagnoses including ADHD, severe anxiety/depression, oppositional defiant disorder and PTSD.

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