American Suzuki Journal 50.1

For Members Only Read the current issue of the ASJ in full online. Read more ▶

ASJ 50.1, page 0

by Allie Reed

The Suzuki Association of the Americas is proud to welcome Ching-Yi Lin to the Board of Directors. Ching-Yi’s term on the board began on August 1, 2021. In addition to her responsibilities as a board member, Ching-Yi is an associate… Read more ▶

Board, Interview
ASJ 50.1, page 18

by Jean Kountz

It amazes me that there is only one woman composer represented in the entire Suzuki piano repertoire—Theodora Dutton, who wrote Christmas-Day Secrets from Suzuki Piano Book One. When I point it out to my students, they want to know more.… Read more ▶

Sources for Suzuki Repertoire, Suzuki, Theodora Dutton
ASJ 50.1, page 22

by Kay Collier McLaughlin

Guest columnist Dr. Kay Collier McLaughlin is an Honorary Member of the SAA board, retired Suzuki violin teacher, teacher trainer, board member, author of They’re Rarely Too Young and Never Too Old to ‘Twinkle,’ and principal at Transformative Leadership Consulting.  One… Read more ▶

Chairs Message
ASJ 50.1, page 3

by Tim Eckert

Sometimes, a student struggling to learn an instrument can be a signal of a learning difference. As a teacher, it is my job to ask myself what I can do to help this child learn. I have at times felt… Read more ▶

Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Learning, Students
ASJ 50.1, page 27

by Leslie Brown Katz

As I gazed across the piano toward my young violin student, I mused how lucky I was to enjoy playing the piano well enough to accompany and follow every random impulse they may have, whether musical or a result of… Read more ▶

Baroque, Ideas
ASJ 50.1, page 30

by Bianca d'Avila do Prado

In The Power of Habit, journalist Charles Duhigg explains how our brains can be transformed by the repetition of some activities and how we can work to perform tasks with more effectiveness and less effort. Likewise, the Suzuki daily practice… Read more ▶

Brain Development, Student, Suzuki
ASJ 50.1, page 32

by Lauretta Werner

With time-consuming demands and frequent evaluations, many student musicians experience debilitating music performance anxiety, hypercritical thoughts, and avoidance of performance situations (Fehm and Schmidt 2004, 98-109). Music teachers can help students cope with these experiences through mindfulness training. Mindfulness is… Read more ▶

Group, Mindfulness, Orchestra, Suzuki
ASJ 50.1, page 35

by Mercedes Lysaker

For two years, I taught Suzuki-style group violin for third graders in a gymnasium within a public elementary school in New York City. Every day before class, I would set up our learning space with carpet squares and name mats.… Read more ▶

Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Repertoire
ASJ 50.1, page 40

by Crystal Hardman Boyack, Clarissa Hoover, Elanor Van Hoose, Jonathan Van Hoose

A recent interaction with a new family that came into my studio took me by surprise. In our first lesson, the mom said, “I spent all night googling how to make Suzuki work in a split household family—and I found… Read more ▶

Articles for Parents, Suzuki
ASJ 50.1, page 44

by Laura Anderson Schleiger

I have performed each role of the Suzuki Triangle in my musical journey. In a well-functioning Suzuki Triangle, teacher, parent, and student work together to nurture musical development during lessons, home practices, and by creating a positive musical environment. Reflecting… Read more ▶

Articles for Parents, Learning, Suzuki, Suzuki Triangle
ASJ 50.1, page 46

by Daniel Hoppe Hopemark

Have you ever seen a student increase their mental or physical tension to play the right notes, use the right amount of bow, or shift to the right place? I certainly have. In fact, it seems that a growing number… Read more ▶

Teaching, Tension
ASJ 50.1, page 50

by Jacqueline Jardines

The Suzuki method can help us learn so much more than music. Making art can help counteract systemic injustices in our communities. I’m from the Antilles, a group of islands between the Americas that were colonized by France. The history… Read more ▶

Music, Social Justice
ASJ 50.1, page 12

by Jacqueline Jardines

La méthode Suzuki peut nous aider à apprendre bien plus que la musique. Faire de l’art peut aider à contrer les injustices systémiques dans nos communautés. Je viens des Antilles, un groupe d’îles entre les Amériques qui ont été colonisées… Read more ▶

Social Justice
ASJ 50.1, page 13

by Alador Bereketab, Sador Bereketab

Music education has the potential to be a beautiful asset to all of our lives, yet it continues to be a privilege so few are exposed to. We started our violin and piano studies at the age of four and… Read more ▶

Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Student
ASJ 50.1, page 14

by Emily Payne

I have loved my violin ever since I was five. I loved learning exactly where to place my fingers. When it made the beautiful sound I expected, the satisfaction was exquisite! I got into the violin mainly from my friend.… Read more ▶

Music, Practice
ASJ 50.1, page 17

In Memoriam: Margaret “Peggy” (Dvonch) Swingle (1947–2021) Read more ▶

ASJ 50.1, page 52

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… Read more ▶

ASJ 50.1, page 52

On Monday, November 8th, 2021 the Suzuki world, and our Suzuki community in Wilmington, NC, lost an incredible teacher, wonderful friend, and a true inspiration to all Suzuki teachers. Lorraine Westermark was a pioneer for the Suzuki movement in the… Read more ▶

ASJ 50.1, page 54