Aber Suzuki Center celebrates 50 years
Maxmilian Heindl sat on teacher Judy Meyer’s lap, his hand grasping the drumstick-mallet under her guide. He watched the children and parents circling around him as he snapped the stick to the drum, thump, thump, thump.
Meyer helped him rap the drum quickly then hesitate and tap once. Everyone stopped, then upon the tap jumped a 180 to face the other direction.
Maxmilian’s eyes lit up as he realized he could control the others through the rhythm. Giggling and now drumming on his own, the beat continued.
Just completing his first coursework with music, sound and movement in the Early Childhood Education program at Aber Suzuki Center, Maxmilian has no knowledge that this lesson is part of history in the making, and through that, he now is part of Suzuki’s legacy.
Aber Suzuki Center (ASC) celebrates half a century of teaching and inspiring students at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) this year, and educators, leaders and students want the public to join in the celebration June 16 and 17.
The weekend kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday, June 16, with a Young Stars Concert at Michelson Hall. The performance will feature beginner, intermediate and advanced musicians demonstrating how the program has grown from violin lessons to the seven instrument areas offered today. A social for past and current faculty and students will follow at SentryWorld’s Atrium.
Alumni also have been encouraged to attend and bring family along.
“We want them to come and share what they are doing and how the Suzuki philosophy has influenced their lives,” said Pat D’Ercole, ASC director since 2009.
For Amber Garbe, her time at the Center was instrumental. She is an alumni (violist) and parent of a current student.
“I do think that the combination of the impact on musical and personal development that the Suzuki approach nurtures is what makes it special,” she said. “As an educator, the Suzuki philosophy has tremendously influenced me – talent (and skill) can be nurtured in all children.
“The Suzuki philosophy honors individual learning differences and adjusts to individual needs,” Garbe said. “The teachers have a really well-stocked toolbox of teaching strategies. It is truly amazing how each student flourishes.”
The ASC is the only Suzuki program in the state affiliated with a university. It is one of just 24 programs across the country offering long-term, degree-granting training for teachers. It is also one of the most extensive programs in the country for students, offering classes in Suzuki Early Childhood Education, violin, viola, cello, voice, piano, guitar, flute, harp, chamber music and orchestra. The Suzuki Institute also is housed in the Center. The Institute is a summer camp program that draws people nationwide.
Founded in 1967 under the leadership of Margery Aber, the Center was called the American Suzuki Talent Education Center and was located first in UWSP’s laboratory school, then in a house across from Old Main and offered violin lessons. Since then, the ASC has taught more than 1,500 students in nine different areas and has brought more than 120,000 people in worldwide for its American Suzuki Institute summer program, which was established in 1971.
Renamed in 2005 in honor of Aber, the ASC now is located in the UWSP Noel Fine Arts Center, and it is one of the most extensive programs in the country, offering classes in Suzuki early childhood education, violin, viola, cello, bass, voice, piano, guitar, flute, harp, chamber music and orchestra.
Center students range in age from 4 to 80 and participate in a variety of programs throughout the year, including violin (35 percent), piano (27 percent), voice (15 percent), cello (nine percent), viola, harp, guitar and flute. Early Childhood Education program makes up about seven percent.
“What I’m most excited about is that in the Suzuki method we are not about mass producing child prodigies,” D’Ercole said. “It’s about developing loving, caring, nurturing human beings through music.
“I’m just as proud of the students who didn’t go into music as the ones who did,” she said. “They’re all changing the world systematically. They are all making their corner of the world terrific.”
Heidi O’Brien, whose daughter Megan has been studying voice in the program for the past six year, said the program has enriched all of their lives. During her time there, Megan, who is a sophomore at Stevens Point Area Senior High School, has performed classical art song and opera music in four different languages and recently mastered a fifth.
“The Suzuki program teaches students many things as they work to master the music,” O’Brien said. “Much like an individual sport such as karate, Suzuki students learn the value of personal effort, perseverance and of ‘training’ in increments to reach a larger goal. The more effort they put into their musical practice and into mastering techniques, the greater their individual achievement.”
