35 years of Festivals in Lima, Peru!

In celebration of the lives of Ruby Sneed, and her daughter
Brenda Sneed Harvey.
Ruby Sneed was a Black Canadian Suzuki piano teacher
who introduced me to the Suzuki Approach in a workshop
given in Palo Alto, California in 1975. Ruby had gained a
grant in 1972 which had enabled her to travel and study in
Matsumoto, Japan. Ruby instilled in us a profound belief in all
children and a deep appreciation for building and sustaining
community. Later her daughter Brenda, a Julliard graduate
and Suzuki piano teacher moved to the San Francisco Bay
Area and became a leader in our local Suzuki piano group,
setting the highest standards and exemplifying excellence in
every sense. I dedicate this article to Ruby and Brenda, who
have inspired so many.

The 35th International Suzuki Festival took place
in Lima from January 5 through the 25, 2020. This
Festival was made possible thanks to generous
support from the SAA, from diverse Suzuki communities,
and from Colegio Nuestra Señora de la Merced, where
the Festival was held. Around 600 teachers, parents and
children attended from 14 countries and many regions
of Peru. The countries represented included Argentina,
Australia, Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador,
US, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Venezuela, and Peru. The
goal of the Asociación Suzuki del Perú (ASP) Festivals has
always been to create and support an international Suzuki
network and to promote teacher training throughout Latin
America. In order to achieve this, we must be innovative,
persistent, and creative. In addition, we must constantly
seek to strengthen and reach beyond our present “family.”
To this end, we also hosted the VIII Latin American Suzuki
Teachers’ Conference.
This year, three Latin American teacher trainers gave their
first SAA accredited courses during the Festival.
Andrea Espinzo, cello teacher trainer from Argentina writes:
Giving my first Book One course as a Suzuki teacher
trainer during the Peru 2020 Festival was a great gift
from the cosmos. I love this Festival: I went there every
summer for 10 consecutive years, thirsty for information,
and came back year after year with renewed ideas. The
Festival is not the same now as then. Its organization
has grown and the level of instructors and students has
increased visibly from the first years at the end of the
90s. To see the ones who were students now as young
leaders of the Festival fills the soul with satisfaction and
pride. I want to mention that it was a special plus for
me to have the possibility of being in the same festival
as three of the teachers who shared with me the last
training step to become teacher trainers: Fabio Santos,
Blancamaría Montecinos, and Aubrey Faith-Slaker. Their
support, comradeship, and ideas were invaluable.
I would like to specially mention my dear colleague and
friend Annika Petrozzi, who with her many years of experience, accompanied me in my first Book One course with an
infinite smile and embracing friendship. Feeling that this
was the first of many more Festivals, I thank life for having
the opportunity of belonging to such an extraordinary
community.
Blancamaría Montecinos, piano teacher trainer from Chile writes:
I was very happy to be able to officially share my knowledge, now as a teacher trainer, in the Suzuki Festival of
Peru. I was blessed with a course full of students eager to
learn and with teachers from several places, such as Brazil,
Mexico, Ecuador, Australia, and several regions of Peru. I
shared my vision of a good start in piano teaching, with
clear and clean focus, understandable in any language. It
was a very nourishing experience, and the teachers were
able to experiment at the piano, each one testing this way
of teaching the young children.
The environment created in Peru is magical. We always
learn and now there is a young generation which refreshes
us with their ideas and with a different way to see life. I think
that the respect shown between all is the most beautiful
thing in Peru. I believe that is the legacy left by the indefatigable work of a group of teachers who have sowed so
much and now are reaping beautiful fruits. Many teachers
who work every day towards the dream of Dr. Suzuki of “a
better world through music” . . . and I would add a more
just world for all.
Fabio Dos Santos, violin teacher trainer from Brazil writes:
In January of 2020, I made my debut as a teacher trainer.
For me, it was a very important and exciting time because I
have traveled to Lima almost annually since 2009. I came to
take training courses, to teach and to participate in the Teachers’ Conferences. There, I met a community of colleagues
from all of the American Continent who are now my friends.
From my first trip I felt welcome, valued and nurtured.
