This past year has been an excellent one for
Suzuki Voice. At the World Conference in
April in Torino, Italy, a Voice Program was
organised by Dr. Paivi Kukkamaki for 25
students from 4 21 years old. Teachers
and students from Finland, Iceland, Italy,
Sweden, Argentina, Spain and Australia
participated and songs were shared from
around the world. Katrina and Lucinda
Pezzimenti represented Australia.
In Melbourne, eight students graduated at
Level One and two students at Level Four. A
group of fifteen students performed
beautifully at the Grand Annual Concert at
Robert Blackwood Hall in October.
In teacher training, we welcomed three
new teachers to the Primary course
including one from Tasmania. We now have
five teachers in Melbourne who are able to
take students.
In September, Katrina Pezzimenti was
appointed a Teacher Trainer for the
European Suzuki Association (ESA) in addi-
tion to her status as Australian Teacher
Trainer.
Katrina Pezzimenti
TEACHER TRAINER
SUZUKI VOICE
Voice
Violin/Viola
2006 saw a great year of music making for
violin and Viola parents, teachers and
students. In particular Winter Festival left us
all feeling inspired and united as a Suzuki
family. I sensed that many people were
sad to be going home as the festival came
to a close. So much fun was had, close
bonds formed and great learning
accomplished. Teachers and students
were able to work closely with Mrs. Suzuki
who always brings such a positive energy to
her classes. Her one point Japanese
teaching style and strong sense of Suzuki
philosophy continues to remind us of
Suzuki's own teaching. Our other interstate
violin teachers Alison, Yasuki and Haruo
also had a great impact on teachers and
students alike with their high quality,
inspirational teaching.
In one of our violin/viola professional
development classes, Mrs. Suzuki asked for
teachers to come out the front and play a
few phrases of `Chorus' from Judas
Maccabaeus on Dr. Suzuki's violin. What an
honour! But also what a surprise to hear
that each person's individual playing
brought out an entirely different character
in the violin.
Also at Winter Festival teacher's were
fortunate to experience Ruth Miura's
lectures on Suzuki Philosophy. Many
teachers were moved to tears when Ruth
showed a film of a Matsumoto Graduation
Concert held in Japan. Suzuki stood poised
in centre of the stadium surrounded by
hundreds of Japanese children. His great
charisma and charm was infectious as he
urged and reminded parents of the
importance of being involved in their
childrens' learning. He asked the children
to all repeat after him "Please mummy and
daddy help me to learn." There was not a
dry eye in the house as teachers sat in the
auditorium watching
this incredible
moment in time caught on film.
In second semester, 2006, for the first time
ever, a group of five violin teachers were
able to combine to take part in an
advanced teacher training course, led by
Kim Bishop and Lois Shepheard. This
enabled the introduction of a weekly
performance class which was an exciting
addition to the course.
The Suzuki Orchestra program for 2006 had
the largest number of enrolments on record.
This not only enabled Kim and Toni to
continue the Junior and Senior Orchestras
but also to bring Chantal Jones on board to
take a beginner reading group. To the
director's delight the standard of playing
that developed over the year was very
high.
The 2006 Grand Annual Concert saw a first
time performance of the Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto, 3rd mvt by a small group of
performers. Again we were challenged by
these remarkable students to stretch the
limits of our imagination and keep striving
for higher levels of achievement.
Rosslyn Endersbee
CHAIRPERSON,
VIOLIN/VIOLA COMMITTEE
Suzuki Music Annual
Report
2006 10
