A Semester of Suzuki Piano: A 20 Week Course
In this 20 week course, students will learn the core foundations of playing the piano using Suzuki Piano book 1
Michele Roger-Beresford
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(118)
What's included
20 live meetings
10 in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. 3-6 per weekClass Experience
US Grade 1 - 4
Beginner Level
Learning to play the piano teaches music and a whole lot more. In each lesson, students learn to read the treble and the bass clefs, play the music on their piano or keyboard, discipline with practice, music mathematics and appreciation for music. Piano requires a certain amount of physical commitment as well. We will be using the Suzuki Piano Book 1. Using this method, students will be required to begin to read music from their very first lesson. They will also be required to place their hands on the keys in a certain way and to practice listening to as well as playing their music. The great thing about the Suzuki Method is that the songs are familiar to students. Suzuki believes that if the student already recognizes the tune, it will be easier to learn pieces of music from the very first lesson. Each week we will cover: -note reading and theory -musicality -dynamics Week 1: Proper hand position on the keys. How to read the lines and spaces of the treble clef and bass clef. Introduction to the right hand and Treble clef by playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Week 2: Review of rhythm for Twinkle Twinkle. Smoothing out the right hand and beginning to practice the left hand, bass clef of Twinkle Twinkle. Intro to beginning flash cards for notation reading. Week 3: Using Twinkle, Twinkle both clefs as a warm up during practice. New song for this week The Honey Bee (Treble Clef). Flash card practice. Week 4: We will continue to use Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as a warm up for practice this week. We continue to play The Honey Bee with our right hand (treble) and learn to play the bass clef line this week. Flash card practice. Week 5: This is the first week we play both treble and bass clef together using the Honey Bee. This week we learn the value of slow practice and building speed for accuracy. Practice all pieces learned so far this week. Flashcard practice. Week 6: Review of the Honey Bee hands together. New Song for this week: The Cuckoo (treble clef only). New flash cards added. Week 7: Warm up songs are The Honey Bee and Twinkle Twinkle. New song we will continue learning is The Cuckoo (review treble cliff and add new bass clef). Review of all flash cards. Week 8: This week, we will focus putting hands together with treble and bass clef of The Cuckoo. Review of flash cards. Week 9: Warm up the Cuckoo hands together as our review song. New Song this week is Lightly Row (Treble clef). New flashcards added. Week 10: Warm up song will be a review of the Cuckoo. We continue our study of Lightly Row by learning the bass clef. Review of all flashcards that we have learned so far. Week 11: Focus on slow practice of Lightly Row hands together. Review of all the notes we've learned so far. Week 12: Review of Lightly Row as our warm up song this week, hands together. New song: French Children's Song (treble clef). Week 13: Review of all songs we've learned so far. Continue working on French Children's song by adding bass clef. Review of flashcards. Week 14: This week we will put hands together playing French Children's song. Review song will be of the student's choice. Week 15: Review of French Children's song. New song beginning with treble clef London Bridge. New flashcards added. Week 16: Review of all flashcards. Bass clef added to London Bridge this week. Week 17: Slow practice all together as we put treble and bass clef together for London Bridge. Week 18: We will use London Bridge as our warm up song. New song will be Mary Had a Little Lamb with intro to both clefs playing hands apart. Week 19: Mary Had a Little Lamb hands together and warm up song is student choice. Week 20: Student choice for performance in class. While I do teach using the Suzuki method, I do not believe that each piece needs to be perfect before the student can move on to the next song. I am patient. I also have links to samples of all of the pieces so students can listen to them. I suggest listening to the week's lesson song each night before bed or as students are falling asleep. Please let Miss Michele know if you have played the piano before or if you can read music. That will help her to place you at the correct level. Students will be expected to practice 10-15 minutes per day outside of lessons. As the semester progresses, MORE practice time will be required.
Other Details
Supply List
Suzuki Piano book 1, piano or keyboard for practicing the material learned in lesson
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined January, 2021
4.9
118reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Hi, I'm Ms. Michele.
I teach French and Music (piano, harp, violin and guitar as well as preschool and Kindergarten music).
I own Michigan Music Conservatory where I teach music.
