Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, Alfred Garson, and a violin student

Dr. Shinichi Suzuki

Born on October 17, 1898, in Nagoya, Japan, Dr. Shinichi Suzuki is the founder of the Suzuki Method. A violinist, philosopher, educator, and leader, Dr. Suzuki believed that all children were capable of developing talent, and a guiding principle of his was “character first, ability second.” His revolutionary contribution to music education focused on the concept that because every child is capable of developing language skills, they are also capable of learning the language of music. He also held that the skills gained from learning music would apply well beyond their music classes, and carry into their lives outside the classroom. Now among the most recognized names and brands in the music education field, his legacy continues to offer the gift of music to many across the world. Check out this amazing video archive of Dr. Suzuki’s teaching here. You can also hear about his life in the book Nurtured by Love, or the DVD, which you can purchase in our store!

The impact that Dr. Suzuki had on the world of music education is impossible to summarize. His ideas about talent development, language development, and democratizing education were important and influential during his time.

Waltraud Suzuki

Excerpt from an article by Michele Higa George

It is impossible to imagine the spread of the Suzuki Method without Waltraud Suzuki. Her unfailing loyalty to her husband, [Dr. Shinichi Suzuki] often put her in an unpopular light, and her desire to protect him from the unpleasant aspects of running a business left Suzuki free to concentrate on teaching. She was his voice to the world, beginning with her translation of Nurtured By Love, and continuing through a lifetime of travels to foreign lands to promote his philosophy and pedagogy.

A Timeline of the Suzuki Method in the United States

Dr. Shinichi Suzuki

1958

  • Film of 1955 Talent Education Concert was shown to Clifford Cook by Kenji Mochizuki, a student from Japan.
  • Cook shows 1955 Talent Education film at OSTA. The film was seen by Robert Klotmann and John Kendall.
  • Cook wrote an article on Suzuki, which appeared in the Music Education Journal.
Dr. Suzuki & John Kendall

1959

  • John Kendall visits Matsumoto, returns to write Listen and Play books.
  • Time interview with Kendall in Japan.
  • 1959 NSOA presentation by Kendall.

1963

  • Clifford Cook begins a Suzuki program at Oberlin with 30 children and two young teachers from Japan.
William Starr conducting a student orchestra

1964

  • Japanese Tour Group comes to the US with 10 students; historic MENC/ASTA conference performance.
  • Suzuki is first recipient of ASTA International Award.
  • Thomas Rolston begins first Canadian Suzuki program in Edmonton.
  • Bill Starr begins Suzuki program at the University of Tennessee.

1967

  • Suzuki program in Cordoba, Argentina.
  • 55 American teachers go to Japan for a month long study tour.
  • Talent Education USA formed.

1968

  • William Starr’s sabbatical year in Japan.
  • Mrs. Suzuki’s English translation of Nurtured By Love is published by Exposition Press
William Starr

1972

  • Suzuki Association of the Americas is formed with William Starr as President.
  • Harriet Mogge, Executive Secretary 1972-1974.
  • Dues—donations only!
1973 Board of Directors

1973

John Kendall teaching a young violin student

1974

  • John Kendall becomes SAA President.
  • Glenn Pannell, Executive Secretary 1974-1981.
  • First membership count: 912
  • Seven long-term Teacher Training locations published in ASJ.
  • Suzuki Pre-School opened by Susan Grilli at the School for Strings in New York.
Mary Kay Waddington with a young harp student

1975

Sanford Reuning

1976

  • Sanford Reuning, President.
  • First SAA Directory.
  • Board expands to 30.
  • Teacher scholarships started.
  • William Starr publishes The Suzuki Violinist.
  • SAA Membership: 2087.
Flute masterclass at third SAA Conference

1977

  • Focus on Teacher Training.
  • Registration of courses provided by SAA.
  • Suzuki recorder instruction begins.
  • Membership is 2469.
Mark Bjork

1978

  • Mark Bjork, President.
  • Active dues set at $15/year.
  • Suzuki flute begins.

