v37no22025

Spring Workshops were held across several branches, alongside teacher training, community performances, and outreach concerts. Joint Northland–Auckland camp enrolments reached capacity, funding was secured to support camps and events, and planning is underway for Summer Camps and branch activities in 2026. Community stories from students, families, and ensembles are also shared.

Drawing on research by Milly Rout (University of Auckland, 2025), this article explores how the Suzuki philosophy of “character first, ability second” shapes children’s development beyond musical skill. It highlights the vital role parents play in fostering perseverance, sensitivity, motivation, and independence through supportive involvement, positive home environments, and strong relationships within the Suzuki community.

A reflection on teaching piano at the Suzuki Winter Workshop in Christchurch, celebrating increased piano enrolments, collaborative group learning, and a confident playout performance that showed just how much the students grew over the week.

Congratulations to the students graduating in November 2025.

In this book review, Ingrid Lindsay reflects on Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician’s Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing by Molly Gebrian, exploring why this book has become such a compelling resource for musicians and teachers. Drawing on Gebrian’s background as a former Suzuki student, professional violist, and neuroscience researcher, the review highlights practical, research-based insights into effective practice, memory, and performance. While written for professional musicians, the book’s ideas resonate strongly with teachers, parents, and students across all instruments and stages of learning.

Lois McCallum shares her personal journey in music, from early violin lessons in Ōamaru to a lifetime of teaching and leading Suzuki programmes in Christchurch. She reflects on the mentors, community, and experiences that shaped her work, and on the honour of being awarded Life Membership of the New Zealand Suzuki Institute.

Elizabeth Lau’s Echoes from Matsumoto begins before the journey even starts, as careful preparation, generous hospitality, and an unexpected bicycle set the scene for a deeply personal Suzuki learning experience—one that starts with learning to ride before ever setting foot in Japan.