The Music Road: A Journey in Music Reading presents an exciting, effective way for beginning music readers to experience the joy of reading and playing music at the keyboard. In the three volumes of The Music Road, a comfortable sequence of steps is presented. Each unit is divided into three parts: "Stop! Look! Learn!," in which new material for learning is presented with follow-up written assignments, "Stop! Look! Play!," in which new material is used in simple playing experiences, short mini-melodies, and one measure musical examples, and "Destination," which uses folk songs and original music to offer many, many opportunities to "see and play" what has been presented in the learning part of the unit. Each unit has a corresponding "Stop! Listen!" appendix in which the ear is trained to "hear" what has been "seen" on the printed page. Listening to "high - low," keyboard location, quarter, half, whole notes, 3/4 - 4/4 time, and intervals are a few of the beginning focuses in Book 1. Relating the eye and ear in this way is excellent sensory reinforcement and makes sense, too, of music theory for the young student. An additional appendix contains a teacher's guide, and general and specific practice points to help the teacher and parent use The Music Road successfully. The slow progression throughout the books ensures the mastery of concepts, and the extensive use of those concepts at the keyboard gives the student a wonderful sense of accomplishment. The philosophical and psychological basis for the Music Road books is a natural extension of the Suzuki approach, yet teachers with traditional approaches find the books equally successful with their students.F

The Music Road: A Journey in Music Reading presents an exciting, effective way for beginning music readers to experience the joy of reading and playing music at the keyboard. In the three volumes of The Music Road, a comfortable sequence of steps is presented. Each unit is divided into three parts: "Stop! Look! Learn!," in which new material for learning is presented with follow-up written assignments, "Stop! Look! Play!," in which new material is used in simple playing experiences, short mini-melodies, and one measure musical examples, and "Destination," which uses folk songs and original music to offer many, many opportunities to "see and play" what has been presented in the learning part of the unit. Each unit has a corresponding "Stop! Listen!" appendix in which the ear is trained to "hear" what has been "seen" on the printed page. Listening to "high - low," keyboard location, quarter, half, whole notes, 3/4 - 4/4 time, and intervals are a few of the beginning focuses in Book 1. Relating the eye and ear in this way is excellent sensory reinforcement and makes sense, too, of music theory for the young student. An additional appendix contains a teacher's guide, and general and specific practice points to help the teacher and parent use The Music Road successfully. The slow progression throughout the books ensures the mastery of concepts, and the extensive use of those concepts at the keyboard gives the student a wonderful sense of accomplishment. The philosophical and psychological basis for the Music Road books is a natural extension of the Suzuki approach, yet teachers with traditional approaches find the books equally successful with their students.

The Music Road: A Journey in Music Reading presents an exciting, effective way for beginning music readers to experience the joy of reading and playing music at the keyboard. In the three volumes of The Music Road, a comfortable sequence of steps is presented. Each unit is divided into three parts: "Stop! Look! Learn!" presents new material with follow-up written assignments; "Stop! Look! Play!" presents new material in simple playing experiences, short mini-melodies, and one measure musical examples; and "Destination" uses folk songs and original music to offer many opportunities to "see and play" what has been presented in the learning part of the unit. Each unit has a corresponding "Stop! Listen!" appendix in which the ear is trained to "hear" what has been "seen" on the printed page. Listening to "high - low," keyboard location, quarter, half, whole notes, 3/4 - 4/4 time, and intervals are a few of the beginning focuses in Book 1. Relating the eye and ear in this way is excellent sensory reinforcement and makes sense, too, of music theory for the young student. An additional appendix contains a teacher's guide, and general and specific practice points to help the teacher and parent use The Music Road successfully. The slow progression throughout the books ensures the mastery of concepts, and the extensive use of those concepts at the keyboard gives the student a wonderful sense of accomplishment. The philosophical and psychological basis for the Music Road books is a natural extension of the Suzuki approach, yet teachers with traditional approaches find the books equally successful with their students.

A book that is a must for all Suzuki piano students and teachers. Selected and compiled from her articles in Suzuki World over six years. Mrs. Powell discusses: communication with parents, home practice, listening, imitative games, psychology, "Fred," developing technique, reading, using the metronome, transposition, dynamics, balance, phrasing, Baroque style, Classical style, and effective teaching. A book rich with ideas for better teaching and better learning. Highly recommended.

Practice, motivation, learning, nutrition, competition and family lifestyles are a few of the topics discussed by these experienced teachers, performers, and parents. Treasured as a handbook by many Suzuki parents!