Piano

Traditional Piano Lessons
Piano study is guided by a series of books in which students learn to read and play music. I almost always use the Faber and Faber series Music Adventures, along with supplemental materials by the same authors and others. I use this method because I like the way the music, theory, and ear training are presented, and because the music is really good. It is motivational for students, and just plain pleasant to listen to! In addition to learning to play music, we learn to play short melodies by ear and to write our own songs. Occasionally I accept students as young as kindergarten, but usually this method is appropriate for grades one and higher.

Suzuki Method - Mother Tongue Approach
This method is really quite a beautiful way to teach and learn music. Students learning through the Suzuki method can start as early as three and a half or four. It is known as the mother tongue approach because music is learned in the same way language and letter/word recognition is. (One misconception about the Suzki Method is that students do not learn to read music. This is untrue.)

Children listen to recordings of the songs they will learn long before they come to their first lesson. Instruction is nurturing and positive. Think of the excitement and praise expressed when the child spoke their first word. That same encouragement is provided at each step of the music learning process.   A great deal of parental involvement is required for this method, as is a real piano (not a keyboard).