Marilyn Kesler

Marilyn Kesler has recently retired after 42 years as a teacher in the Okemos, MI, Public Schools, teaching seventh and eighth grade strings and three high school orchestras. She is continues to be the director of the Community Education Suzuki program where she teaches Suzuki cello lessons.

Ms. Kesler earned a master’s degree in music education at Southern Illinois University where she specialized in the adaptation of the Suzuki violin method for the cello with John Kendall. Her undergraduate degree in music education was from Indiana University where she studied cello with Janos Starker and Leopold Terraspulsky.

She is past chair-elect of the SAA Board of Directors. Past offices include president of Michigan Chapter of ASTA, secretary of the SAA, chairman of the SAA Cello Committee, Public School Committee, and Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association vice-President of Orchestra Activities. In 1990, she was the first recipient of the ASTA National School Educator.

Leadership in the Suzuki Community through Empowering Others: Leadership Retreat Recap

June 19, 2013 by Marilyn Kesler

How can we lead in our Suzuki communities by empowering others? Read more ▶

40 and Forward: Words from the Board

September 1, 2012 by Susan Baer, Marilyn Kesler

As teachers, we are always giving, but in return we are blessed with gifts well beyond our sacrifices. Churchill wrote, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Maybe this is the reason so many of us continue teaching well beyond a retirement age. Read more ▶

Profile: Marilyn Kesler, Board of Directors Chair-Elect

August 11, 2011 by Marilyn Kesler

Meet newly-appointed SAA Board of Directors Chair-elect Marilyn Kesler. Kesler begins her two-year term as chair-elect on August 1, after which she will become board chair. Read more ▶

Update on John Kendall from Marilyn Kesler

November 30, 2010 by Marilyn Kesler

Dear Friends of John Kendall, As many of your know, last Tuesday, November 23rd, John Kendall suffered a stroke at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I am happy to report that he is doing quite well and his condition has… Read more ▶

Following In Their Footsteps

January 1, 2010 by Marilyn Kesler

Dear Teachers and Families, Forty-five years ago, Dr Shinichi Suzuki brought several young Japanese string students to perform in the United States. At that time, I was a young string teacher, lucky enough to attend one of these concerts. I was… Read more ▶

String Connections in Michigan

by Marilyn Kesler

Local Programs
ASJ 37.2, page 21

Annual Meeting 2009

April 6, 2009 by Lamar Blum, Pam Brasch, Teri Einfeldt, Ruth Engle Larner, Christie Felsing, Mark George, Marilyn Kesler, Carol Ourada, Diane Schroeder, Beth Titterington

The 2009 Annual Membership Meeting was broadcast live on the web on April 4th, 2009 from the SAA office in Boulder, Colorado. It features the new teacher development video “A Suzuki Teacher’s Pledge”, a tour of the SAA office, and… Read more ▶