Katie Dey

Katie has played piano and violin since childhood and has taught music to children on and off since she was a teenager.

Katie Dey teaches piano and violin by the Suzuki method to students aged 3 years to adult. She teaches using a combination of online and in-person lessons through her website www.katiesuzukimusic.com. Students work through the video lessons at home and take lessons either in Motueka or by webcam. Katie also has a facility for students to upload videos to get her feedback and help. She runs children’s group classes in Motueka every second Saturday. The groups incorporate short individual lessons as well as group playing.

The Suzuki method (also known as the “mother tongue method”) is based on the way that children pick up their native language and involves learning initially by ear. A CD of simple music is played at home in the background every day, so that the student is surrounded by the music that they will learn to play. As they learn, they are encouraged to pick out the pieces on the CD by ear and by copying the video lessons (and the parent if relevant). Parental involvement is an important component of the method.