Lessons
Private Lessons
Abby teaches from her home studio in Telford, PA (about an hour outside of Philadelphia). Lessons usually start at 30 minutes, depending on the student's age and level of playing. A typical lesson will cover scales, etudes, a piece the student is working on, and review of a past piece or pieces. Each lesson is catered to the individual needs of the student.
Age
Abby teaches all ages, but specializes in young children. Abby does not set an across-the-board age minimum; it really depends on the maturity of the individual student and the involvement of the parent(s).
Rates
Please contact Abby for current rates. Payment is due monthly and is a set tuition rate per month.
Parents
Parents of young children are required to sit in on the lessons. You are encouraged to take notes and listen so that you will know how to help your child practice at home. Suzuki stresses the importance of the "Suzuki triangle"- student, parent, teacher. With all three working and communicating together, a great musician can bloom.
Suzuki Method
For beginners, Abby teaches the well-established Suzuki Method. Suzuki is a method of learning to play an instrument by ear, instead of reading notes at first. Playing by ear is a tool that all musicians need to learn, and learning it from the get-go has great advantages. Suzuki's philosophy mirrors how children learn to talk: they hear their mother tongue as they are growing from infancy to toddlerhood, and eventually start to mimic the sounds they have heard all of their life. Children do not learn to read before they speak their native language. Dr. Shinichi Suzuki was a great teacher who upheld the values of love, gentleness, and peace in the education of children in music. His philosophies have become famous throughout the world. To learn more, see Resources.
Group Lessons
Group lessons are offered currently for students in Suzuki Book 1. They meet once a month for 45 minutes and are included in your monthly tuition. We play games, play review songs together, learn how to play as a group, practice good listening skills and performance skills, and much more. We have a great time and the kids get very motivated by their peers.
“Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.”