Everyone heard of the Suzuki method. But not many people know how this system is taught and what the results are. According to Suzuki, toddlers can learn to play an instrument (mostly violin) by age 3. This method requires a lot of listening, imitation, and constant repetition.

I never learned or taught this technique, but I had several former Suzuki students, and I talked to some Suzuki teachers. In those teachers’ opinions, this method works well for the string instruments, but not necessarily for the piano. I am not going to praise the Suzuki system or criticize it. I’ll just give you my personal opinion.

I believe this method can be successfully taught in Japan or some other Asian country. Still, it can be a failure in the U.S. or Europe because of profound differences in cultures, traditions, national character.

The Suzuki technique requires constant parent participation, much more than any other teaching approach.  Before starting  this method,   the parents should ask themselves these questions:

• Do I have enough patience, discipline, and devotion?
• Can I spend many hours a week to drill my child?
• Does my child have enough patience and discipline?
• Since the Suzuki method requires so much time, am I ready to quit my job and pull my child out of other classes?

My own experience with former Suzuki students showed that many children were poor sight-readers even after years of learning. Some of them were good piano players, but they were helpless if they had to figure out a new composition by themselves.