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In this issue: Breaking Barriers: Bringing Suzuki to Afghanistan Image 2 Jennifer Moberg The Afghan National Institute of Music is the country’s only music school. Until just over ten years ago, learning, teaching, and making music was illegal. After the fall of the Taliban, it was imperative that the country revive its cultural history. ANIM brings music education to children who are most vulnerable in this region—half of the students are orphans or street kids, and it is the only school in the country where girls are permitted to learn alongside boys. SAA registered violin teacher Jennifer Moberg began teaching at ANIM this year, and the school is currently hiring a Suzuki cello teacher. We interviewed Jennifer and ANIM founder and director Dr. Amhad Sarmast via email to learn more about the school and the work they are doing. The full interview is a must-read for any member of the Suzuki community. It is excerpted below; read the full interview on our blog. You (Jennifer) have registered SAA training in violin through Book Ten, and ANIM is currently hiring another registered Suzuki teacher. Do you use the Suzuki method at ANIM? How have you had to modify your approach for this setting? JM: The principles of Suzuki philosophy are central to our school’s mission, that every child can and should learn, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or social circumstances. Many of our students are orphans, or living in orphanages, as the families are too poor to care for them. So although there is no “home teacher” with whom to practice, the mission is the same—build character through musical study, give children something beautiful in their chaotic lives, make fine citizens and noble human beings. Teri Einfeldt once told me that all children are Suzuki children, but not all families are Suzuki families. I never understood that sentiment better than I do now here in Afghanistan. What role does Western classical music play in Afghanistan’s musical revival? AS: My vision for the school is to enable our students to promote musical diversity in Afghanistan as a basic human right, and to give the country various ensembles and orchestras that are part of music making around the world. Now, Afghanistan has its first ever orchestra capable of performing the Afghan National Anthem. The story of ANIM is similar to Shinichi Suzuki’s return to war-torn Japan. What do you see in your students that gives you hope for the future of Afghanistan? How is the act of playing music making a difference in their lives? JM: Dr. Suzuki’s return to war-torn Japan is never far from my heart here in Afghanistan. We face similar challenges—orphaned children, crippling poverty, destroyed infrastructure, lack of basic amenities like healthcare and education. I truly believe that Dr. Suzuki’s heart would be moved by the plight of Afghanistan today and that he would declare it a Suzuki mission! ADVERTISEMENT   In Their Own Time(excerpted from the American Suzuki Journal, 42.4) by Danette Schuh  Danette Schuh and SECE Student The hallway conversations between parents before and after class always intrigue me. Often, after class has ended and the teachers are writing their comments in the students’ baby class journals, bits of the conversations float into the room. “Is she sleeping through the night yet?” “She will talk, but only one-syllable words right now.” “He started walking at fourteen months.” The time at which they progress through the stages of development is so important and they are quick to compare. There is always that underlying anxiety—“Is my child progressing at the ‘right’ time and the ‘right’ speed?” When I speak to the parents in baby class (each of my Suzuki Early Childhood classes has a mini parent education “minute” near the end), the “right” timing is discussed. We often read The Carrot Seed, a baby board book about a little boy who plants a seed, nurtures it, and continues to have faith that it will grow, even as others voice their doubts. I will speak about how Suzuki often used plants as a metaphor for children. You wouldn’t pull on the head of a little flower, trying to get it to grow faster, he might say, you would only destroy it. I explain, as the book says, we just need to pull up the weeds around the seed and sprinkle the ground with water. Prepare the environment, be patient, persevere, and allow the child to grow—all in their own time, never on our schedule. In the ECE class, it seems so natural, so simple, and yet so profound. Read More… ADVERTISEMENT   September SAA Store Sale
Save 10% on popular Suzuki books and materials for students & parents, including 2014 Student Conference Videos High-Definition downloads, the revised Nurtured By Love, First Class Tips for Suzuki Parents, Winning Ways, and more! Sale ends September 30, so don’t miss this opportunity to stock up on your favorites for your studio or your own library!
ADVERTISEMENT   Conference Student VideosAs a reminder, videos of student performances from the 2014 SAA Conference are now available online! Recently added videos include SYOA 1, SYOA 2, Flute Performing Ensemble, and Suzuki Americas 2014. All videos are free to view online, or you can download upgraded content for a minimal charge. Video downloads are professionally edited in high definition and display titles, a list of performers, and video credits.
Suzuki Principles in Action: Upcoming Courses Suzuki Principles in Action (SPA) is a two day, cross-instrumental course designed to help teachers incorporate Suzuki’s principles effectively in their teaching. The inspiration for SPA came from a need, identified by both Trainers and Teacher Workshop Participants, to deal with the challenges of implementing the knowledge gained from Unit courses into the reality of day-to-day studio teaching. The course focuses on how to teach, not what to teach, allowing the sharing of ideas among all instrument areas. SPA is based on Dr. Suzuki’s belief that knowledge is an important first step, but “knowledge plus 10,000 times” is what produces ability. Read More… Upcoming Courses will be held in:
News From Here and ThereWhat we’ve been reading, watching, and listening to around the web: There Are No Teaching Secrets How Playing an Instrument Benefits Your Brain Why We Love Repetition in Music This Is Your Brain. This Is Your Brain on Music. Upcoming EventsGreater Philadelphia Suzuki AssociationFt Washington, PA Sep 27 – 28 Studio of Gail LangeGuelph, ON Sep 27 – Dec 12 Suzuki String School of GuelphGuelph, ON Sep 28 Studio of Martha ShackfordSarasota, FL Oct 2 – 6 Studio of Jentry BarrettLincoln, NE Oct 3 – 4 Royal Conservatory of MusicToronto, ON Oct 5 Centro Suzuki de CampinasMogi Mirim, SP, Brazil Oct 6 – 17 Suzuki Association of UtahSalt Lake City, UT Oct 10 – 11 Studio of Mary HoferStevens Point, WI Oct 10 – 17 Studio of Gail LangeGuelph, ON Oct 10 2014 – Feb 15 Temple University Music Preparatory DivisionPhiladelphia, PA Oct 11 Ithaca CollegeIthaca, NY Oct 11 Hartt School Community DivisionHartford, CT Oct 11 – 12 Festival Suzuki de MonterreyMonterrey, NL, Mexico Oct 13 – 18 Buffalo Suzuki StringsBuffalo, NY Oct 15 – 19 Suzuki Fest Costa RicaHeredia, Costa Rica Oct 16 – 17 Studio of Melissa KrautHudson, OH Oct 16 – 20 Sacramento State Student Chapter of ASTASacramento, CA Oct 18 – 19 Prelude Music, LLCBoulder, CO Oct 18 – 22 Universidad Federal de Santa MariaSanta Maria, RS, Brazil Oct 19 – 22 Suzuki School of NewtonNewton, MA Oct 20 2014 – Jan 29 Western Springs School of Talent EducationWestern Springs, IL Oct 21 2014 – Mar 17 University of Louisville Community Music ProgramLouisville, KY Oct 25 – 26 Encontro Internacional de ControbaixoGoiânia, GO, Brazil Nov 1 – 8 Premier Business MembersMany thanks to our Premier Business Members: Alfred Music 
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