Students take anywhere from a 30 to 60 minute individual lesson per week. (Some teachers start the youngest students with a 15 minute lesson.) In addition, students attend a 45 minute group lesson each week. Group lessons complement the private instruction by creating a musical community in which students share and enjoy playing of the repertoire together. Performances at community events such as the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, and frequent recitals during the school year, provide ample opportunities for the Suzuki children to share their music with the State College audiences.

Suzuki instruction ultimately takes a student to a level where he or she can play a significant repertoire that includes concerti and sonatas by some major composers. Conveying the sense and feeling of the music and producing a natural, balanced, full tone on the instrument, rather than just being able to play the notes, are emphasized at all stages of learning.

Most SCSP students begin to take lessons when they are 4--8 years old. A number have started as late as middle-school age or older, and several have started at age 3. We welcome students who have begun studying an instrument in school and whose families desire more focused instruction for them. Many of our older students have started in this situation. They make big strides in musicianship, technique, and enjoyment with Suzuki instruction.