From the beginning I received many opportunities, such
as teaching children, giving parent talks, and learning
and translating into my third language, Spanish. I had
the opportunity to cultivate with my colleagues a vision
of the role of Suzuki teaching throughout the continent. I
assumed responsibilities in organizing some Suzuki events
which provided the opportunity to develop another set of
organizational skills, such as the Third Latin American
Orchestra in Lima, in addition to Suzuki Americas, the
“Latin American Ensemble” in Minneapolis, and the First
Suzuki Convention of the Americas in Cancun, Mexico.

In January, I saw the strength of
our community! I felt the support,
wisdom, experience, fraternity and
confidence to share ideas, try new
things and reflect with my colleagues.
I think these are the virtues that we
must continue to cultivate as a community. Thank you very much to my
fellow teacher trainers for these weeks
of growth. Returning to Lima to guide
teachers as a teacher trainer is a way to
close a cycle. I grew a lot thanks to the
opportunities presented in this event.
One of the ways that I can continue
to add to our vision is to offer other
teachers the same environment of love
that I myself experienced! Thank you,
International Suzuki Festival of Peru
and the teachers from Brazil, Bolivia,
Colombia, Cuba and Peru who were
in my class!
Teacher trainers Sharon Miller and
Kathleen Spring (US) had their first Latin
American teaching experiences. Sharon
traveled on very short notice, as our Unit
One class was overflowing, and we decided
to offer an additional section.
Sharon writes:
It was a privilege to participate in
this established Festival and see firsthand what the teachers in Latin
America are doing. It was great to
witness the younger generation of
teachers taking on leadership roles
supported by the mentorship of those
who have worked many years to bring
Suzuki education to this part of the
world. There is a feeling of solid and
purposeful work. One of my favorite
parts of the Festival (beyond working with the wonderful teachers in
my course) was the Latin American
Concert. Everyone was so excited to
share the music of their region. It was
an inspiring event.
In my Unit One Violin/Viola course
there were teachers from six South
A merican countries. I loved this
aspect of the Festival! In addition,
there were teachers who were young
and had never taught, and there were
others who had taught many years but
wanted to refresh their ideas. This mix
made the course a rich experience for
everyone, including myself.
Kathleen Spring writes:
It was a privilege to teach
both teachers and students in Peru during their
35th Festival! There was so
much that was the same—
the Festival office busyness
and friendliness, the Suzuki melodies floating from
the rooms melding into
a Charles Ives-like sponta neous composit ion,
students of all ages greeting friends and teacher
from former years, and,
and. . . These similarities
impressed upon me how
global the positive reach
of Suzuki education and
philosophy has become!
The differences only made
the experience richer: for
instance, one could expect
to be greeted, in proper
Latin style, with a kiss to
the cheek every day! I enjoyed different
amazing Peruvian, and yes, Chinese,
cuisine. That we had a generous twohour break mid-day reminded me
that I was “south of the border!” One
lasting impression will be the infectious enthusiasm of all the teachers
and students I worked with—their
love of teaching music, making music,
and making a difference in the world.
Suzuki is a global force for good!
Three teachers from Cuba attended the
festival thanks to generous SAA scholarships, and to the Swiss organization
Camaquito: www.camaquito.org which is
committed to supporting the Cuban Suzuki
program. Cesia and Claudia were attending for the first time.
Cesia (violin) from Santiago de Cuba writes:
This festival experience was a great
opportunity for me. Twenty days spent
with excellent musicians and teacher
trainers expanded my knowledge and
perspectives about teaching music to
young children. In two weeks, my own
technique changed completely and
the knowledge I received cleared up
doubts I was not even conscious of having. Seeing the results of the method
in other parts of Latin America was
inspiring and at the same time created a challenge for me. I can only
be thankful for everything I have
received both materially and spiritually, and for being a part of this Suzuki
community which I now call family.
Claudia Pantoja (violin) from Santiago
de Cuba writes:
I did not grow up in a musical environment. I received a traditional
education from the age of eight years
old until my graduation. Even several
years after I had started my professional life, I did not know what the
Mother Tongue Method was. I also did
not know that Shinichi Suzuki existed.
I continued under that veil of ignorance until two co-worker friends
shared with me their experiences from the 2018 Suzuki Festival. I
was inevitably captivated by these experiences and by the joy, emotion
and illusion that they emanated. When
I knew of Jana and Cecilia’s intentions
to develop a project for implementing
all that they had learned in Lima, I
volunteered to work with them and
other teachers. That year I received my
first Philosophy course from teacher
Caroline. I then had the opportunity
to participate, for the first time, in the
Lima 2020 Festival.
