1,000 Days of Piano - Day 63: European Style

The Suzuki piano repertoire consists almost entirely of European classical music and folk songs. Some people have the idea that European classical music is the gold standard by which all other music is measured, implying that it is somehow superior. Other believe it to be stuffy and boring, the province of snobs who join the country club and send their children to private school. Neither are correct. European classical music happens to be one tool to teach musical ability, literacy, theory, and appreciation. Mastery opens the door to learning the complexities of jazz, as well as blues, rock, country, and any other genre of music imaginable.

The Suzuki piano repertoire is one of the finest teaching tools available. Each piece is carefully chosen to introduce specific abilities. The learning concepts are cumulative, and the student’s repertoire increases, so does mastery. The pianist who learns these pieces—from the German folk tunes in Book 1 to Bartok’s Romanian Dance in Book 7 can learn to play anything, from Scott Joplin’s ragtime music, the soundtracks to Hamilton and Godspell, and Bohemian Rhapsody to anything by Fats Waller, George Gershwin, and Ray Charles. A true appreciation for variety music is one of the finest gifts a teacher can give.