As well as being a Suzuki Piano Teacher, I am a composer. In fact, that I was a composer led me to becoming a Suzuki Piano Teacher. When I began looking for a piano teacher for my daughter, I could not find any Suzuki teachers who would include composition and improvisation in their instruction, I decided to learn how to teach Suzuki Piano so that I could integrate composition and improvisation into my daughter’s education. Now I share my passion for composition and instruction with all of my students.
The study of composition and improvisation is an important part of any child's music education. Not only does it help the child better understand and appreciate the music they are learning, it also gives the child a sense of ownership. I wish students to perceive music not as something only written by people who are "far away" or long gone, but something that even a young child can compose.
Many people have asked me how I have "taught" composition to my younger students. It is actually quite easy. In my experience, all children are creative. They will make up stories, pictures, and yes, even songs. Children stop becoming creative when they are not given the tools that enable their creativity to grow up with them. My goal is to give children simple tools that will enable them to write compositions that they (and their audience) will enjoy.
Most of my students have had the opportunity to write compositions. For some, it was very easy. for others, it was a struggle to commit pen to paper. For all, their output is testimony to the creativity they have within, the support they receive from their families, and the love they have for music. And for me? The best part of it all is seeing the look of surprise, amazement, and accomplishment when a student realizes that they can write "real" music. Congratulations to each of my students.