General Info

If you can listen, you can play. This is the same way a child learns a language. You listen first, then imitate sounds you hear. Reading and writing come after a child learns to speak. This was the discovery of Dr. Suzuki how young children can learn a musical instrument - he called it the "Mother Tongue Method". The parent learns with the child to be able to help with home practice. This becomes an experience that parent and child can share. Dr. Suzuki describes this as a 3 point triangle - student, teacher and parent. This method stresses cooperation between students, not competition. All students learn at their own pace. Adults also can learn how to play piano with the Suzuki method. You don't need to have a child to participate with you. This is a quick way for an adult to learn and enjoy an instrument. In addition to a weekly private lesson, the students get together twice a month for a group class. This is where note reading is introduced through game playing. The students also get a chance to play for each other. By the time recital rolls around, they are experienced performers. Every student gets to participate in recitals, not just a select few. Adults are invited to participate in a local piano club where they can get experience playing for other adults who are studying the piano. Frances Steinbach has over 35 years teaching experience with a Master's Degree from Manhattan School of Music in New York City.