On Friday, September 24, 2021, Carol Sykes, Suzuki violin teacher, founding member and first president of both the Suzuki Association of Massachusetts and the Young People’s String Consort, passed away at age 83.
Carol Sykes was born May 13, 1938 in Pittsfield MA to George and Olive Sykes. She received her B.M. and M.M. degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA.
Carol, who spent over 60 years teaching violin, touched the lives of approximately 10,000 students over her esteemed career. More than 80 of her students have become professional violinists, Suzuki teachers, and symphony players. Her passion for music and the violin was ignited when she studied with the famous Schinichi Suzuki in Japan in 1967, and returned home to be the first person to bring the “Suzuki method” of teaching to New England. Carol also had the opportunity to perform and sing in the chorus at Tanglewood and the New England Conservatory under several famous Boston Symphony conductors, including Leonard Bernstein.
Carol will always be remembered for her sense of humor and her famous turtle pendant and snail earrings, which symbolized her core principals which she worked hard to instill in her students: “Practice as slowly as a turtle until you get it right, and “If that’s not slow enough, then practice like a snail.”
Her brothers, Franklin Sykes and William Stewart, her nephew, Brian Sykes, his wife Maryrose Sykes, grand nephews, Kevin and Christopher Sykes, all the members of the Stewart family, and many, many dear friends, colleagues and students survive Carol.
In lieu of flowers any donations may be sent to the Carol Sykes Scholarship Fund established at the Suzuki Association of the Americas http://www.suzukiassociation.org.

“I first met Carol Sykes when she was teaching a Suzuki program at the Dana Hall School of Music in Wellesley. At that time, my three-year-old daughter was the youngest enrolled in the class of eight students, who were progressing at different stages through Suzuki Book 1. Carol always had wonderful stories to tell of her time with Dr. Suzuki, offering special phrases that he would say to the students. To be “Ichiban” was a true compliment!
When Carol approached me one day and suggested I should become a Suzuki teacher, and that she would train me, my joy knew no bounds! At that moment, she completely changed my life, and she introduced me into the amazing world of Suzuki teaching. His philosophy and understanding of the incremental learning process in children, while involving the parent as part of the triangle, was a revelation to me. With her personal connection to Suzuki Sensei, it was a privilege to be trained by such a perceptive teacher.
Carol was always at the heart of every New England Suzuki event, including being a founder of Suzuki: MA, participating in the annual MA Suzuki Festival as conductor and teacher, as well as starting the summer MA Institute on Cape Cod. In addition, she was running her own program on the Cape. It was an honor to teach alongside her at many of these events.
I was thrilled to invite her to be the Teacher Trainer at the Suzuki School of Newton, never having imagined that we would one day be colleagues. Several times we joined forces with our programs, taking our students to play in Disney World and on tour to Montreal, and Martha’s Vineyard, and Miami. The products of all the hard work and discipline were well rewarded with the fun of working together.
During her retirement, I would visit Carol on the Cape and later in Florida, but somehow she kept on teaching to the very end. It was so moving to play at her Memorial in Pittsfield with her last and youngest student of ten, who came up from Florida with his mother for the event, and also her oldest student, a senior citizen, who was inspired to support Carol’s work at a Montessori School in Florida. Carol was memorable in so many ways, but most especially in embodying the philosophy of Dr. Suzuki as the great teacher that she was.”

—Gwendoline Thornblade, Suzuki colleague

“Carol will always be remembered for her Twinkle in her eye as well as her love for all children. With Carol, everything was possible from a Beach Party Play In to a formal Candlelight concert. There were family picnics, deep chats with teachers and families while sitting around a picnic table, and turning dreams into realities. I think she touched everyone she met with her belief in possibilities and her love of children and music! And let’s not forget her contagious sense of humor! Carol, we will miss you!”

—Nancy Hair, Suzuki colleague

“Compassionate, strong, joyful, generous, funny, and full of love. This is the Carol that I met the summer of 1975 when stepping into her Harwich, Massachusetts home to begin a week of Teacher Training. For 46 years I was privileged to observe her brilliant and imaginative teaching and her deep love and belief in the abilities of all children. Miss Sykes was a powerful force to behold. Through her time in Japan working closely with Dr. Suzuki, engaging often in thoughtful discussion, Carol truly captured the essence of Dr. Suzuki’s life and philosophy. She carried these beliefs back to us, benefiting everyone who came to study or teach with her.
There were travels to national conferences, magical institute summers, and bike rides on the Cape Cod Rail Trail (where thoughts of creating our own Massachusetts Suzuki Association were first formed). Carol experienced life fully with a sense of wonder and unlimited possibility. Many laughs were shared and stories told. She was fun to be with—unexpected adventures were sure to unfold.
Carol knew what her students were capable of achieving before they did. “If Miss Sykes believes I can do it, then I must be able to!” To observe Carol, surrounded by multi-levels and ages of students gathered together for group class at her Summer Institute, was to experience a Master Teacher crafting a sense of belonging, collaboration, and respect in each child. Older students understood their responsibility as models for the younger players while the younger students were immersed in marvelous new sounds, a glimpse into their musical future. Her influence extended far beyond the music. She was shaping sensitive and beautiful human beings.
It is with sadness and hope that I write this farewell, knowing that her energy and commitment to bettering our world through its children will live on as we become the carriers of her generous spirit and love. Thank you, Carol. I am grateful for your friendship and inspiration. I will miss you.”

—Susan Turcotte Gavriel, Suzuki colleague