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On Being an Adult Suzuki

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by Andrea Macdonald (AB)

True musical joy could never have been possible for me without Short Score
the Suzuki method. Newsletter
I have always been musical. Growing up, I sang in choirs, in Enter your email address to sign
musical theatre, and in pop bands. I joined a Balinese gamelan up for the monthly Short Score
where we learned entire concerts by heart. I memorized very Newsletter:
quickly and retained very well. My ear was my superpower. I was
the first person “off book” in choir and my friends delighted in my
ability to name any popular song in the first note or two. But, I Subscribe
could not read music.

It wasn’t that I hadn’t tried. I’d taken piano and sight-singing

lessons but these ended in frustration. When my husband, a
professional musician, suggested I try a “one line” instrument I
took up the recorder and fell in love with it. With only one stave to
deal with, things improved somewhat. I joined a quartet and a
large ensemble. My good ear served me well but I quickly hit a
sight-reading wall. Despite help from my husband and years of
faithful practice, I was frustrated and ashamed. It was emotionally
difficult to practice and I felt stuck, always learning the notes and
never getting a chance to work on the actual music.

Finally, at 52, I got some psycho-educational testing done and was

diagnosed with ADHD and something called a “severe visual
processing disorder”. I needed a different approach.

I didn’t think anyone would be willing to teach the Suzuki method

to an adult but I found a wonderful teacher, Kathleen Schoen, in
Alberta. We started lessons and I burned through Volume One on
alto recorder in about two weeks, easily learning two to three
songs per day. We added the soprano (recorder) book and I began
working in both voices, on Volume Two.

Here I received my first shock: one of the pieces (Bourrée from the
Water Music Suite by G.F. Handel) was something I had just played
with my large consort. How on earth could this be only Volume
Two? But unlike before, I was not frustrated. I did not feel
defeated.

I teach seniors how to use technology such as iPads and iPhones. I

spend quite a bit of time building good foundations before
moving on to higher concepts. I was extremely impressed with the
layout and careful scaffolding of the Suzuki method, which had a
logical and gentle progression.

The Suzuki method changed everything for me. Instead of

dragging myself to the practice room to endure frustration and
tears while trying to stay focused, I was now practicing for over an
hour a day. My self-esteem soared! I was no longer dreaming of a
future where I might one day be able to work on music that I
loved. I was already doing it!

I highly recommend the Suzuki method to any adult interested in

learning music. I just wish there was a place for adult Suzuki
students to chat. Like the kids, we need peers to accompany us on
the journey.

June 30, 2021

Topics: Student, Suzuki
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Une année pas comme les

autres pour le piano Être une étudiante adulte
Suzuki ! Suzuki
Jun 30, 2021 Jun 30, 2021

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