Questions parents ask

What is Katie Suzuki Music?

Katie Suzuki Music is an online Suzuki music studio offering one-to-one piano and violin lessons for children from age 3. Lessons are taught live by webcam by registered Suzuki teachers around the world.

How much do lessons cost?

Lessons are USD$32 for 30 minutes (about £25, S$42 or A$48).

How often are lessons, and can I change a lesson time?

Lessons are weekly, at a regular time. If you need to move a lesson, you can cancel and rebook it yourself on our online calendar with at least 48 hours' notice.

What if we need to cancel a lesson?

You can cancel a lesson yourself on the online calendar up to 48 hours before it starts, for a full refund. Lessons cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice aren't usually refunded.

What time zones are lessons available in?

Our teachers are in several countries, so we can usually find you a lesson time to suit. You can see currently available times when you book your free chat. If no time suits, contact Katie because she signs up new teachers as necessary.

How do I attend an online webcam lesson?

Lessons take place on Google Meet. You'll need a reliable internet connection and a laptop or tablet with a camera and microphone. For piano, set up the device to the side so the teacher can see the piano keyboard and your child's face.

For piano, you need an acoustic piano or a digital piano with hammer-action keys; a basic keyboard isn't suitable. For violin, you need a correctly sized violin; your teacher will help you choose the right size.

How is the Suzuki method different from traditional lessons?

The Suzuki method, developed by Dr Shinichi Suzuki, is often called the "mother tongue method" because it teaches music the way children learn their first language: by listening, imitation, encouragement and a parent's involvement. Children learn pieces by ear and from memory before they learn to read music.

Parents take an active part, attending lessons and guiding practice at home. Practice is divided between reviewing pieces the child already knows and working on new material, and each step is kept small so that young children succeed from the start.

It's ideal for very young children, but older children and adults can learn this way too. This short video shows how a child's first sounds on an instrument are like a baby's first words:

Do Suzuki lessons include learning to read music?

Yes, but not straight away. Reading is taught separately from playing. Children often start with rhythm clapping during Book 1 and begin reading music on their instrument around Book 2.

What pieces do the children learn?

All Suzuki students learn the same set of mostly classical pieces from the Suzuki books, so Suzuki students anywhere in the world can play together. Once they can read music, they can also learn music beyond the Suzuki repertoire.

How often should we listen to the recordings?

Every day, ideally for a few hours as background listening. Hearing the music over and over is how children absorb it, just as they absorb their first language.

When do Suzuki lessons stop?

It doesn't really stop. Suzuki is a way of beginning to learn music, with a focus on listening and memory. As Suzuki students progress through the books, they gradually branch out into other music and end up playing the same repertoire as other students who began with traditional teachers. The benefits of an excellent musical ear and a love of music stay with students long after they've moved beyond the Suzuki books.