I spent several years teaching French at a Montessori school as well as at a high school.
When I'm not teaching, I write and illustrate children's story books.
I believe everyone is a natural learner. When we are engaged, interested and encouraged, we can learn anything successfully. My goal is to make Music and French classes fun and inspiring.
Here is my CV:
MUSIC TEACHER, MILFORD MONTESSORI AND OUTSCHOOL ONLINE PLATFORM
2018-PRESENT
Planning lessons that meet the needs of students but also fit the theme and theory that is
Montessori. Coordinating parent volunteers for concerts as well as working closely with
parents in the community who see art and music as a valuable teaching tool in early educa-
tion. Teaching music theory, stringed instruments and piano, ear training as well as cultures from around the world through
songs.
OWNER/TEACHER, MICHIGAN CONSERVATORY FOR MUSIC: 1999 TO PRESENT
All operations of running a small business are my responsibility. I work with parents to co-
ordinate 40+ individual music lessons. I build relationships within the local community
where students can perform and combine music performance with community service. Ac-
counting and book keeping for instrument sales, music lesson fees, taxes and the best
strategies for profitability. Social media is often my job too; although at different times
throughout the year, I coordinate interns who sign on to work as apprentices to learn the
business.
EVENT COORDINATOR, SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER, KIWI LANDSCAPING, 2009
-PRESENT
This job started out for me as a volunteer. Now, from March until September, I have the
responsibility of seeing this event from inception of theme to fruition at the gathering on
Labor Day weekend. Kiwi Landscaping is owned by a man from New Zealand. Each year,
he hosts a Hangi for his company and 300-400 people attend from several countries. I
arrange discounts with local hotels for his guests and set up ticket purchase options
through Event Bright (like Ticketmaster).
I coordinate 50-100 volunteers every year. The numbers of volunteers grows as does the
event. In the earlier part of the year, we set up committees and have meetings online
through Skype (nearly half of my volunteers are out of state or out of country.) Commit-
tees are formed for everything from children’s activities, to hiring live music, a committee
for t-shirts for that year’s design to a group in charge of the teens who babysit and act as
designated drivers. Then, as the event draws closer, I meet with the heads of each commit-
tees to make sure we are all on the same page, are on the same timeline for the 3 day
event. As the day arrives, I do what good leaders do, I trust my committee captains to do
their jobs. I then have the time to answer questions about international travel and sort out
emergencies.
HARPIST, 1999-PRESNT
Member of the Pebble Creek Chamber Orchestra since 2016 and a board member since
2018. I’ve written score as a harpist and composer which lead to a 2015 and a 2019 De-
troit Music Award Finalist for Best Classical Composer. I perform as a soloist with two pub-
lished CD’s. Social media networking, performing in the community for major life events
from weddings to funerals to corporate events. I presently work without an agent and do
my own booking, accounting and contracting.
NON-PROFIT AND GRANT WRITING, CELTIC KETTLE, 1999-2005
I am one of the original founders of the Celtic Kettle Coffee House, a non-profit that started
in Milford and is now housed at Heartland Music Hall. Our goal was to provide the Huron
Valley area with affordable, high quality entertainment in a smoke-free, alcohol-free, family-
friendly space. I helped to write and apply for non-profit status. Then, I learned through
free classes and through mentorship, the art of grant writing.
AUTHOR — 2005-PRESENT
Senior Writer for SEARCH Magazine where I write their travel and food column. Three hor-
ror novels published through Boston publisher, Undead Press. Two novels were nominat-
2265 Welch Court, Commerce, Mi 48390 248-535-1754 harpymichele@gmail.com
ed for a the Horror and Science Fiction Parsec Award. Two children’s books published in
2016 and 2018. Several romance novels published by Meant To Be Press 2017-2018.
Winner of the Joy Humanist award for Poetry, Village Fine Arts Association.
EDUCATION
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY — 1990-1992, OAKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
1992-1994, HEALING HARP THERAPEUTIC MUSICIAN PROGRAM 2015Reviews
Live Group Class
$21
weekly1x per week, 20 weeks
30 min
Completed by 2 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 6-11
3-6 learners per class