Suzuki also offers students opportunities to participate in community service and collaborative efforts. There are several options for concert performances for the public throughout the year.
For Zsanna Bodor, a graduating senior, it also helps with her family relations. She and her three brothers have all taken lessons through Suzuki Center.
“We love to play together in our string quartet and have grown closer through our performances at weddings, award dinners and other local events,” she said.
In addition, the Suzuki program has helped in other areas of her life, Bodor said. She enjoys cross country running, cooking and traveling, as well as studying English literature and chemistry.
“Academic success is one of the wonderful side effects of taking music lessons – music engages your brain in unique ways and teaches you discipline and focus,” she said.
Bodor pointed to the instructors as a large reason for her success and continued interest.
“The teachers at ASC are highly educated in their respective instruments and teach amazing technique, but they also care about the individual student,” she said. “Just like in an extended family, teachers develop bonds with all students, even with those from another studio. As a graduating senior, I know that all of the Suzuki faculty members are cheering me on and supporting me as I move on to new endeavors.”
Garbe agreed, sharing one of her favorite Suzuki memories. On one occasion, though no longer teaching, Aber invited Garbe and three others to form a quartet and receive coaching from her. The four studied at Aber’s home.
“She wove many stories of memories of her own performances into our lessons, so we had a sense of the wide network of musicians she called friends,” Garbe recalled. “On occasion she would receive phone calls from these musician friends during our coaching. Leave it to us junior high girls, we started exploring her basement closets and found her stash of performance gowns. We might have tried on a few … it was a long phone call.
“Miss Aber returned to a very formal quartet,” Garbe said. “She got a kick out of our dress.”
Garbe also gave a call out to the late Dee Martz, an instructor who to this day influences her, she said. Martz died from brain cancer in 2013.
“It was really hard to say goodbye to her when she passed,” Garbe said, “but I literally can still see her fingers hit the string as I play today. It’s a concrete reminder of the gift of music playing she gave me. For that, I am forever grateful.”
For more information on Aber Suzuki Center or the Homecoming celebration, go to www.uwsp.edu/suzuki.
Program of events
Friday, June 16
* 7 to 8 p.m. Young Stars Concert: ASC Now at Michelsen Hall.
* 8:15 p.m. Eat, Drink and Be Merry, for Music Gets Us Together: Past and Present Faculty and Students Mixer at Sentry World Atrium at SentryWorld.
Saturday June 17, 2017
Activities at UWSP.
* 9 a.m. Musical Instruments Expo begins.
* 9 a.m. Grand Marathon All Instruments: Former and Current Teachers, Former and Current Students.
* 10:30 a.m. Break, Milk Shots, Cupcakes and Cookies.
* 11 a.m. to noon Remembering the Past, Embracing the Future, Suzuki Video Montage, Keynote Speaker, Short Orchestra Performance/Choir, UWSP Michelsen Hall, Noel Fine Arts Center.
* 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tours of Suzuki House
* 2 p.m. Alumni Come Out and Play, Informal Recitals open to any alumni who would like to prepare a piece to play solos or chamber music any genre or style.
* 6 p.m. If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On, Pre-Concert Drinks and Appetizers, Sentry’s Theater@1800
* 7 to 8:30 p.m. 50th Anniversary Suzuki Homecoming Gala at Sentry’s Theater@1800. Performers will include Rachel Barton Pine, violin; Bridget Kibbey, harp; Annie Tillotson, voice; Philip Smyth, violin; Dave Moss, viola; Kari Docter, cello; John Landefeld, cello; Andrew Fuller, violin; Joel Fuller, violin; Daniel Levitov, cello; Teddy Schenkman, viola.
Timeline
1964: First Japanese Tour Group comes to U.S.
1967: Margery Aber goes to Matsumoto with American String Teachers.
1967: Aber Suzuki Center (ASC) founded and violin program begins.
1969: ASC starts cello program.
1971: American Suzuki Institute (ASI, two-week summer camp) founded.
1972: Suzuki Association of the Americas founded at ASI.
1974: American Suzuki Foundation is established.
1976: Shinichi Suzuki teaches at ASI.
