CURRICULUM

The Suzuki Piano Program - The classes are individual – group. The students are taught individually with the teacher and student on separate pianos to facilitate learning by watching and listening. The group structure consists of three students to incorporate the valuable learning tool of observation, which greatly enhances a child’s learning ability. Every 20 minutes the students alternate from individual to group activity enabling observation with short periods of group interaction developing rhythm and music sensibility for the very young. Music reading begins following Level I, after the student can play proficiently by ear just as reading is begun after speech is fluent. Learned in the order of ear then eye, reading and performing music flows like a natural language.

The world of senses is preserved throughout Level I, while the young student learns in the same way he learns speech and motor activities at a very young age – by watching and listening.

Self-Esteem is built with each small, learning step. Success is assured, thus developing confidence and enthusiasm to proceed to the next small step. Each success is awarded with praise. Fear of performing is abolished through the teaching of sharing each one’s results.

All teaching steps are taught with love and joy. All steps are considered pathways to the goal. The teacher's vocabulary is very important in opening a pathway to learning and tearing down mental learning blocks. Teaching techniques are based on awareness using positive adverbs.

Ribbons are awarded when the student can play all of the pieces in Level I with the right hand, and another is awarded when they can play hands together. When the entire book is performed in a recital, a certificate of achievement is awarded.

The Adult Piano Program - The adult classes are structured in half hour, 45 minute or 1 hour private lessons. The classes are tailored to meet the needs and goals of the student and designed for easy, rapid learning at any age or level. The following courses are available: Ear training, Score Reading, Improvisation and Keyboard Harmony. Each skill is taught using a natural keyboard technique which promotes the health of the hand and fingers while producing a beautiful tone quality and finger dexterity to the maximum potential.

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