PIANO
SUZUKI PIANO LESSONS
Suzuki piano commenced in Perth in the early 1970’s by Janet Leggo and has proven to be a wonderful approach to piano playing. (More about the beginnings of Suzuki Piano in WA).
Many students who have been through the program have obtained excellent results through music scholarships, TEE, eisteddfods and AMEB exams.
The main aim of Suzuki piano is to teach the child to appreciate music for the rest of their life.
Suzuki Piano lessons can commence as early as 3 years of age. Our program consists of weekly individual lessons. Children enjoy regular performance opportunities at our play-a-longs as well as participation in our Piano workshops, Conferences and Graduations & Levels. Trained and accredited Suzuki piano teachers offer lessons throughout Western Australia.
The teachers require the parents to be very supportive and to maintain interest and enthusiasm by attending every lesson.
Beginnings of Suzuki Piano in Western Australia
Suzuki piano commenced in Perth in the early 1970’s after Janet Leggo LMusA, AMusA (Tchr) STCA (Adv) received a grant from the Western Australia Arts council to study Suzuki piano in Japan. Janet had already been teaching AMEB for 20 years and training students up to AMusA level. Janet decided to trial the Suzuki approach for 10 years to prove mainly to herself that the Suzuki piano method was beneficial to students.
The results were exciting! Starting children who were pre-school was delightful and to have the parents coming to every lesson and supervising their program at home became very motivational for both parents and teacher. Since 1975 Janet definitely believes that this approach is worthwhile and rewarding. For it to work effectively it needs not only the ability of a well-trained Suzuki teacher but also the co-operation of a parent/s willing to spend time with their child’s musical education by attending every lesson, taking notes and in the early years supervising their home piano practise.
Janet was very involved in the formation of firstly the Suzuki Piano Association and was the inaugural President of STEAA(WA). She was awarded the OAM in 1999 for her service to music education and has since retired.
The STEAA(WA) Piano community is a thriving community with teachers working through the different levels of accreditation as well as regularly attending PD sessions. Students are not only involved in individual lessons, but have the opportunity to attend playalongs, workshops and take part in levels and Graduation.
The wonderful point about this method is that every child works at their own rate. The ultimate aim is to develop in the child a love and appreciation of music which will last them for the rest of their life.
