NZSI Newsletter 1985 October Volume 7 No.4
Editorial – Christine Mackenzie
Insights into the new Suzuki year, upcoming events, and the importance of membership.
President’s Report 1985 – Valerie Thorburn
A reflection on the year’s growth in Suzuki music education and the dedication of teachers, parents, and students.
Graduation Tapes – NZSI Executive
Guidelines for submitting tapes, including technical requirements and deadlines.
Auckland Branch Report – NZSI Auckland Branch
Brief updates on conference success and ongoing recuperation efforts.
Hamilton Branch Report – Christine Mackenzie
Highlights of branch activities, including concerts, workshops, and new ventures like Suzuki-themed apparel.
Library Update – Karen Neupert
A call to members to engage with Suzuki literature and philosophy, alongside reminders about book care.
Hawkes Bay Branch Report – Win Bickerstaff
Plans for a picnic, play-in, and concert to foster community and joy among Suzuki players.
Books for Borrowing – Karen Neupert
A curated list of Suzuki-related books and magazines available for members.
Suzuki Flute Camp – Briar Paul
A 10-year-old’s recount of a fun and enriching weekend of flute playing and community activities.
Young Suzuki Ambassadors at “Music 85” Conference – Josie Fluhler
A showcase of young Suzuki musicians demonstrating the effectiveness of the method.
Editorial
Christine Mackenzie
The new Suzuki year began on October 1, which means two things to you. There is a new Executive, which is listed below, and that your annual subscription is now due (There is a cut-out form inside, waiting to be posted!).
As the membership grows, changes have become necessary in organisational procedures to ensure that you the member, receive a rapid, reliable, and comprehensive service. To this end every member will receive a membership card, as s/he pays her/his subscription. (More about that inside.)
The Executive has met twice since its election. It is working hard to provide you with every facility to get the best from the Suzuki Method.
At present the Constitution is being revised, and any member who wishes to do so, is invited to submit suggestions for changes to the Constitution – by October 20th 1985.
The organisation of the Summer String Camp is well under way, and it looks like it will be the best ever, especially with the presence of Professor John Kendall, from the USA. Ms. Nehama Patkin will also attend the Camp accompanying Professor Kendall, and running movement classes. Those who attended the Conference will realise how lucky we are, as Nehama was very popular with her movement classes, and as a Piano Tutor. The enrolment form for the Camp is inside. The number of places are strictly limited, so it is imperative that enrolments be booked and paid for quickly. (Do not forget that one has to be a financial member to attend Camps and Conferences.)
That’s all for now; keep happy.
President’s Report 1985
Valerie Thorburn
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me much pleasure to present the 8th Annual Report of the New Zealand Suzuki Institute. I believe it has been a year of steady development and consolidation. The membership, both of teachers and parents, is growing and, most importantly, the standard of playing of our young people has compounded. This reflects the dedication of teachers, parents, and students alike to the Suzuki ideals. How does all this happen? “Mum’s the word!”
Our aim must be to approach as closely as possible in New Zealand the standards of excellence obtained in Talent Education in Japan.
During the past year, steady work has been going on in many areas, which will in time make it possible for us to achieve this high standard.
At this point, I would like to thank the Teacher’s Committee, which was set up to discuss and recommend a new Teacher Training Programme, for the time and effort they have expended to produce this new scheme. I am sure this will give inspiration to many who would aspire to teach Suzuki Method.
Record books for trainees have been prepared, and new certificates for teachers and teacher trainers have been printed.
During the year, the Executive appointed 5 more Teacher Trainers, 3 piano and 2 violin, so that teacher training will be ongoing and more readily available.
Already our Teacher Trainers have travelled to quite remote corners of this country to foster Suzuki as well as holding more regular workshops in city areas.
The formation of 3 branches, namely Auckland, Hamilton, and Hawke’s Bay, plus the already existing Taranaki Suzuki Subgroup, will surely help the future smooth running of the N.Z.S.I.
The national library has been disbanded and replaced with four regional libraries.
I wish to express our gratitude to the McKenzie Educational Foundation for the grant of $1000, which helped the Institute to be well represented at “Music 85,” the conference held by the N.Z. Society for Music Education in Christchurch last month. Thanks to Mrs. Mayme Earle and Mrs. Barbara Ker for their well-presented papers and, on the practical side, to Mr. Joachim Neupert and his students for their able workshop.
The 6th String Summer Camp held at Rotorua in January this year was a record attendance, with people having to be turned away.
I have great pleasure in announcing that Professor John Kendall from the University of Southern Illinois, USA, is to be our main tutor at the 7th String Summer Camp to be held in Rotorua from January 5th to 11th, 1986.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Executive for their help and support throughout the past year, in particular Mrs. Gillian Ballard for her untiring, capable secretarial work.
Auckland Branch Report
None received as this letter goes to print, although I hear the Conference was a financial success. No doubt they are all recuperating from their enormous effort. Congratulations Auckland!
- Ed.
Hamilton Branch Report
Christine Mackenzie
We had our AGM before the Conference, and we now list our committee for 1985 – 1986:
President: Alison McMorran.
Vice President: Shirley Nieuwland.
Secretary: Barbara Hubbard.
Treasurer: Veronica Jardine.
Committee: Gill Ballard; Erica Colbert; Maryla Endert; Ann & Russell Giles; Evelyn Goodrick; Fiona Griffith; Christine Mackenzie; Bev Nation; Christine Polglase.
