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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nMy beginnings with Suzuki<\/strong> We moved to Colorado in 1981, and our Suzuki involvements broadened and commitments deepened. [Insert-see note] With encouragement from Carol Tarr and Jim and Jackie Maurer, I became actively involved in the Suzuki Association of Colorado and then in the administration of the Denver Suzuki Institute, Denver Talent Education, and the Rocky Mountain Chamber Music Camp, along with part-time work in the public schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the spring of 1991, I was recruited and hired by the SAA. I was honored yet humbled to work for the organization representing the entire region! It was a challenging time for the SAA, both financially and operationally, but membership growth was strong. SAA founders and other early Suzuki pioneers were still vitally involved in leading the organization. Over the span of my involvement with Suzuki education, I have had the good fortune to work alongside countless creative, passionate teachers, musicians, and parents. I am extremely grateful for the experience of working within the Suzuki community.<\/p>\n\n\n Pivotal years: A period of change and development<\/strong> Additional committee work in the early 2000s led to new Teacher Development programs: the SAA Practicum course, Every Child Can! and preliminary steps toward developing the Certificate of Achievement. A further exciting Board initiative was the establishment of an SAA Honorary Board in 1995. The Board hoped to strengthen the SAA\u2019s stature as a recognized and respected professional association known for excellent teacher education and child-centered teaching. To represent these ideals, the Board selected its first slate of outstanding musicians, educators, and leaders to lend their names in support for our goals. Among the prestigious names on the current list are Dr. Robert Duke, Paul Kantor, Timothy Eddy, and Dr. Carol Dweck. (Please refer to the impressive list of current Honorary Board members and Emeriti members on the SAA website.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the peak of this decade, in 1998, the world lost Shinichi Suzuki at age 99. Waltraud Suzuki also passed away soon after. The Suzuki community mourned the losses and celebrated the gifts we had received. Memorial events in Matsumoto, Japan, were unforgettably beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Biennial Leadership Retreats began in 1995, welcoming anyone involved in SAA work: Teacher Trainers, instrument and early childhood committees, conference teams, institute directors, chapter affiliates, Latin American leaders, board members, plus anyone interested in becoming more involved in SAA work. Latin American \u201cEncuentros\u201d (comparable to Leadership Retreats) got underway, and festivals featuring Suzuki teacher training began to flourish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alongside all these new developments, the Board recognized the need for improvements in its work. As SAA entered the 21st century, it had grown geographically and added more instruments, programs, and activities. A large \u201cworking board\u201d for a dynamic international association was not considered practical. It was difficult to stay informed and find consensus. Many other organizations were experiencing challenges with organizational structure at that time, as well. The Board searched for appropriate solutions and discovered Policy Governance, a system that seemed to provide some solutions. It was adopted in 1999-2000. The Board became smaller and elected its own Chair. Every Board member was given an equal voice. The full Board worked together to establish and maintain its own policies and the policies that guide the management of the organization. Policy Governance, like Suzuki education, requires ongoing study and occasional policy updates and adjustments. Overall, governing policies enable boards to work more efficiently and better carry out their role as the organization\u2019s visioning body.<\/p>\n\n\n **Reflections on leadership ** **Joyful moments ** The Kaleidoscope Concert in 2012 was held in Minneapolis\u2019 Orchestra Hall, hosted by WFMT\u2019s Bill McGlaughlin. This delightful event featured outstanding young soloists, ages 5-14, with representation from most of our Suzuki-taught instruments. I remain deeply grateful for the conference coordinators, conference team members, teachers, parents, and students who have supported such special events year after year! Cherished memories of participating in SAA Conference events have inspired many Suzuki graduates in their decisions to become Suzuki teachers!<\/p>\n\n\n **Looking to the future ** \u2026 every country in North, Central, and South America could have its own association, with SAA serving as an umbrella organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 every state\/province of the U.S., Canada, and Latin America could benefit from strong chapter affiliates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 the biennial conference could rotate among the countries of the Americas, and a World Convention could take place somewhere in the Americas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some hopes for the more immediate future and beyond:<\/strong> \u2026 we recognize and support the growth of Suzuki Early Childhood Education and Suzuki in the Schools. Along with the new Suzuki Brass Method and soon-to-appear Suzuki Clarinet Method, we have more resources than ever before to attract and reach teachers, children, and families and create a large, diverse Suzuki community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 teachers continue to value in-person learning, while taking advantage of new technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 we always remember that \u201cexcellent Suzuki education\u201d includes more than teaching and learning attitudes and skills: it includes respect, fine character, appreciation for the intrinsic value of music, and much more! Dr. Suzuki wrote, \u201cFor the sake of the children, let us educate them from the cradle to have a noble mind, a high sense of values, and splendid ability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 the ASJ continue to share ideas and valuable information from throughout the SAA region, serving not only as an educational resource, but also as an archive of Suzuki development and progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 SAA continue to refine and expand its specialized, comprehensive teacher development program which stands out as quite unique among associations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 expanding and strengthening the SAA community of learning, sharing, and friendship remain an essential value, reflecting a hope that Dr. Suzuki expressed in this inspiring statement from Where Love is Deep: \u201cLet\u2019s continue to study the method by which every child grows and to seek the way to raise children better and better; let\u2019s together continue our quest for deeper study and practice. How fortunate it is that we have challenging lives in which we are walking together holding hands.