Suzuki book; way to study...

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Hi,

I'm an adult beginner and I have a few practical questions. I'm following the Suzuki book (is it a good idea? If not, could you suggest a better one?). I already can read music (study other instruments) and I find it VERY important to be able to sight read.

With that in mind, I only play looking at the music. I don't look at my hands. I can only play the music right at a very slow tempo, as I can read OK, but telling my hands to do what they must do is something a lot more difficult. I trust I'll be able to play faster as I get used to playing the piano at all.

Just to test it, I looked at my left hand while playing and it was sooooo much easier.

The question: should I be looking at my hands at this stage (beginner)? Or should I stick to my original idea: avoid looking at them at all costs?

I'm afraid to start looking at my hands and be stuck with having to memorize pieces in order to be able to play them, because I can't look at my hands and read at the same time...

Or should I be reading the music, but peeking at my hands now and then?

Another question: I'm so fanatic about the sight reading part, that I'm considering covering the fingering on the book, because I don't want to be trusting the numbers, but just read the notes. However, I do think the fingering helps me. What are your thoughts on this matter? Do all books for (absolute) beginners come with fingering?

Thank you very much for any help at all.

[arumih]

First off, why two threads covering basically the same topic? Anyway...

Secondly...slow down! From what I've read in your other posts, you're a beginner right. There's no need to rush things. It's gonna take a while for you to increase your keyboard facility to the point where you don't need to look at your hands. Right now, if you need to, take a peek to ensure accuracy, particularly at jumps. When you're reading music anyway your hands are in the periphery of your vision so it's not as if you can't see them and be aware of them. I guess the simple advice would be, if when playing you need to look at your hands, look, if you need to look at the music, look. Eventually things become 2nd nature. I'm not the best of sight readers as I normally memorise my pieces so I do look at my hands when playing memorised pieces, but when sight reading, it's a combination of keeping my eyes on the music while having a glance at my hands every now and again.

In terms of fingering, use any sensible fingering that's given until you gain more experience and realise what fingering works and what doesn't. After a while some things become 2nd nature and you'll only have to work out fingering for complex phrases maybe. That being said, adjust fingering where necessary if it's more comfortable and still technically correct. It's good that you're thinking about these things, but everything takes time! Don't try to accomplish too many things at once.

Sorry I don't know much about the Suzuki method so can't help there.

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Thank you very much for your reply.

I've posted it twice because nobody was answering this first post and I thought I might have shied people away quoting the Suzuki book.    I should have been more patient.


Thank you again.

[nhi1605]

I also have a similar question... what is a GOOD beginner piano book? (I've been playing for 1 months... I've learned Fur Elise and can play through it moderately without any errors that someone with no musical experience can sense... but otherwise I'm sure I make a ton of mistakes (tempo, rhythm, etc.)

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I'm PMing you with a suggestion.

[vongoldschmitz]

I am working with Chang's book and he has a part about the Suzuki method.
You asked for a book, so you should try Chang's for your problems.

[Bob]

I haven't used the Suzuki books.  I thought they were for the Suzuki method though -- emphasis on memorizing pieces and not reading until you can play.  Although... they do have to learn to read sometime... maybe you have one of those type of books.  I just haven't seen them.  I've seen some for violin, meant for pieces being memorized.

If you don't look at your hands, fine.  Probably a good thing.  If you need to look down for a jump now and then, that makes sense.  Just don't be too tied up on not looking at your hands.  Actually, if you're looking at the music, I would stop worrying about it.  Focus on other things then with your attention.

Fingerings -- Use what they have.  Make your own.  Either way.  After awhile it will become second nature.  Unless it's actually the composer, if it's just an editor, you can use what you want.  Even if it is the composer, your hands are your hands, so use what you want.  Again, I wouldn't worry too much if you're using their fingerings.  I let my hands figure out what's right for them. 

I generally lean toward the idea that people taking traditional classical lessons aren't sight-reading their music.  They work on it, using the score.  At first, pieces take a week.  Then some a month.  Some six months.  If you're sight-reading though, that's great.  The way I was taught it wasn't emphasized much. 

On that note, if you wanted to sight-read... Why not get a few different series, complete series, method books and go through those?  You'll hit all the basics.  If you know it already, you can sight-read through it.  By the time you get to the end of those books, you'll be playing pieces. 

I know Alfred (I think) has an adult beginner series.  You can bet the others do too.  Faber & Faber.  Bastien.  Do a search and you'll find lots of publishers.  I've never been impressed much with anything I've seen from Hal Leonard or Yamaha for method books.  But that's just me. 

[kitty on the keys]

I am a Suzuki teacher ! Those books are used with the CD---you have too--you have no choice and with a qualified Suzuki teacher. A properly taught student will be able to read and listen. Yes there is an emphisis on learning by rote but not for the whole method. By the time you finish Book 1 you must be in a lesson series book and reading. Suzuki teachers are known for spending way to much time on rote learning and not enough time on reading----and there fore a student falls into bad habits and refuses to read. I would look into any of the Adult method books out there---use the dicks thatcome with them, and take your time---learn your basics first then focus on your weakness and strong points too. Have fun learning!!

Kitty on the Keys

[Bob]

Interesting.  I guess I only got fed part of the Suzuki method.  Then you see the kids on stage playing a concerto grosso and hear people complaining that they don't know what a quarter note is.  I don't know the whole method.