Library Update
Karen Neupert
The libraries are there for all the members of the NZSI, and I would like to recommend to everybody to read the books and magazines.
You can read an article in a magazine in a little bit of spare time! Being a Suzuki teacher or a Suzuki parent means that you have to constantly immerse yourself in the philosophy. You must read and talk again and again about the basic essentials, which seem to be so simple but are so difficult to really put into practice.
Being a good Suzuki parent and teacher not only requires a certain knowledge about the method and love for the child, but also a special attitude, in which patience and perseverance, as well as the willingness to develop and change ourselves as parents and teachers, are crucial.
The books and magazines can stimulate us all to develop ourselves and our thinking and to become better Suzuki teachers and better Suzuki parents!
Hawkes Bay Branch Report
Win Bickerstaff
All Suzuki string players (violin and cello) from the Hawkes Bay area are reminded they are invited to attend a picnic/play-in at the farm of one of our members, Mrs. Jill Fraser. You will all be given a map with directions to the farm at Otane. We plan to arrive at 10 a.m., have a play, eat our lunches, partake in sport, and then give a concert to the residents of Pukeora Home. Jill will supply hot water.
This will be held wet or fine. Should it be wet, we have a woolshed at our disposal.
Keep SATURDAY NOVEMBER 30th free and let’s make this a festive occasion.
Books for Borrowing
Karen Neupert
S. Suzuki: Nurtured by Love: A New Approach to Education
Suzuki presents the philosophy and principles of his teaching methods. “What is man’s ultimate direction in life? It is to look for love, truth, virtue, and beauty. That goes for you, for me, for everyone. If this book can be of help, even a little, I cannot say how happy it will make me.”
S. Suzuki: Ability Development from Age Zero
Dr. Suzuki believes that the fate of a child is in the hands of his parents, and with this book, he shows how to create an environment that will encourage every child to become a happy, loving, and talented human being. Anyone interested in improving their own lifestyle and relationships will benefit from this book. Contains many anecdotes from Suzuki’s own life and work.
E. Hermann: Suzuki: The Man and His Philosophy
Suzuki’s philosophy of education is presented in this book through some of his writings and addresses, which are not generally available. For all who admire Suzuki, this will be a treasured account of his life.
S. Suzuki: Where Love Is Deep
This book completely submerges one in the Suzuki philosophy and method. Divided into three sections: focus on the child and parental responsibilities; pedagogical and technical aspects of the training; generalities and some problem-solving.
M. Etone: They Are Rarely Too Young and Never Too Old to Twinkle
A detailed description of the Suzuki method before the child is able to play the first piece. With many photographs. For parents and teachers.
S. Suzuki and Others: The Suzuki Concept: An Introduction to a Successful Method for Early Music Education
An overview of Suzuki’s philosophy and principles. Suitable as introductory reading to the Suzuki philosophy.
E. Mills and Others: In the Suzuki Style: A Manual for Raising Musical Consciousness in Children
Suggestions, directly from parents, contain practical, workable ideas. Included are tips from teachers on a variety of topics.
W. Starr: The Suzuki Violinist: A Guide for Teachers and Parents
Step-by-step suggestions for dealing with posture, the young student, and the individual pieces. Beautifully illustrated, especially recommended for teachers.
Y. Ibuka: Kindergarten Is Too Late
Mr. Ibuka demonstrates that your child’s potential for learning is greatest during the first two or three years of life.
G. Doman: How to Teach Your Baby to Read
“Reading is not a subject like geography, but a brain function like seeing and hearing.” The author shows clearly, and illustrates with fascinating case histories, just how easy it is to teach a young child to read – and what a great benefit early reading is to both the child and his parents.
Suzuki Flute Camp
Briar Paul
On the 14th & 15th September, a Suzuki Flute Camp was organised by Karen Neupert of Hamilton and was held at the Crusade Bible Camp in Raglan. It was a lovely spot with a view of the beach down below us. We arrived on Friday evening, settled in, and got to know everyone.
Saturday and Sunday, we did a lot of flute playing, which was lots of fun with good duets and trios to play. The breathing exercises were excellent.
It was a wonderful camp for both beginners and advanced flute players. The other activities, such as folk dancing and singing, were enjoyable too, and the meals were very nice.
Altogether it was an excellent camp, and I hope we have a lot more in the future.
Young Suzuki Ambassadors at “Music 85” Conference
Josie Fluhler
August 23-26, 1985, held at University of Canterbury
It was with great interest that Joachim Neupert’s lecture on the Suzuki philosophy and teaching was received at the above Conference, and because the “Suzuki” way of teaching involves young children, it was decided to take the “fruit” of such tuition to demonstrate in his lecture.
Three young soloists on different instruments were chosen to show that (a) the Suzuki method is not a “group” tuition, and (b) that Suzuki children DO play musically and are definitely not copies of recordings, thereby allaying any misconceptions.
Hsin Chunyu (violin), Ruth Schwer (cello), and Nathan Rountree (piano) dispelled any doubts about the Suzuki method being anything less than excellent by conducting themselves with assurance and playing beautifully at Mr. Neupert’s lecture in the afternoon, and again in the evening at the Christchurch Teachers College Auditorium in a magnificent concert, “A Spectrum of Musical Youth.”
Mr. and Mrs. Neupert and myself answered many questions on the Suzuki approach to learning music during the lecture, and Mrs. Barbara Ker and Mrs. Mayme Earle also gave lectures at the Conference, which were well received.
