Your child can learn guitar or violin the way they learned to speak, and neither of you needs any musical experience to begin.
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3 and up
$130 a month
30 min, weekly
Any week
Suzuki starts from a simple idea: every child can learn music the same way every child learns to speak. Children hear a piece long before they play it, they learn by ear first and read notation later, and they repeat small steps until each one feels easy. Progress is measured against the child's own last lesson, never against another child. Over time it builds a real repertoire of classical music, the confidence to play with others and on stage, and the patience that comes from doing one thing carefully for a long while.
Suzuki's aim was never to produce professional musicians. He wanted to raise noble human beings. Music was the means, and discipline, responsibility, and a generous heart were the point.
Tuition covers the weekly lesson, group classes, and recitals. The group class is where the musical community forms. There are no semesters, so you can start any week of the year. Nathan and Katie are both taking new students.
Nathan runs one of the few Suzuki guitar programs in the country. He is a Suzuki and classically trained guitarist, and guitar is open for enrollment now. Guitars are not part of our loan program, so students bring their own. We are glad to advise on sizing before you spend anything.
Katie teaches young children and their families, starting from the very first note. We keep a small number of fractional-sized violins to loan, so a child who is still growing does not need a full-size instrument to begin.
Suzuki asks more of parents than most lessons do. You sit in on the lesson with your child, take notes, and guide a short practice at home most days. For the first book you will be doing more of the work than your child is. The families who love this method are the ones who treat it as something they are learning together. If that is more than you want to take on right now, our old-time fiddle and guitar lessons are a lower-commitment way to start, and we are glad to point you there instead.
Please review our full list of Studio Policies here. All students must have a signed copy on file.
Do we need any musical background?
No, neither of you. Most families start with no musical experience at all, and the method is built for exactly that. The parent learns alongside the child.
How young can my child start?
Around three for most children, but it depends far more on the child than the birthday. The first meeting will tell you.
Do we need to buy an instrument first?
No. Come empty-handed. For guitar we will help you size one before you buy; for violin we may be able to loan a fractional-sized instrument.
Do I have to stay for the lesson?
Yes, and that is the point. The parent learns alongside the child so practice at home has someone to guide it.
Do you only start in the fall?
No. There are no semesters, so you can start any week of the year.
Tell us a little about your child and we will set up a time to meet. There is no cost and no obligation to enroll.
You can also email katie@mapleandsprucefolkarts.com or call (304) 314-4506.
