We are saddened to learn that Yasuko Joichi passed away on December 28, 2011. A memorial service is planned as follows:
Saturday, January 07, 2012
3:00 p.m.—03:45 p.m.
St. James the Less Episcopal Church
550 Sunset Ridge Road
Northfield, Il 60093
Mrs. Joichi was a beloved Suzuki Piano Teacher and SAA Teacher Trainer. She served on the faculty of the Music Institute of Chicago, worked on the Suzuki Piano repertoire revisions committee and taught at many institutes and workshops. For the past few years, health issues had limited her activities.
Yasuko Joichi’s warmth, kindness and enthusiasm for teaching will be greatly missed.
In lieu of gifts or flowers, her family has requested gifts to a charity or organization of your choice.
Yasuko S. Joichi
Oct. 1, 1945—Dec. 28, 2011
Born in 1945 in Kyoto, Japan, Yasuko became the fourth child of Hideo and Iwae Segawa. Rather unusual for the time, both of her parents had gone to theological seminary school, and although their training was just short of ordination, they each preached to their respective congregations. Lively debates and conversations with missionaries and Buddhist friends filled her youth and undoubtedly left an indelible impression on her.
In 1968, already an adventuresome traveler, she crossed the Pacific Ocean and landed in Evanston, Illinois, for graduate school at Northwestern University where she majored in piano performance. Shortly thereafter she met her husband, Max, while Christmas caroling at a church in Chicago. By 1970, her only daughter, Janet, was born.
During the next few decades, Yasuko’s days were filled with much musical activity. She played organ in churches, gave recitals, and was active in many music teachers organizations. From 1977 to 1979, even the entire family gave Sunday Afternoon Concerts at Cantigny in Wheaton, Illinois.
Always a teacher at heart since her teenage years in Japan, she taught piano her entire life until a stroke in December 2008. Most recently she taught piano at the Music Institute of Chicago and at Elmhurst College preparatory and college departments. Previously, she taught at Wheaton College preparatory school and privately at home. Perhaps central to her music teaching career was encountering the Suzuki Method in 1975, an approach to music instruction that she tried first with her daughter. She eventually became a teacher-trainer in Suzuki Piano and traveled worldwide as an instructor at institutes and conferences.
All of that traveling was hard to give up, and she continued her travels most recently to Europe, Central America, and Asia until 2008. If it were not for her stroke, she would have volunteered again in Costa Rica with Cross Cultural Solutions.
Her love for dogs and many furry creatures could be seen by all. Pictures adorned the walls and cabinets of her piano studios and even refrigerator at home. Her laugh was infections as was her charm with young students. In the past few years, she enjoyed visits from her grandson and followed her physical therapy and speech therapy exercises diligently. Unfortunately, her heart was not strong enough to continue her lifelong adventure. In memory of a life fully lived, let us wish her peace.
-Marilyn Andersen
Nightingale Chen and Yasuko Joichi, Thanksgiving 2010
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Comments
I was fortunate to receive several of my Suzuki teacher training courses under Mrs. Joichi’s tutelage. I have greatly admired her throughout my teaching career and know that I have been a better instructor because of her. I will dearly miss Mrs. Joichi.
Arlington Heights, IL
1 posts
I was very blessed and I enjoyed having Mrs. Yasuko Joichi as one of my former Suzuki Piano Teachers. She gave me a lot of advice and encouraged me to be the best pianist especially during my Suzuki Piano studies. I was very honored to be one of her students. I will always remember Mrs. Joichi and never forget her. “Where Love is deep, much can be accomplished.”
Minneapolis, MN
2 posts
Yasuko was one of my mentors in my early years as a Suzuki Teacher. She guided, trained, listened, encouraged. Her influence, smile, gentle manner will be missed.
44 posts
I met Mrs. Joichi at my very first Suzuki journey in 1987 in Stevens Point, WI and had maintained my friendship with her throughout all these years. She was one of my mentors, encouragers who strongly urged me to become a trainer.
I went to visit Mrs. Joichi last Thanksgiving (2010). She had remained living independently all by herself after her stroke, with most of her wake time in a wheel chair, with her whole right side totally paralyzed. She felt comfortable and secure in her beautifully architected gated community with 24/7 security guards and had refused to move in with her daughter who lives in CA. However, she was very lonely without any family, only with very few friends from church. She cried when she saw me at her front door, she cried when we talked, and she cried again when I left. I brought her lunch and her favorite Asian pear. Her 2 beautiful grand pianos sitting in her living room were covered with dust. I “gave her some homework” and encouraged her to practice all her Suzuki repertoires LH alone and also recommended some LH repertoires for her enjoyment, she agreed to not give up on her hope. She showed me her family pictures, her daughter’s family and their beautiful dog.
I will post a picture of my visit after I learn how to do it!
I was in a total shock to learn about her passing; I am more sad to have lost 2 of my mentors, these 2 outstanding piano trainers—Doris Koppelman and Mrs. Joichi, in less than 6 months.
Mourning!!
West Jordan, UT
43 posts
Yasuko was such an inspiration to the Suzuki piano teachers as well as to the entire SAA membership. Her unselfish service often went unnoticed to those not in a firsthand position. I remember her as smiling, encouraging, holding steadfast to excellent standards, and being ready and willing to help in any way she could. A lovely and loving person. She will be missed. Her legacy will live on in the teachers and students she has mentored.
Cleo
West Hartford, CT
22 posts
I took my book 1A with Yasuko and book !2B with Doris Koppelman. Just like Nightingale, I can’t believe my two wonderful mentors are gone, both in one year. What a sad year for our organization.
I met Yasuko for the first in the summer of 1998 when I was going through a difficult time with my husband’s health. She did not know me, other then being one of the trainees, yet she took time to talk to me outside of class, comfort me, ask questions, offer advice, or just listen and pat my shoulder. It meant so much to me and defined the whole Suzuki community for me for, I think, for the rest of my life. I thought: ” if this is what all the Suzuki people are like, I want to be one of them, I want to be this way.”
Yasuko will be missed by all, her wonderful pearly laugh, her kindness and her own way of describing things that went right to the heart of the matter. My students, still, after all these years, are using “flexes” and are sitting on their “sit-bone”.
Thank you Yasuko.
Buena Vista, CO
11 posts
There is not a lesson that goes by that I do not feel the presence of Mrs Joichi! I took long term training with her in 1988..9 months in Book One!
I still remember the first meeting, as if it were yesterday. We had spoken many times via phone…and when I knocked on her door for the first lesson, she opened it…and the first words out of her mouth were: “Oh, you did not sound so tall on the phone”…I am 6′2″. I am blessed to have been able to study, in depth, the most important book of the piano method with one of the best! I studied book 6 and 7 with her 1991.
Mrs Joichi transformed my life. She is my mentor and my direct link to the amazing Dr Suzuki. I have missed you in Stevens Point for several years, your spirit will remain strong in my heart. Thank you for all that you gave me.
12 posts
The Suzuki family has lost a wonderful teacher and colleague. I so enjoyed seeing Yasuko at Chicago Suzuki Institute. My condolences to her piano colleagues and friends of many years.