1979

  • Teacher Support: Group medical and instrument insurance available.
  • SAA logo developed and registered.
  • Teacher Trainer syllabi developing.
  • Suzuki teaching comes to Puerto Rico.
  • SAA membership—$20 US.
  • American Suzuki Journal register with Library of Congress.
Yvonne Tait

1980

  • Yvonne Tait, first woman president, first cellist president.
  • Toshio Takahashi comes to US for flute Teacher Training.
  • Parent issues receive increased attention.
  • Institute guidelines and approval process under development.
  • Marge Aber receives first Distinguished Service Award.
  • European Suzuki Association formed.
Toshio Takahashi with flute students

1981

  • Robert Reinsager, Executive Secretary 1981-1991
  • Suzuki teaching comes to Peru.
  • SAA dues set at $32 US.
  • First SAA Flute Committee established.
Doris Preucil

1982

  • Doris Preucil, President.
  • Institutes number 31.
  • First SAA Teacher Trainer Registry set up.

1983

  • SAA Board reduced to 9 members.
  • International Teachers’ Conference in Japan.
  • 25th Anniversary of the 1958 showing of the Talent Education film at Oberlin.
  • First Parents’ Column added to ASJ.
  • International Suzuki Association established.
Norma Jean Seaton

1984

  • Norma Jean Seaton, President.
  • First SAA National Teachers’ Conference in Schaumburg, IL.
  • SAA membership: 4463.
  • Suzuki gives preliminary approval to harp approach developed by Mary Kay Waddington.
  • Dr. Suzuki receives honorary doctorate from Oberlin College.
First SAA National Teachers Conference Image by Arthur Montzka

1985

  • New application requirements adopted for Teacher Trainer Registry.
  • Teacher Trainer Review Committee appointed.
  • First conference for Teacher Trainers and Institute Directors, Denver, CO.
  • $70,000 raised for Save the Children Fund.
Paul Landefeld with Shinichi Suzuki

1986

  • Paul Landefeld, President.
  • Second SAA Teachers Conference in Chicago.
  • Tour Group to South America co-sponsored by ISA and SAA.
Dorothy Jones

1987

  • Ties with Japan fostered.
  • Suzuki Harp, Vol. 1 published.
  • Over 60 Institutes taking place.
Josef Gingold masterclass at the 3rd SAA Conference

1988

  • Dorothy Jones, first Canadian SAA President and first pianist as president.
  • Focus on public outreach.
  • Third SAA International Conference in Chicago—Gingold gives master classes.
  • First viola column to appear in the ASJ.
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki and Haruko Kataoka Photo by Arthur Montzka

1989

  • Second Conference for Teacher Trainers and Institute Directors, Boston,
  • Suzuki Piano School re-editing/re-recording begins.
  • 50 Brazilian students, teachers, and parents participate in the 9th International Conference in Matsumoto.
Tanya Carey

1990

  • Tanya Carey, President.
  • Fourth SAA International Conference in San Francisco.
  • Restructuring due to financial crisis.
  • Jim Maurer brings SAA books up to date and new fiscal policies set.
  • First Teacher Trainer Handbook published.
  • Suzuki Bass School, Vol. 1 published.
  • Suzuki Viola School, Vol. 6 published.
  • Network with MENC & ASTA officially established.
Jeff Cox in action on the SAA Board

1991

  • Pam Brasch Executive Administrator, 1991-1996.
  • SAA offices move to Boulder, CO.
  • SAA Active membership dues set at $35 US.
  • Premier Business Memberships established.
The 1992 Executive Committee with the geodesic dome symbolizing the “Learning Community”

1992

  • Jeff Cox, President/Board Chair.
  • Fifth SAA International Conference in Chicago claims record attendance.
  • Conference includes the first joint meeting of the SAA and ISA.
  • First Suzuki program developed in Ecuador (Quito).
  • Marilyn O’Boyle establishes liaison with South America.

1993

  • Analysis of mission, goals, and objectives for SAA
  • Ten-year strategic plan and fundraising strategies established.
  • Third Teacher Trainer/Institute Directors Conference, Estes Park, CO.
  • Dr. Suzuki is nominated for Nobel Peace Prize.
  • First Suzuki guitar group performance at an international conference (Pan Pacific Conference in Australia).
Dorothy DeLay masterclass at the Sixth Conference
Image by Arthur Montzka

1994

  • Sixth SAA International Conference, Chicago.
  • A lawyer, a parent, and financial advisor added to the board.
  • First summer for Board-led Institute Focus Groups.
  • First Annual Fund Campaign.
William Preucil with statue of Pablo Casals

