Editorials v11 n3
From the out-going editor
LABOUR OF LOVE
The NZSI Newsletter has been my baby for the last year. I have watched it grow and evolve from the first “green” issue in October ’88 to the white “new improved” format in June ’89.
For the first issue I found myself sitting up until the early hours manually sticking in typing corrections with scissors and sellotape! Have you ever tried cutting around a minuscule ‘i’ and sticking it between the ‘r’ and ‘e’ in the word “friend”?
Nine months later I had become very adept at the gentle art of persuasion and Hazel Roggen sat up until the early hours doing typing corrections ‘automatically’ on her computer.
A new baby is taking its’ place in my life (one that eats and sleeps and listens to Suzuki music) so I am handing over this baby – the NZSI Newsletter – into the capable hands of Alix Macartney. Alix needs no introduction – being the NZSI ‘interim administrator’ earlier this year and doing a splendid job. She is also the first NZSI Newsletter Editor to appear on “Sale of the Century”.
A word about some highlights in this issue: – In the Violin Column we have Part 2 of “Finding the Way to Vibrato” by Felicity Lipman. There is a book review of the book Journey Down the Kreisler Highway by Craig Timmerman. An American Suzuki teacher, Timmerman visited Matsumoto and recounts his adventures. There is also an account of a recent visit to Matsumoto by two of our own Suzuki teachers – Joachim and Karen Neupert.
Over the past year I have kept my eyes and ears open for any interesting material for the Newsletter. If one of my students came up with an amusing anecdote, a parent with a new practise idea or I had made a new discovery in my teaching; I immediately wanted to put it in the Newsletter. As Editor I had to restrain myself and either confine my ideas to the Editorial or ask someone else to write the article.
As outgoing Editor I would like to finish this with an amusing anecdote which one of my Suzuki parents – Alix Macartney – told me the other day. Normally I would have asked her to write it as a “Letter to the Editor”, since she is now the Editor, I will recount it here:-
Alix’s four year old daughter, Jessica, was delighted when I gave her a pink corn pad ‘pinky holder’ for her bow. “Now your little finger has a nest to sit in”, I explained. Later Alix and Jessica were in a chemist shop. Jessica, noticing a display stand full of packets of corn pads asked Alix, “Mum, why does the chemist sell violin pinky holders instead of the music shop?”
On that note – good luck Alix – and over to you!
Sophie Hartigan
Editorial
When I was approached by the NZSI President to take on the responsibility of producing the Newsletter I declined as the thought was daunting. In the absence of volunteers I finally accepted the editorship, and the job looked even more daunting (gasp!). Since I began to gather information and have got my act together I have found the task fun and satisfying. I must admit, with great thanks (and relief – sigh) that Sophie Hartigan, as previous editor had already outlined and solicited many of the features in this issue, so it has been relatively easy from that point of view.
The Newsletter will be kept in its most recent form due to its immense popularity. I agree whole heartedly. The only page I ostensibly wish to develop is the Children’s Page. This can, however, only be achieved with greater contributions from the children themselves. I feel that we, as parents and teachers, only derive our enjoyment from Suzuki because of our children and students and therefore their input is of great importance. I sent out feelers and was overwhelmed with the quick response for this issue.
To keep the Newsletter interesting and “human” we need more “letters to the editor”, photos from workshops, concerts and the like. The next Newsletter is due out in March (copy deadline February 14th). There will be a host of activities going on between then and now so write and tell how Christmas concerts were received, camps and workshops were enjoyed, and if you discover any new practice points or skills then share them through the Newsletter.
I received my first words of encouragement from Buck Page (Secretary of the Wellington Branch). He said “no matter what, you will receive more than your fair share of criticism but if at the end of the day you are satisfied with your own efforts then you can be sure that you will have pleased some of the people.” I have tried to make my first Newsletter informative and newsy, interesting and readable, and fun for the kids – let me know how I went!
SEASONS GREETINGS.
Alix Macartney
EDITOR