1978: ASC starts piano program.
1984: Suzuki teaches at ASI.
1984: Margery Aber retires.
1984: American Suzuki Foundation establishes Aber Long-Term Teacher Training Scholarship. program; Paul Landefeld named Director of Suzuki programs at UWSP.
1985: ASC starts viola program.
1986: Dee Martz named Director of UWSP Suzuki Programs; Japanese Tour Group performs at Sentry Theater; ASC String Quartet wins Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.
1987: American Suzuki Foundation establishes needs-based scholarship program.
1989: Mary Hofer begins Suzuki Voice Program at ASC.
1990: First International Research Symposium on Talent Education held at ASI.
1991: Kathleen Franceschi cello scholarships established.
1994: Music of the Masters fundraiser sponsored by the American Suzuki Foundation.
1996: Dolce Strings tours Austria and wins International Ensemble Division of the competition.
1997: Päivi Kukkamaki and Finnish Suzuki Singers come to Stevens Point; Patricia D’Ercole elected Chair of the SAA Board of Directors.
1998: ASC Festive Weekend of Chamber Music begins; American Suzuki Foundation establishes Shinichi Suzuki/American Suzuki Institute Teacher Training Scholarship Program; Celebrating Our Roots event focusing on the life and work of Shinichi Suzuki, Margery Aber, and Suzuki Programs.
1999: ASC voice students tour Finland.
2001: Margery Aber unexpectedly passes away during the Institute; “Hip! Hip! Hooray! 30 Years with the American Suzuki Institute” by Margery V. Aber published.
2003: Dee Martz elected Secretary of the SAA Board of Directors; Voice becomes an official Suzuki instrument area, Mary Hofer named to the International Suzuki Association voice committee.
2005: First SAA-sanctioned voice teacher training offered at ASI.
2006: Two American Suzuki Institute Fellows become first Latin American violin teacher trainers.
2006: “The American Suzuki Institute: The Suzuki Method in Action” — digital video collection is launched.
2008: Mary Hofer named first SAA Teacher Trainer in Voice.
2009: Dee Martz retires, Pat D’Ercole named Director; “Math Fun for Suzuki Students” published by Suzuki dads and UWSP professors Andy Felt and George Kung.
2010: “The Stolen Goldin Violin,” a children’s mystery about ASI, is published by the Felt family.
2010: UWSP Suzuki Strings Mentoring Program launched.
2011: Satellite ASC classes start in Marshfield; ASC starts Suzuki Early Education Classes.
2012: ASC starts harp, guitar and bass programs; Aber Suzuki Center celebrates 45 years.
2015: ASC starts flute program.
Suzuki programs
Aber Suzuki Center (ASC) is one of the most extensive programs in the country for students, offering classes in Suzuki Early Childhood Education, violin, viola, cello, bass, voice, piano, guitar, flute, harp, chamber music and orchestra. It is also one of just 24 programs across the country that offers long-term, degree granting training for teachers.
* All 14 ASC faculty members hold advanced degrees in their instrument areas and have extensive Suzuki registered training.
* The expertise of ASC faculty is recognized worldwide. Faculty members have taught at workshops in 14 different countries and throughout the U.S.
* ASC serves more than 270 students, from birth through adulthood, from 30 different central Wisconsin communities.
* 10 percent of ASC’s students are adult learners.
* ASC students have won scholarships for continued study at highly selective music programs such as the Julliard School of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Eastman School of Music and Indiana University.
Group classes are provided for children with a parent from birth to age four. These Suzuki Early Childhood Education Classes build strong bonds between parents and children, and teach children basic musical concepts as well as socialization skills. Parents are taught to observe and understand their child’s development.
Weekly, private instrumental lessons are offered for students ages three and up. Lessons can be 20, 30, 45 or 60 minutes long. In addition, group classes are offered several times throughout each semester, and a diverse set of performance opportunities are available, all included in the tuition package.
Parents receive support from numerous resources including a new parent orientation, articles and advice published in several online and print resources, and access to lectures, discussion groups and parent mentors.
For more information, visit www.uwsp.edu/suzuki.