At the beginning, I felt very nervous
and self-conscious. Due to my little
experience as a teacher, I found it
somewhat intimidating to share
with persons far more experienced
and from other cultures. This was,
however, an ephemeral feeling, because when I got to know my course
companions and teacher Fabio, and
that Caroline was my teacher again in
Reading and in Teaching Strategies, I
knew that I was in the right place. For
20 days I was surrounded by teachers
and parents from many Latin American countries who were wonderful
persons, which created an environment of peace, happiness, and love. It
is hard for me to describe how well it
felt to be surrounded by such beautiful
feelings and sensations, to belong to
this community and to participate in
the various activities. To receive training at the Festival was a transforming
experience. If I had to grade it, I would
say that I made a 180-degree change.
I learned a lot in Lima, not only
about how to teach, but also about
myself. I had to confront old fears
and insecure ghosts implanted in me
since I was a child. I learned to see
and recognize my stronger skills as a
teacher, musician and as a person, and
those that need to be improved, as well
as those tools that I should incorporate
in my teaching. Above all, I found the
precise road I had to take to overcome
difficulties and reach my objectives.
I found it stimulating and enriching
to share my life experiences with
people who had similar and diverging viewpoints. The Lima Festival
completely surpassed my expectations. It multiplied my desire to teach
and to work with children. Thanks to
Suzuki I discovered something I am
really passionate about. If only I had
known him earlier, I would not have
taken so long to travel this road.
This year, we were fortunate to have two
guest piano clinicians from abroad. Sophie
Chalk is originally from Taiwan, but has
lived in Australia for many years where she
has a successful Suzuki piano studio. This
was her first time in South America. She
came a few days early to attend a Spanish
language school.
Sophie (piano) from Canberra, Australia, writes:
This was a “Suzuki Holiday with Latin
American Immersion.” I experienced
diversity of music, not just the Suzuki
repertoire. I loved seeing, feeling, hearing, tasting, breathing in the Suzuki
environment, surrounded by people
with the same mission and vision. I
discovered a new level of understanding of the Mother Tongue Approach as
I learned Spanish through Spanish! I
enjoyed that performing opportunity
was given to every student, so that everyone had a chance to shine.
In the Philosophy course I made
friends from all over Latin America
and various regions from Peru, and
each country and each region was
introduced and acknowledged. There
were participants with various backgrounds—parents, educators, students
(including second generation Suzukistudents). Observation of lessons was
included seeing how the philosophy
is applied in teaching. This five-day
course allowed participants to experience, observe and reflect.
Accompanied by my personal interpreter, I also attended the Teachers’
Conference, the pre-piano course given
by Blancamaría and Piano Unit Four
taught by the wonderful trainer and
friend, Flor Canelo. I took the Kodaly
course where, without knowing what
every word meant, I knew when it was
my turn. What a wonderful learning
experience both in the methodology
and in the Spanish language!
In my masterclasses, I had the
luxury of being able to work with the
same students over four days. Most of
them had traveled a long way to come
to the festival, and did not necessarily
have daily access to pianos for practice.
However, they all remembered what
had been worked on the previous day,
so I was able to follow through, and
raise the level of the piece, and also
form some new habits. Everyone really
got to know each other and became
friends. I loved to see that there were
equal opportunities for all.
Aubrey Faith-Slaker, piano teacher
trainer from the US, has a Suzuki piano
studio in Chicago, and is on the faculty of
the Music Institute of Chicago and Roosevelt
University. We are very fortunate that
Aubrey once again traveled to give masterclasses and piano group classes this year.
Aubrey (piano) from Chicago writes:
The Suzuki Festival in Peru is the
most diverse Suzuki experience I’ve
had, with children, teachers, and
trainers from all over the Americas
and beyond. The community I find
there is open, and extremely connected, despite language barriers.
Everyone is flexible and willing to put
in time and creativity to truly reach
each family. It’s this sense of welcoming community that keeps me coming
back each year.
