Piano · For current families

Piano resources

Helpful tools for practice at home: our music-reading course, slowing down the recordings, metronomes and recommended reading.

Introduction to Music Reading

A video course for children in Suzuki Piano Book 1, to start reading music alongside their pieces.

Open the video course

Slowing down the recordings

When your child first plays along with a piece, it helps to slow the recording down while they get used to the speed. You'll need the tracks as audio files (for example the ones you bought from Amazon or Apple Music).

On a phone or tablet

Search your app store for a music speed changer. Music Speed Changer and Audipo both work on Android and iPhone. Music Speed Changer can remember your chosen speed for each track.

On a computer or Chromebook

Use the Music Speed Changer website, or the free VLC player on a computer.

In VLC, the speed control is hidden at first. Go to Tools → Customise interface, find Speed selector near the bottom of the list, drag it into the main toolbar, and click Close. A small "1.00x" control then appears at the bottom of the player.

If your piano isn't at concert pitch

Some apps can change the pitch as well as the speed, so the recording matches your piano. Audipo on Android does this, and Music Speed Changer has a pitch setting too. Getting the piano tuned is the best long-term fix.

Metronome

A metronome can help older, intermediate and advanced students. We don't suggest using one with children in Book 1.

Recommended reading

Two books by Dr Shinichi Suzuki about the philosophy behind the method:

  • Nurtured by Love
  • Ability Development from Age Zero

Both are published by Alfred Music and available from music shops and online bookstores.

Join your local Suzuki association

Suzuki associations run workshops, concerts and camps, and send newsletters for families. They're a great way for your child to meet and play with other Suzuki students.