Cole's notes Suzuki

Discovering the Suzuki Approach to Piano

If you’re exploring music education for yourself or your child, the Suzuki approach is worth looking into. Often called the Suzuki Method, it’s built upon a unique way of learning that starts with watching, listening and imitating to play songs before learning to reading music.

The Suzuki piano series includes seven books, each paired with a CD of recordings. Students begin with simple, traditional melodies and gradually work their way up to more complex pieces. Along the way, they develop their discipline, technique, musicality, and confidence.

What sets Suzuki apart is the collaboration between student, teacher, and parent. Learning music this way is a lot like learning a language: children first absorb sounds through thoughtful listening and watching others play, just as they learned to speak by hearing and watching the people around them.

Consistent listening and exposure to live music is key. Music played on a phone speaker or in a car probably won't offer the clarity needed to truly hear the nuances and to experience the live soundstage.

Just as repeated exposure from our family members and their friends helped us pick up words and phrases as children, repeated listening to melodies, rhythms, and harmonies helps students internalize music. Watching an experienced musician play the same melodies they're already familiar with is one of the best ways to make the connection.

Once students can learn and play simple melodies and patterns by ear confidently, reading music is introduced. The notation used is the music that the student already knows. It's a bit like a kid seeing the words for Mama and Daddy for the first time. This familiarity makes the reading so much easier to navigate as the physical part is already learned, giving them the tools to tackle more challenging pieces.

Unlike traditional piano methods, where students often start by reading music, the Suzuki-like approach emphasizes hearing, feeling, and playing music first. The result? A deeper, more intuitive connection to music that can foster a desire for lifelong learning.