In our Festivals in Peru, participants are
accustomed to showing their teaching and
receiving feedback on their lessons during
the “Teaching Strategies” course. However,
these have always been connected to the unit
courses and given by teacher trainers of their
instruments. For the first time, in this festival
we offered “Teaching Strategies for all instruments.” All participants had taken the course
already. Here are some of their remarks:
Claudia (violin) writes:
This was my second experience in
“Strategies” training. I have to admit
that at the beginning I had my doubts
about whether it was convenient to
enroll in this course, as I had previously taken Teaching Strategies during
Violin Unit Two. I thought that it would
be more of the same. But I was very
wrong, and I am enormously thankful
for having enrolled in this class. In a
previous course I learned specifically
about the violin: how to teach it, technical and musical details precisely for
that instrument. Now, teachings were
more general; we received tools that
are useful for all specialties… It would
be great if teachers of many other
instruments would also participate
because it would be extremely beneficial for all.
Adriana (cello) writes:
It is a “Suzuki” way to learn how to
improve as teachers.
Jana Marieta (violin) writes:
It is the methodology of the methodolog y. T he unit courses deliver
technical musical knowledge and how
to teach them to students, the Strategies
course teaches how class dynamics
should be. It is how to apply all the
knowledge together, along with the
Suzuki philosophy. It is really the
essence of the method. W hen we
constantly take the Strategies courses,
it is like adding new layers each time.
In my experience during this Suzuki
2020 Festival I had the opportunity of
presenting up to three times my class
video in the different courses I was
enrolled in and every time I received
opinions and viewpoints from different
approaches, all of them enriching.
Renata (violin) writes:
I think that this course is essential,
fundamental, indispensable and unforgettable! It is like really putting into
action the Suzuki philosophy. Because
if one takes the unit course and does
not have the experience of teaching
a class being guided by a very experienced teacher, then the learning
is not complete. Making a paradox, I
feel that without the Strategies course
it is almost like teaching a child the
book repertoire without developing
her abilities through the Suzuki philosophy. The class is weak, a bit void
and missing what is important. One
cannot change anything or improve
anything if one is not conscious of
what needs changing or improving.
As Dr. Suzuki said, “Skill is developed
through conscious practice.” One can
have tools and knowledge to give the
classes, but this is not like a cake recipe.
The ability to have a good class, to
work with each student in an effective,
structured, comfortable and pleasant
way, and to have the student feeling
happy to learn, is reached only after
the knowledge has been applied “ten
thousand times” and with the guidance of a teacher able to recognize your
achievements and to propose ways to
improve your aspects not so successful. And this is long-life learning. I
have taken the Strategies course a total
of eight times and when it is offered
again, I will also take it without any
doubt, because I feel that it is a golden
opportunity that one cannot miss!
VIII Latin American Teachers’ Conference
The VIII Latin American Teachers’
Conference was organized and presented
by Nik Ponce, recorder and piano teacher
from Arequipa, Peru.
The teachers from Santiago de Cuba gave
a well-documented presentation on the
Suzuki Project in Cuba, following two
years of teachers having received training
during the Peru Festivals. The teachers
emphasized the importance of the support and guidance they have received
from the Swiss NGO Camaquito, the
Suzuki Association of the Americas, and

the Suzuki Association of Peru. For a full
account, see: https://suzukiassociation.org/
news/suzuki-project-in-cuba/
Miguel Aguire gave a presentation on the
importance of the SA A Certificate of
Achievement, along with concrete examples
of the necessary preparation and the application process.
Miguel (piano) from Monterey, México, writes:
To share love, friendship, time, and
information represents the Suzuki
spirit. This transforms us who spread
the seeds that later flourishes in many
hearts. Going through the process to
obtain the “Certificate of Achievement” helped me to develop my skills
as a Suzuki teacher. I was able to be
more specific in my classes and to
study in detail and in depth the Suzuki
repertoire pieces that my students now
play at a higher level. The “Certificate
of Achievement” requires a series of
activities and requisites that a Suzuki
teacher should complete.
When my application was approved,
I thought about sharing my experience
so that more Suzuki teachers would
have the opportunity to live this learning. Here is where sharing becomes
the medium to change the world. To
share my example in the Teachers’
Conference I tried to sow in them the
seed of the importance of the “Certificate of Achievement,” for them to
cultivate and make flourish, and they
in turn, then take it to more teachers,
thus achieving a sharing community
that aspires to becoming better persons, teachers and musicians.
Sophie from Australia presented her
Observation Program for interested families, which was met with great interest.
