Peggy Swingle has made a lasting impact on the growth of Suzuki Piano in the Pacific Northwest through her teaching, her travels, her commitment to the ideals and principles of the Suzuki Philosophy, and her active involvement in the Suzuki Association of Washington State. As she approaches her retirement, we were lucky enough to interview Peggy and read tributes from her trainees about her life-long Suzuki journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although Peggy came from a family of musicians, her inspiration to learn more about the Suzuki method came during her career as a Montessori teacher. Maria Montessori and Dr. Suzuki shared some similar philosophies about how children learn, but it was contact with a fellow teacher that moved her to pursue Suzuki teaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Peggy went to Japan in 1986 to see Dr. Suzuki and Mrs. Kataoka teach in their own studios. By then an experienced teacher, trainer, and mother of mostly independent children, Peggy was intrigued by the possibility of being a student again. She was on her own in her three-and-a-half-month sojourn in Matsumoto. No one monitored if and how much she practiced each day, or whom she observed. Each teacher, young or older, had to really want to do the work. Peggy was one of about ten piano teachers who were also enjoying their student experience that autumn. This experience included being a gaijin, an outsider in a mid-sized city where few foreigners came.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Besides observing Dr. Suzuki teaching, the Kenkyusei (trainees) observed Mrs. Kataoka teaching children. In Peggy\u2019s view, Mrs. Kataoka was a brilliant teacher. She could break down the teaching points of each piece, and her skill at \u2018dissecting\u2019 the pieces in the repertoire was unparalleled. Each lesson was focused and easy to follow for both parent and child, as well as those English-speaking Kenkyusei observing. Peggy said her teaching style reflects so much of what she saw and heard sitting on those hard, metal chairs in Mrs. Kataoka\u2019s studio at the Talent Education Institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Japan, Peggy developed a special friendship with two other teachers: Caroline Gowers from England, and Gail Lange from Canada. As this was well before the era of cell phones and the internet, these teachers would spend hours together watching Dr. Suzuki and Mrs. K. and then would talk endlessly afterward about what they had observed. Peggy, Caroline, and Gail continued their research together for the next 19 years corresponding by tape. \u201cWe were blossoming into better flowers; seeds of some good teaching had been planted, but it took a while for us to gradually flower into our own teaching,\u201d Peggy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Peggy\u2019s now-adult children were all string players, so she recognized very early in her career the value of group lessons. She has inspired many teachers with a curriculum for conducting groups. Many colleagues have been guided by her booklet on how to set up group lessons for pianists and its outline for useful activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Peggy began a two-year term as president of the Suzuki Association of Washington State in 1988. During her tenure, Peggy initiated, organized, and carried out a graduation program for all instruments inspired by a similar program she saw in Texas. After selecting the graduation pieces, Peggy wrote the piano guidelines for each, emphasizing salient points for teachers and focusing the remarks of the auditors. Students submit their recordings for anonymous evaluation and are rewarded with increasingly large trophies as they get more advanced. The evaluators also write comments for teachers. Ultimately, students have the honor of participating in a Graduation Recital at the annual SAWS Fall Festival. The first graduation concert, held in October of 1989, saw 60 students graduate. The next year, the number increased to 140. The motivation was\u2014and is still\u2014to raise the level of teaching by encouraging teachers to teach, and students to learn, a designated piece to the best of their ability. \u201cIt gave people a goal, it gave the kids something to work toward, and it gave them and their parents a chance to see that they have moved forward,\u201d Peggy observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between 2000 and 2017, Peggy organized and produced six concerts at Benaroya Hall, a big new concert venue in downtown Seattle, in honor of Dr. Suzuki. These concerts were the collaborative effort of as many as 11 teachers from all over the state, who prepared students in groups of three to play pieces of the Suzuki Repertoire in unison, or with one playing a 2nd piano part. Because she had \u201cbeen to Japan and had seen what was possible\u201d in their 10-piano concerts, Peggy said she was inspired to make this happen for her students as well as for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo one auditioned to participate in these events,\u201d said Deb Smoller, one of Peggy\u2019s long-term trainees. \u201cStudents had to be willing to work hard\u2026that is all. And hard they worked, for many months in their groups of three,\u201d Deb said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students first learned their piece to perfection and then rehearsed it with their two partners. Learning to listen to each other in order to play in unison was a tremendous challenge and an unforgettable growth experience. Piano students rarely, if ever, get the chance to play in unison. The Benaroya concerts have lingered in the memories of those who participated as a highlight of their Suzuki student experience. \u201cPeggy had a great deal of energy, leadership, and enthusiasm for these events, and everyone involved benefited\u2026students, teachers, parents,\u201d Deb said. \u201cIt was Peggy’s vision and determination that made these happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of Peggy\u2019s long-time students, Keely Sawyer, who later trained as a Suzuki teacher with Peggy, shared a memory from the World Suzuki Conference in Dublin, Ireland. Keely was about to perform with the Youth Orchestra and told Peggy that she was feeling quite apprehensive, as she often did before a concert. Keely asked Peggy if she would still love her if she messed up. The answer was always: \u201c\u2018Yes, of course\u2026\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another regular feature of Peggy\u2019s teaching life was doing teacher training courses at studios, workshops, and institutes. Former trainee Jal Feldman defined her skill eloquently: \u201cPeggy was a genius at knowing the exact clear cause of any problem and devising the quickest, simplest, and most direct way to solve it.\u201d Peggy also gave brilliant Parent Talks. She was articulate and always delivered her message with passion and enthusiasm. Parents remembered her talks for years afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Peggy moves toward retirement, we were honored to carry out the interview and learn more about this dedicative and innovative Suzuki teacher. In the words of Jal Feldman, \u201cI am a successful Suzuki piano teacher because of Peggy Swingle.\u201d What greater proof is needed!<\/p>\n\n\n
[size=120]What Makes a Good Suzuki Teacher<\/strong>[\/size]<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Peggy Swingle\u2019s own words, the Suzuki teacher believes\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) That every child can play well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2) That the adults (teacher and parent) are responsible for the child\u2019s success with the teacher being the leader. The teacher needs to teach the parent kindly and respectfully how to work with their child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3) That the teacher takes responsibility for all three partners moving forward. The speed doesn\u2019t matter as long as everyone is making progress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 4) That is very important to keep studying what makes good playing and the steps to get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5) In teaching effective and efficient practice, and in teaching the difference between practicing and playing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6) In helping the student find joy in playing. Can they play with a smile and play for the delight of playing? This is very, very important!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7) In accepting that a teacher cannot expect to be successful with every student\/parent. They should give it their best for a reasonable period of time, then honestly assess if it would be better for the student to go elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Which of these things are you doing well? Which need attention or work? From whom can you learn? We can always grow as teachers, musicians, and human beings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Peggy Swingle has made a lasting impact on the growth of Suzuki Piano in the Pacific Northwest through her teaching, her travels, her commitment to the ideals and principles of the Suzuki Philosophy, and her active involvement in the Suzuki Association of Washington State. As she approaches her retirement, we were lucky enough to interview…<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"pmpro_default_level":"0","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":""},"article-tag":[],"journalsection":[],"class_list":["post-34281","journalarticle","type-journalarticle","status-publish","hentry","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/suzukiassociation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/journalarticle\/34281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/suzukiassociation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/journalarticle"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/suzukiassociation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/journalarticle"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/suzukiassociation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/suzukiassociation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-tag?post=34281"},{"taxonomy":"journalsection","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/suzukiassociation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/journalsection?post=34281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}