Cover picture by Victoria Vorrieter
Published December 2011
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The genius of Shinichi Suzuki was not in creating a new way of learning and teaching music, but rather in listening and remembering. Read more ▶
Human Interest, Oral History, Songs, Suzuki Philosophy
ASJ 40.1, page 47
by Masayuki Oshima, Satoko Umaoka Oshima
I have been fortunate to be involved with the Suzuki method, as a student and a teacher, for more than thirty years, working in Japan and the US, and I had a feeling that I knew the Suzuki method very well. Read more ▶
Historical, Japan, Shinichi Suzuki, Suzuki Method
ASJ 40.1, page 51
The last week of May was a week of 40th Anniversary Celebrations at Carnegie Hall for The School for Strings, the path-breaking Manhattan Suzuki school and teacher training center founded by Louise Behrend. Read more ▶
Local Programs, School
ASJ 40.1, page 54
by Mark George
Chairs Message, Policy Governance
ASJ 40.1, page 2
Anyone who has taken Suzuki teacher training knows that the pieces themselves contain the technical content, thus negating the need for dry etudes. Read more ▶
Fingering, Guitar, Pedagogy, Repertoire
ASJ 40.1, page 19
“How do you get your students to play those Baroque ornaments so beautifully—so delicate and spontaneous-sounding?” This is a question from colleagues of all instrument areas that I have heard over the years. Read more ▶
The challenge that most guitar teachers face with right hand string crossing is the problem of students dragging the fingers from higher to lower strings instead of maintaining alternation. When working with young children, I like to refer to these as “drag-ons” for the obvious reason. Read more ▶
by Rolando Freitag, Diana Galindo, Karen-Michele Kimmett
This new column features a variety of brief tips for Suzuki teachers. Read more ▶
Grace Notes, Studios and Programs, Suzuki, Teachers, Technology, Tips
ASJ 40.1, page 28
by Enid Wood
My dad walks quickly. A favorite summertime treat for our family was hiking the Beaver Brook trail, just west of Denver. My younger brothers and sisters and I would go only a few steps before we fell behind Dad and would start whining, “Are we there yet?” Read more ▶
Pedagogy, Teaching and Learning, Transitions
ASJ 40.1, page 62
Where’s the tipping point? You know—the point where some influence puts the energy over the top and makes it inevitable that an endeavor has no choice but to turn out great—or, unfortunately, not great at all. Read more ▶
Performance, Recitals, Teaching and Learning
ASJ 40.1, page 65
by Katie Cole
When Shinichi Suzuki began to define his Mother Tongue approach to Talent Education in war-torn Japan, he did not have the benefit of referring to brain imaging technology or child development research studies. He simply saw an approach to unlock the potential of children in a loving way. Read more ▶
Pedagogy, Students, Suzuki Philosophy, Teaching and Learning
ASJ 40.1, page 67
I had never heard of the SAA Practicum Unit in Cello course until the summer of 2005. Read more ▶
Cello, SAA Practicum Unit, Teacher Development
ASJ 40.1, page 71
During the past few years, I’ve noticed a trending topic at Suzuki Conferences, Leadership Retreats, and Chapter Affiliate meetings. There is a lot of thought being given to generations. Read more ▶
Historical, Shinichi Suzuki, Suzuki Legacy
ASJ 40.1, page 74
by Mary Hofer
The Voice Program at the Aber Suzuki Center in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, has started an exciting new program offering for its students called the Aber Suzuki Vocal Performance Troupe. Read more ▶
Performance, Voice
ASJ 40.1, page 29
by Suzuki Charter School Society
We appreciate all the hard work and visionary thinking of retired principal Sharon Goulet that inspired the unique Suzuki Charter School learning environment in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Read more ▶
Local Programs, Studios and Programs
ASJ 40.1, page 31
Have you ever imagined that given the opportunity, you would sit in an auditorium in a foreign country, for perhaps ten hours a day, listening to young musicians play compositions by only one composer, sometimes the same composition repeatedly? Read more ▶
Listening, Performance, Piano, Poland
ASJ 40.1, page 34
Living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii residents are very aware of the high cost of bringing in experts and professionals for workshops. Read more ▶
Local Programs, Suzuki Principles in Action
ASJ 40.1, page 38
We teachers and parents are in charge of much of the motivation of students, so learning the best ways to show appreciation for the efforts of the students and parents we teach is vital. Read more ▶
by Sheila Keats, Alexander Yudkovsky
It is with great sadness we share with you the news that The School for Strings’ founder, Louise Behrend, has passed away. Miss Behrend was one of the pioneer musicians who introduced the educational philosophy and teaching concepts of the violinist Shinichi Suzuki to the United States. Read more ▶
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Doris Koppelman, Piano Teacher and Trainer from San Diego. Doris was beloved by thousands of students, parents and teachers. Read more ▶
by Jean Dexter
Kristi Ann Rassmussen Knecht, 61, of Gladstone, Missouri, passed away September 12, 2011. Kristi was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was the second of seven children. At age five, her family moved to Northfield, Minnesota, where Kristi graduated from high… Read more ▶
“Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime, and, departing, leave behind us footprints on the sands of time.”—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Read more ▶
Fun, Fundraising
ASJ 40.1, page 5
In celebration of its fortieth anniversary, the SAA would like to collect untold stories about the Suzuki experience and the growth and impact of the Suzuki method in the Americas that fill gaps in our story and contribute to a richer and fuller understanding of our history. Read more ▶
by Teri Einfeldt, Karen-Michele Kimmett
How long did you serve on the SAA board before becoming Chair? I served for six years, two of them as chair elect. What aspects of the Chair office surprised you the most? Probably what surprised me the most was beginning to understand… Read more ▶
Outgoing SAA Board of Directors member Elizabeth Stuen-Walker served from August 2008-August 2011, serving as secretary from 2009-2011. Tell us about yourself—your studio, your background, and how you became involved with the Suzuki Method. I have maintained a private a studio… Read more ▶
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