1995

  • William Preucil, Board Chair.
  • SAA Honorary Board established.
  • SAA receives Kellogg Foundation grant for leadership training.
  • SAA President becomes the Board Chair.
  • SAA membership reaches 6,245.
  • First Biennial Leadership Retreat, Estes Park, CO.
Nurtured By Love, released in 1996

1996

  • Pam Brasch, Executive Director 1996-2021
  • Fund raising continues to be a major responsibility for the board.
  • Seventh SAA International Conference celebrates 25 years of the SAA.
  • Film Nurtured by Love released.
  • SAA dues set at $45 US.
  • SAA becomes a Regional Association of the ISA.
  • Suzuki’s former home becomes a City of Matsumoto museum.
Pat D’Ercole

1997

  • Pat D’Ercole, Board Chair.
  • SAA Mission and Vision stated the spring of 1997.
  • Second Leadership Retreat, Estes Park.
  • Guitar at Hartt Suzuki Institute, largest Suzuki Guitar gathering in the World.
  • 25th Anniversary ASJ issue published.
  • Joe McSpadden publishes 25th Anniversary article documenting SAA history in American Suzuki Journal Summer 1997 LINK to PDF HERE

Dr. Shinichi Suzuki

1998

  • Dr. Suzuki dies, Jan 26, 1998.
  • Eighth SAA International Conference celebrates Suzuki’s 100th year.
  • Suzuki Centennial Celebrations.
  • Fall of 1998, SAA Board meets in Canada (London, Ontario) for the first time.
James Maurer
Image courtesy of James Maurer

1999

  • James Maurer, Board Chair.
  • Third Leadership Retreat, Estes Park (Teacher Trainers, Institute Directors, State Association Officers).
  • First Latin American Teacher Conference (Encuentro) in Lima, Peru.
  • SAA staff adds first Development Director.
  • Code of Ethics adopted.
Waltraud Suzuki

2000

  • Waltraud Suzuki dies, December 24, 2000.
  • Practicum units begin summer of 2000.
  • 9th SAA International Conference, Cincinnati, OH.
  • Koji Toyoda becomes President of Talent Education Research Institute.
  • SAA website expanded.
Gilda Barston

2001

  • Gilda Barston, Board Chair.
  • Chapter affiliation program initiated.
  • 4th Leadership Retreat, Broomfield, CO.
  • SAA Active dues set at $52 US/Associate dues—$30 US.
  • First Annual Report (for 2000) published.

2002

  • SAA Membership: 7,776.
  • 10th SAA International Conference, Minneapolis—30th Anniversary of the SAA.
  • Second Latin American Encuentro in Lima, Peru.
  • First groups become SAA Chapter Affiliates.
Joanne Melvin

2003

  • Joanne Melvin, Board Chair.
  • 5th Leadership Retreat held in Broomfield, Colorado.

2004

  • 11th SAA Conference “Excellence from the Start” held in Minneapolis.
Paul Salerni

2005

  • Paul Salerni, Board Chair.
  • 6th Leadership Retreat held in Asilomar, California.

2006

  • 12th SAA Conference “Always with Excellence” held in Minneapolis.
Diane Schroeder

2007

  • Diane Schroeder, Board Chair.
  • “Creating the Future Together 2007,” SAA’s seventh Leadership Retreat held in Alliston, Ontario—the first conference or retreat in Canada.
  • Revised Suzuki Violin School Books 1 and 2 published.
Guitarists in the Latin American Suzuki Ensemble
Image by Michiko Yurko

2008

  • 13th SAA Conference “Expanding the Vision” held in Minneapolis. Children from all over Latin America come to participate in the Latin American Suzuki Ensemble.
  • Revised Suzuki Piano Books 1 through 3 published.
2009 Virtual Leadership Retreat

2009

  • Teri Einfeldt, Board Chair.
  • Video conversion in progress.
  • Suzuki Guitar School Book 9 published.
  • First ever Virtual Leadership Retreat.
  • Certificate of Achievement program launched.
Suzuki Principles in Action logo

2010

  • Suzuki Principles in Action teacher training course launched.
  • 14th SAA Conference “TEAMWORK” held in Minneapolis.

2011

  • Parents as Partners Online, an online event for Suzuki parents and teachers, held January 17—February 28.

This timeline was taken from the 30th anniversary SAA Conference Commemorative program. Our organization was founded in 1972. This timeline offers a historical perspective of highlights beginning in 2011.