Mrs. Emese M. Pedroza

Emese Mazepa Pedroza received her Bachelor of Music in Piano and Master of Music in Teaching from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, as a student of Frances Walker. There, while an undergraduate, she heard a violin group class led by Suzuki pioneer William Starr. Captivated and curious, she enrolled in her first Suzuki pedagogy course with music education professor, Priscilla Smith. 

Emese soon realized that her own musical training had much in common with Dr. Suzuki’s mother- tongue method. The youngest of three children, Emese would play bits of the pieces she overheard her older sisters practicing, and was enrolled in piano lessons before the age of 5. She was fortunate to have nurturing music teachers along the way, as well as supportive parents. Both parents enjoyed singing; her mother encouraged her classical music study, while her father spent countless hours with her at the piano, passing on his love of Hungarian folk music. Raised bilingual, Emese instantly understood what Dr. Suzuki’s famous quote, “All Japanese children speak Japanese,” had to do with music education.

Eager to implement Dr. Suzuki’s ideas, Emese taught music in the New York State Public Schools for four years. During this time she took Suzuki violin teacher training with Mary Cay Neal in Buffalo, then with Judy Bossuat and Joan Reuning at the Ithaca College Suzuki Institutes. 

Marrying and moving to Raleigh in 1987, Mrs. Pedroza opened her piano studio. She did her Suzuki piano teacher training with Francoise Timmerman, Sue Vasquez and Elaine Worley, at institutes held at ECU, Sweet Briar College and Peace College. Under Elaine, she began her study of Suzuki Piano Basics, delving deeper into the work of Dr. Haruko Kataoka (co-founder of the Suzuki Piano School). This was followed by additional workshops with Elaine Worley, Linda Nakagawa and Bruce Boiney.

Mrs. Pedroza attended the Louisville Suzuki Piano Institute in 2011, as well as workshops with Jane Reed (2014), Bruce Anderson (2015), and (since 2016) seminars with DorothyTaubman authority and founder of Piano Wellness, Sheila Paige. Mrs. Pedroza is affiliated with Suzuki Piano Basics, Raleigh Piano Teacher Association, and MTNA. She enjoys singing in her church choir and fills in as a piano/organ substitute.

Mrs. Pedroza is able to testify to the benefits of the Suzuki Talent Education Method, as a significant part of her Suzuki journey was devoted to being a teacher/parent. She attended lessons, helped her four children practice various instruments, and was often called upon to be a piano accompanist. Her adult children continue to enjoy music and one of them is a professional violinist/teacher. Mrs. Pedroza, now a grandmother, looks forward to working with the next generation of Suzuki students and carrying on Dr. Suzuki’s dream of nurturing beautiful hearts.