What is the Suzuki Method?

The Suzuki Method is a way of teaching designed specifically for young students. The method focuses on developing musical excellence, significant parental invovlvement, an encouraging environment, and the belief that every child can succeed.

What are the benefits of starting my child young?

As you probably know, young children absorb information at an amazing rate. Children listen to high-quality music to assimilate it so that they can imitate it. Also, children don't separate work from play (think of play kitchens and kids' tools), so practicing can become a natural part of their daily routine. Also, all the benefits on the brain of studying music are particularly beneficial during the earliest parts of your child's life, when brains are developing the most.

What is the best time to start my child?

There's no time like the present! But the ideal time for beginning Suzuki instruction is between the ages of 3 and 5. Children younger than this should be listening to recordings of classical music, and getting exposure all kinds of music. Children older than this can certainly also start with the Suzuki method, but as their learning styles are different, the teaching may be modified slightly (for example, by introducing music reading earlier).

Do you teach adults?

I teach people of all ages, both with Suzuki and traditional teaching. I have taught at the University of Michigan, Missouri State Universty, and the Missouri Fine Arts Academy, as well as privately in my studio. My exposure to a variety of teaching methodologies allows me to incorporate the best aspects of a variety of approaches to maximize learning for the student.

I'm concerned about purchasing an instrument. Aren't harps expensive?

Like most things in life, harps can have a huge range of prices. The price depends on size, quality, brand, age, sound, and mechanism type. As a service to all of my students, I can assist in locating a harp appropriate to a student's goals and budget. There are a number of harp galleries that have harps available for sale, rent, and rent-to-own. I am also beginning to provide lever harp rental services for my students.

What's the difference between a lever and a pedal harp?

Harps have one string for each note (C, D, F). To get the flats and sharps (C#, Db, F#), harpists must use a mechanism to change the length of the string. Lever harps have a small lever on each string or only on specific strings that the harpist moves to change the length. Pedal harps work similarly, but pedals and a complex mechanism shortens the strings, leaving the hands free to do more important things.

Lever harps are usually smaller, making them ideal for young students, or people that would like to travel with their harp. Pedal harps are larger and more expensive, but allows the harpist to perform the full range of harp literature.