Is Suzuki method right for me?

Question:

Is Suzuki method right for me?

I have been playing the flute for about 6 years (I started in 4th grade) and needless to say, I can read treble clef very well and bass clef incredibly slowly. I started at my high school and noticed most people there could play the piano beautifully, also at my church many girls my age were playing hymns very well. I started picking up sheet music at my house and slowly started to play them, still struggling with bass clef. My 3 brothers have taken Suzuki piano method for a while, but my older brother quit several years ago. My younger brothers are still going. My mother saw I had taken an interest in piano and signed me up for lessons. I am about 1/4 the way through the first book but getting frustrated because you have to memorize every song and I really wanted to read. I keep trying to get my parents to get me regular piano lessons, but they say Suzuki or nothing, and I really want to play the piano. Please only answer if you have experience with the Suzuki method.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I agree with Art Psycho. Suzuki method is for very young kids who can't read music. So they learn from imitation and memorization, until they are old enough to read music. You are at least 14-15 years old now? You can't use the Suzuki method!

Read more about Suzuki method: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/suzuki_meth...

I definitely think you have the right idea with what you need. You need a teacher who can show you technical exercises that will strengthen your left hand. For example: Scales (major, minor, chromatic) and arpeggios, they are boring, but they work. Do them in different and varied ways: legato, staccato, regular rhythm, alternative rhythm, alternative accents...etc.

Try sight reading just the base line of different pieces. Do it at a slow and comfortable tempo. The goal is to train your hand-eye coordination, not for speed. So, the slower and more precise, the better. Use a metronome if you need to for rhythm.

When you are learning a new piece, try to concentrate on your left hand. You can even try to play left hand and hum the right hand melody! When I went to Juilliard, they had me doing that in my musicianship class and it really help!

Good Luck!