Revising Suzuki Piano Books 5-7
by Pam Brasch, Teri Einfeldt, Gail Lange, Mary Craig Powell
May 10, 2009 / ASJ 37.2 / Topics: Books, Piano
The International Suzuki Piano Committee, working with Mr. E.L. Lancaster of Alfred Publishing Company, met in Boulder, CO, in November 2008 to begin work on revisions to Suzuki Piano Method Books 4-7. History was made for Suzuki Piano as a result of our decisions for the revisions of these books. All five regions of the ISA (SAA, ESA, PPSA, TERI and ASA) voted in favor of changes and additions to the repertoire to provide greater stylistic variety to the Suzuki Piano Repertoire. SAA Teacher Trainers are very excited about the changes and look forward to the publication of these new books.
Actual editing by the committee has not begun for Books 6 and 7 and Book 5 is not yet complete. Further work by the International Committee will take place in July 2009 and the new official recordings by Mr. Seizo Azuma will be completed soon thereafter.
The changes in the piano books brought about a temporary dilemma with regard to handling SAA Teacher Development courses, as we await the process of editing, compiling, printing and releasing of the new books and the recording, processing and release of the new CDs. After considerable thoughtful deliberation and discussion, the decision has been made that there will be no teacher training offered for Piano Books 5, 6 or 7 (currently published editions or proposed revised new editions) in any institute, apprenticeship, or long-term training in 2009. Since in Book 4 there is only one new piece, the Tcherepnin Bagatelle, Alfred has given permission for us to use a photocopy of the committee’s editing of Book 4 in time for that unit to be taught beginning with summer 2009, even though the CD will not be released at that point.
All SAA Piano Trainers have been notified that they are to postpone training of Books 5, 6, and 7 (current or proposed new editions) until further notice. It is anticipated that training of Book 5 may be able to be resumed in summer 2010. All current piano teachers and teacher trainers will need to participate in workshops before teaching the new pieces of Books 5 through 7. It is essential that trainers meet together to discuss teaching points and use of the new repertoire prior to offering any training of the new pieces. The first opportunity for Trainers to work together on the presentation of these pieces will take place in October 2009.
Thank you in advance for your support during this important transitional period. It is exciting to be a part of this historical time for Suzuki Piano and for the Suzuki Method worldwide.
Regards,
Mary Craig Powell
Chair, SAA Piano Committee & Co-Chair ISA Piano Committee
Teri Einfeldt
Chair, SAA Teacher Development & Chair-Elect, SAA Board
Gail Lange
Recent Past SAA Board member & Chair of Piano Area Development
Pam Brasch
Executive Director & ISA Board Liaison to Piano Committee
Pam Brasch is Executive Director/CEO of the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Her involvement with the Suzuki method began in 1977 as a parent. She served on the Board of the Suzuki Association of Colorado in its early years and worked as Administrative Director of the Denver Suzuki Institute, Denver Talent Education and the Rocky Mountain Chamber Music prior to beginning her work with the SAA in 1991. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the International Suzuki Association for nine years and currently is the liaison to the International Piano Committee.
Teri Einfeldt is chair of the Suzuki department and adjunct professor at the University of Hartford’s The Hartt School and assistant director of The Hartt School Suzuki Institute. An SAA registered teacher trainer, Teri is a frequent clinician at workshops and institutes throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. She has participated and presented at several SAA conferences as well as lecturing at CT–ASTA conventions. In addition, she has taught at the Pan-Pacific Suzuki Conference in Sydney, Australia, and the 14th Suzuki World Conference in Turin, Italy. She is the former assistant concertmistress of the Northeast Pennsylvania Philharmonic and Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, and performs frequently with the Hartford Symphony. Teri is the most recent past chair of the SAA and continues to be an active member in her roles of chair of the Teacher Development Team and of the Suzuki Principles in Action committee She maintains a studio of 26 Suzuki students, ages 4¬¬–18, at the Hartt School Community Division.
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Gail Lange is a Suzuki Piano teacher in Guelph, Ontario. A teacher trainer since 1984, Gail studied four months in Japan with Dr. Suzuki and Haruko Kataoka. Always inspired by the spirit of sharing in the Suzuki community, Gail has continued to observe and work with outstanding teachers. Her teacher training program and her studio reflect these experiences and expertise. Past-Chair of the Suzuki Association of Ontario, and former Piano Director of the Southwestern Ontario Suzuki Institute, Gail has also served on the SAA Board, was Piano Coordinator of the 2008 Conference. Currently, she is on the SPA committee, the Teacher Development Committee and has coordinated the revisions of the Piano Syllabus. In 2005 Gail was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Medal by the Canadian government for her contributions to music education.
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Mary Craig Powell currently teaches piano in her home studio in Columbus, Ohio. Retired from the Conservatory of Music faculty of Capital University, she has taught piano at both the college and preparatory levels. Her reputation as a Suzuki teacher has grown to international proportions and has given her extensive invitations throughout the world to train teachers and teach children. Her young students are consistent winners in auditions and competitions. Ms. Powell has written a book entitled Focus on Suzuki Piano and contributed to another book entitled Teaching Suzuki Piano. Currently she serves as the co-chairman of the International Suzuki Piano Committee, which has recently finished revising and re-editing all the Suzuki piano books. In recognition of her contribution to Suzuki instruction, she has received the “Excellence in Teaching” Award and the “Excellence in Suzuki Teacher Education” award from the SAA as well as the “Distinguished Alumna” Award from East Carolina University, her alma mater. As an active member of Music Teachers’ National Conference, she has been named the “State Certified Piano Teacher of the Year” by the Ohio Music Teachers’ Association.
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