Naomi Kusano

Naomi Kusano was first introduced to the Suzuki Method in the early 70s as a violin student in Japan and has been teaching Suzuki piano for almost 30 years. She completed her long-term Suzuki training at the British Suzuki Institute, England, obtaining a diploma from the European Suzuki Association. Additional Suzuki training includes study with Peggy Swingle, Doris Koppelman and Caroline Fraser from the SAA, and with Dr. Suzuki, Dr. Kataoka and Mr. Takahashi at the Talent Education Research Institute, Japan.

Naomi started studying piano with her mother when she was three and received a degree in piano from the Conservatorio Statale di Musica “Luigi Cherubini” in Florence, Italy. She specialized in the study of the performance practice of the 17th, 18th and early 19th century music and historical keyboard instruments (clavichord and fortepiano). She has collaborated with the Accademia Bartolomeo Cristofori, amici del Fortepiano on several occasions performing on such original instruments as Schantz 1795, Graf 1825, Broadwood 1840 and has participated in numerous master classes including those held by Hans Leygraf and Arne Torger (Mozarteum, Salzburg, Austria), Jörg Demus, Paul Badura-Skoda and Melvyn Tan.

A former faculty member at Levine School of Music, Naomi maintains a piano studio in Chevy Chase, MD. She teaches online and in-person lessons to students of all ages and levels, and is also trained in Music Mind Games. Naomi enjoys playing chamber music and accompanying young musicians.

Her interest and dedication to music continues with service on the Board of Directors of the Suzuki Association of the Greater Washington Area. Naomi is Piano Coordinator for the SAA Conference in May 2020. She is a frequent clinician at Suzuki workshops and institutes in Europe, Canada, Mexico and the United States. Most recently, she served on the faculty of the 1st Suzuki Convention of the Americas in Cancun, Mexico.

Suzuki Piano Studio of Naomi Kusano