What is the Suzuki Method for Piano?

Suzuki Method Piano Lessons

Find out more about the Suzuki method for piano, and if it's the right choice for you and your child.

My goal is to help you make an informed choice as you venture into piano education!

The Suzuki method is a way of teaching that was developed by Shinichi Suzuki, a Japanese violinist and teacher.

Dr. Suzuki believed that every child could achieve a high level of musicality, if taught correctly.

His end goal, however, was not brilliant prodigies but good people.

In nearly every picture you'll find of Dr. Suzuki, he's smiling - or just about to!

Children can begin the study very young - even as young as three. In violin, the students use scaled-down sizes of instruments made for young hands.

The method relies on committed parental participation, starting early, and lots of repetition and listening.

Students watch, listen, and imitate - both teachers and other students.

Dr. Suzuki based his method on the model of language learning: we learn to speak by being immersed and imitating. Dr. Suzuki calls this the mother-tongue method.

Other key elements of the method include:

• immersion in music: attending concerts, listening to music daily
• ear training: learning by ear precedes note-reading and theory
• repertoire: students review and keep playing all music learned
• performance: students play regularly for each other, for parents, and in recitals so that performing is easy and fun

This is a very "nutshell" overview of a remarkable teaching philosophy. If you'd like to read and learn more about the Suzuki method, please visit the official Suzuki Method site.

I have a niece who has taken many years of Suzuki violin study. I've observed firsthand the great parental involvement - practice and listening is done as a family.

Whenever we're over for dinner, practice time becomes an impromptu concert! My niece has not only been taught to play, but also how to perform graciously (and without anxiety).

In addition, she knows much more about music and performers and composers than I did at her age (as a flute student). She has had a good experience as a student, likes her teacher, and has made good friends with fellow students in her group classes.

I thoroughly and wholeheartedly recommend Suzuki instruction. Although there are far more Suzuki string teachers than Suzuki piano teachers, you may find one in your area.

To search for Suzuki piano teachers in your area, visit the teacher locator.

In the end, I chose to teach the Simply Music method for a number of reasons, which you can read about on the Simply Music page. However, one thing I'd like to highlight here is the difference in music taught and learned.

The Suzuki method is a purely classical method. Although classical music is foundational for music education, I wanted to give my students a wider range of musical styles and experience, as well as composition and improvisation.

Simply Music students learn classical, popular, jazz, chord method (accompaniment), composition & improvisation -- a huge variety of styles and techniques.

Share your experience!

Did you or your child learn through the Suzuki piano method? I'm building a reader reviews page. Please consider sharing your experiences! Visit the contact page to get in touch.

More on Piano Methods

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