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Par Pam Brasch C'est un honneur de figurer dans le num\u00e9ro de l'ASJ consacr\u00e9 \u00e0 la c\u00e9l\u00e9bration des 50 ans de l'association. Je suis extr\u00eamement fi\u00e8re des r\u00e9alisations de l'ASA au fil des ans et j'appr\u00e9cie grandement le travail de nos dirigeants b\u00e9n\u00e9voles qui ont permis \u00e0 l'organisation de franchir cette \u00e9tape. 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In 1977, Suzuki programs were getting well underway in Evanston, Illinois, where my family and I lived. Everything I heard about Suzuki immediately resonated with me. The Suzuki approach seemed to align well with the method of language teaching and learning that I had been exposed to in teacher education courses and in my own classroom teaching experiences. Music has been a passion of mine since childhood, so I was thrilled to learn more about the Suzuki Method and to provide the Suzuki experience for my family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/suzukiassociation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2010_Board_outside_SAA_s_Office_for_20_years.jpg\")
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The decade from 1994 to 2004 stands out as a period of development and change throughout the SAA. It became clear that SAA needed to create a long-range vision for excellent Suzuki education. We needed to establish programs and processes that would support excellence and continue to move us beyond being merely a Suzuki movement towards becoming a professional Suzuki organization. There was a critical need for a professional system for Teacher Trainer selection.
Over those 10 years, a committee referred to as the Teacher Development Challenge Team (TDCT), led by Board Chair and Kellogg fellow Dr. Jeffrey Cox, worked intensely to meet those needs. By 2001, a new SAA Teacher Trainer application was fully developed, along with valuable tools for evaluating applications. Along the path to completing the requirements, applicants are encouraged to self-assess, using the same tools by which they will be evaluated. Still in place after 20+ years, the process endeavors to be as clear, fair, and balanced as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several important Board initiatives took place early on in this 10-year period between 1993-2004. Fund-raising became a new Board and organizational focus, supported through a Board education grant from the Kellogg Foundation. This effort resulted in steady growth of SAA\u2019s Teacher Scholarship Program and enabled the SAA to support growing programs throughout Latin America. This increased focus on individual and charitable giving was an important step toward fulfilling the association\u2019s mission to support teacher development throughout the Americas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/suzukiassociation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/SYOA1_Orchestra_at_2016_Conference_Marilyn_Kesler_conductor.jpg\")
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Standing out among the many leadership development tools offered to members at conferences and retreats in the 1990s and onward was the concept of Servant Leadership. Its central idea is to lead by serving others. Servant Leadership places great value on the virtues of humility, trust, altruism, appreciation, stewardship, empathy, gratitude, and listening for understanding. These values align well with the Suzuki philosophy. I believe that Servant Leadership has motivated many members\u2014even those who may have been reticent\u2014to become more committed and involved. Enabled by the ideas of Servant Leadership, they feel needed, welcomed, inspired, and empowered to step into volunteer leadership positions wherever their service is needed. These ideas have guided my own SAA work, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/suzukiassociation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2006_SAA_Conference_049_SECE_demonstration_class.jpg\")
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Many stellar student performances at SAA conferences, institutes, and festivals over the past 30 years stood out and brought many tears of joy. The International Ensemble Concerts have all been just amazing. Latin American Suzuki Ensembles (2008 and 2014) were brimming with enthusiasm, energy, and culturally-inspired music!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suzuki Youth Orchestras of the Americas and numerous other instrument choirs and ensembles were always inspirational. Perhaps among the most moving and memorable for me were the Piano Concerto performances with teacher orchestras, the group performances over the years by Parker School Suzuki students, and professional ensembles featuring Suzuki graduates\u2014the Dryden Quartet, Claremont Trio, Albers Trio, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/suzukiassociation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2019_Leadership_Retreat_a_typical_enthusiastic_breakout_group.jpg\")
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By the time SAA reaches its 100th year or even sooner, I would envision that growth and widespread development would be such that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2026 in-person conferences and retreats be able to continue. SAA has held eighteen biennial conferences and fourteen leadership retreats so far! Suzuki teachers value the energy created by sharing and learning together. The 25-year-old tagline, \u201cCreating Learning Community\u201d still represents SAA well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n