Helen Hughes is a teacher trainee who is currently completing the Suzuki Teacher Training Program on Piano under the guidance of Erica Booker from the Suzuki Talent Education Association of Australia (NSW).
Helen will complete her Certificate III in Suzuki Talent Education (Piano) in June 2023.
Background
Helen Hughes studied piano as a child under the renowned Suzuki teacher Erica Booker from the ages of 4 to 18. During this time, Helen also studied Suzuki violin under Yasuki Nakamura AM who at the time was the President of the Suzuki Assocation Pan Pacific and Katie Betts, and her love and appreciation for the piano and the violin was solidified.
Helen’s enjoyment of music in all its forms has been with her for as long as she can remember. She attributes this to her parents, who took her and her sister to piano and violin lessons in the pursuit of the skills that she now treasures. And music, both modern and classical, always filled the house.
While her career took a different direction into the corporate space after university, she has returned to the piano with the desire to fill children with the same wonder, joy and curiosity that she experienced growing up. Having two young children gave her pause to reconsider priorities and perspectives, which has also shaped her decision to teach Suzuki piano.
Helen is currently undertaking her Suzuki teacher training under Erica Booker, and has recently started her journey as a Suzuki parent herself.
Learning through Suzuki
Teaching a child through the Suzuki method will enable any child to learn their chosen instrument. Using the same concept of learning how to speak, a child learns to play their instrument through listening, imitating and encouragement (plenty of all 3!). Further musicality comes from the child’s own growth influenced by their surroundings, be it teachers, parents or carers, and their own interests as individuals. The best part is seeing a child recognising the development of their own ability, and you can watch their confidence and belief in themselves soar.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Business (UTS)
Diploma Hospitality Management
Cert IV Project Management
AMEB Piano Grade 8
Certificate III in Suzuki Talent Education (Piano) to be completed by June 2023