Fabio shared highlights from the 1st Suzuki
Convention of the Americas which had been
held in Cancun, and there was a lengthy
discussion on the details of the next Latin
American Students’ Orchestra. The main
decision to be taken was whether or not it
was possible to make this project happen for

2021. A group of enthusiastic young teachers, forming the “Young Network Promises”
      convinced us it could be done, and the
      organizers were chosen. Congratulations
      to “Promises” for all their work and dedication. Their energy and technical expertise
      allowed them rapid, precise international
      communication. Unfortunately, world
      events have obliged us to postpone this
      event, but thanks to new leadership in our
      community, we will be ready.
      The future of our Suzuki community and
      the fulfillment of Dr. Suzuki’s vision of a
      better world, is in the hands of our leaders.
      The “Young Network Promises” is made
      up mostly of former Suzuki students and
      children of Latin American Suzuki teachers
      with many countries represented.
      The “Young Network Promises” presented the following ideals:
      As Suzuki children and now teachers, we want to give back everything
      the method has given us. We want to
      bring teachers and colleagues together
      through our love of teaching children.
      We want to promote equal opportunity
      through projects such as camps, tour
      groups, and ensembles in order to
      achieve world peace through music.
      We aim to unite our entire continent
      through our “Young Network,” so
      called in order to affirm that the
      motivation and ideals will always remain fresh, just like the method itself
      after more than 60 years in existence
      throughout the world.
      Renata Jordão had done extensive
      research into the history of the Suzuki
      Method in Latin America, covering programs in 25 countries, some of which were
      new to many of us. The title of her presentation was simply “Uno” (One”).
      I conclude with the sentiments of
      Renata
      The Suzuki Philosophy unites us all.
      Where love is deep no frontiers exist and
      the resonance of love echoes throughout
      humanity. Dr. Suzuki’s dream of a world
      without borders is coming true in Latin
      America . . . and beyond!
      La Filosofía Suzuki nos une a todos.
      Donde hay amor profundo las barreras
      no existen y la resonancia del amor
      tiene eco en toda la humanidad. ¡El
      sueño del Dr. Suzuki de un mundo
      sin fronteras se está realizando en
      América Latina . . . y más allá!
      A filosofia Suzuki nos une a todos.
      Onde o amor é profundo, não existem
      fronteiras e a ressonância do amor
      ecoa por toda a humanidade. O sonho
      do Dr. Suzuki de um mundo sem
      fronteiras está se tornando realidade
      na América Latina . . . e muito além. 7
      Acknowledgements
      At present the Suzuki Association of Peru
      Festival Committee is planning the 36th
      Festival which, in all probability will be
      an online event. We are exploring what
      activities and formats can work best in
      this unprecedented gathering. You are all
      welcome to attend. Looking forward to
      seeing you there!
      Dr. Suzuki constantly implored us to
      “work together.” The Suzuki Association
      of Peru is profoundly grateful to all who
      have helped untiringly in order to both
      extend our community and simultaneously
      bring it closer together through 35 years of
      festivals. Thanks to: ASP Festival Committee: Roberta Centurión, Luciana Castillo,
      Caroline Fraser, Omar Majino, Annika
      Petrozzi, Nik Ponce, Gabriela Vargas. ASP
      Board of Directors: Flor Canelo, president,
      Mercedes Vargas, vice president, Lindsay
      Pre Kong, Ximena Venero. Special mention:
      Adriana Paliza, the ASP treasurer during
      the 35 Festivals! Special thanks to the ASP
      Administrator, cellist Maria Pia Beltrán.

Caroline Fraser is from Scotland. She graduated
from Edinburgh University with a Bachelor of
Music degree and studied at the Royal Academy
of Music in London, obtaining the diplomas
Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (piano)
and Licentiate of the Royal College of Music (violin).
She obtained a Masters of Music degree with
Kodaly emphasis from Holy Names University
(HNU) in California. From 1992 until 1999 she
was lecturer in music theory at HNU, where she
continues to direct the Summer Suzuki Piano
Teacher Training Institute. Caroline is an ESA and
SAA teacher trainer. She currently lives in Lima,
Peru and is a Latin American liaison for the SAA.
She has given teacher training courses all over
Latin America and the USA, in Canada, Europe,
Asia and Australia. She is passionate about
promoting a natural approach to learning and to
teaching music reading and theory.