Frank Longay, 1948-2011

It is a real shock for me to learn of this news. Just today we were working out a special arrangement of Frank’s “With Steady Hands” for our Winter Concert at the Brooklyn Conservatory. Frank was an incredible inspiration and role model for so many teachers as a guitarist, a music educator of young people, a Suzuki pedagogue and also as a business person. In the later he demonstrated it was possible to maintain the highest professional standards, serve his community with a great service and have abundance. When I trained with him at Haart in 2005, what I most remember was his unwillingness to compromise on his ideals and vision. I sensed he didn’t hestitate to challenge his students on their weaknesses but also showed compassion, fairness, encouragement and support. Thank you Frank, it was an honour to know you and may the ancestors bless your journey…

It is with extreme shock and very deep sadness to learn of this; Frank was an amazing inspirational trainer, I learned so much from him from last summer’s book 1 training which has led me to bring suzuki guitar back to my country. He supported my efforts by urging me to go for training with Zeah in Australia. I remember his dedication and professionalism and admires the high values and standard of suzuki families in his programme. His sudden passing is a reminder to cherish every single moment in life and dedicate all to the good of the world. Frank has left a legacy; he has extended the work of Shinichi Suzuki for the guitar community worldwide. He showed us what children are capable of and taught teachers bring the Suzuki guitar back to their communities.

Dear Frank, I deeply appreciate and cherish your teachings, I live them and teaches them to children in Singapore. I am extremely honoured to be trained by you and now have to task of meeting the suzuki standard that you have set in your school. Though I am sad that you have to leave so soon, I am sure your past trainees and colleagues will perpetuate your work and the desires you have for Suzuki Guitar.

May God bless you and keep you safe eternally.

My wife and I had the wonderful privilege to do training with Frank a few years ago when he hosted the International Guitar Event in Santa Clara. It was an amazing moment in our lives to meet and study with Frank. We owe so much of what we’ve built in our studio, students and our hearts to him. His teachings will remain with us forever!

Frank’s leadership in developing guitar instruction for young people and for his efforts in training teachers is legendary. What a shock to hear of his untimely passing. He leaves some big shoes to be filled. He left us much too early. Jerry Snyder—South Bay Guitar Society

Daer all
I’m overwhelmed by this news, it is impossible to think that Frank is no longer there. I have no words but I find them because Frank was a good man nice simple: I have found help from him and I learned a lot. In about thirty years of working together I remember every moment because every time I saw you was special, unique. Unforgettable are the years to discuss and build the first books of the method, how much patience and desire to do. Always united us that one day we discovered that in the opposite sides of the Earth we had begun a journey together that made us meet. How much work have you done! Elio
Your courage and your happiness are always with us.
Elio

I am shocked. Frank was primarily responsible for putting Suzuki Guitar on the world map. He especially impacted us here in Sacramento as Brandon Yip, Gabe Becker, Steve Roberts and I all took our Teacher Training from him. Our students, kids and grandkids are all beneficiaries of a very refined and polished methodology that Frank groomed from beginning to end.
Very sad! We will miss you Frank.
Harold Sexton

Brandon Yip’s Comments:
Totally shocking! I think even more important than the guitar training was the training in inter-personal relationships. I am still benefiting from his training as I parent my kids. I had the honor of spending extended training time with him as he beta-tested pedagogy for the later books. It was inspiring to watch his integrity at work as he honed in on the finest of details. He will be sorely missed but his legacy will go on in immeasurable ways. God Bless Frank.
Brandon Yip

Steve Roberts Comment:
Frank’s passing happened too soon. Luckily, his legacy will be heard for many future generations of guitarist.
Steve Roberts

I was one of Frank’s first students back in the early 80’s. Frank always inspired me with his love for teaching and his love for his students. He was warm, patient, innovative, and funny. I always looked forward to my lessons with him and because of his influence, I loved playing guitar and have continued on to make it my career. I can only hope that I’ll pass along a small part of his inspiration to my own students. I am so saddened by this loss and my heart goes out to his past and present students, friends, and family. Frank, may you rest in peace and may God bless all those who were touched by your presence in their lives.

-Connie Sheu (the little girl in Book 1)

I am stunned and saddened by this news. Frank always showed such kindness and quiet nobility, and it seems unimaginable that we have lost him. He touched so many lives in a positive way, without ever seeking glory for himself. i was honored to work with him so closely on the recording of the CD’s for Books 8 & 9 last summer, and he showed amazing musicianship and production awareness throughout the difficult process. I dedicate these recording to the memory of a great teacher and a great human being, whose legacy of musical education will last for generations to come

Gabe Becker Comments:
I am in shock… I have so much gratitude for Frank’s pedagogy and dedication to teaching. The structure he developed with his guitar training has been and will continue to be a source of success for so many students and teachers who studied with him. Very sad, and unexpected. We pray for comfort in this time for friends and family of Frank.
Gabe Becker

My very deepest sympathies to the family of Frank Longay. He was very devoted to his family and to his Conservatory. We will miss him and his strength of character and warm personality.
Barbara Steffin
South Bay Guitar Society Board Member

I have met Frank Longay on several occasions during our work along the progress of developing the Suzuki Guitar. He was there as a stable rock, full of experiance and knowledge, worked harder then anyone I know. The news came as a devastating blow…..I will always remember him as the big guy with humour, his smile and laughter, always there with his professionalism. The Suzuki Guitar Society has lost a front figure and leader. ….far, far to early. There is no more words….
Harald Söderberg
(ESA)

Today we had the final concert of the XXVI International Suzuki Festival in Lima Peru and, while sharing the interpretation of “Meadow minuet “, that beautiful melody composed by Frank, along with my colleagues on stage, I was transported imaginatively with images and memories who walked through my mind, while every sound it was drawing with my fingers on the fingerboard of my guitar. I had the pleasure to have known Frank for the year 1986 when we had our meeting with William Koosler and him at the “II Conference for Suzuki teachers” realized in Chicago. Where we share about our educational programs with the guitar.

The truth is that Frank’s death is very sad and hard to believe at this time for all Suzuki family, especially for the guitar world. Above all, I wonder to save, from one hand, his lidership and perseverance to lead the design of the Suzuki guitar method repertoire and, on the other hand, his great charisma and wisdom to share about musicality, technique and liking to guitar and music with children.
There is no doubt that Frank left us a path, an example to follow, for which we must continue. I wish wholeheartedly support full peace to his family, friends, parents and students who shared his teachings. Frank Longay will always be in our memories and prayers. May peace and eternal rest with God enlighten your eternal life. . ¡ thanks forever Frank !!

Queridos colegas:
Tuve la oportunidad de conocer a Frank el año 2000 cuando vino a Chile. El fue mi mentor Suzuki, el profesor que me enseñó el método en guitarra. Después, el año 2008 fui al Festival Internacional en Santa Clara, California. Gracias a Frank pude ir, ya que me consiguió una beca y alojamiento. Siempre me acuerdo de él y de ese Festival con mucho cariño.
Realmente me dió mucha pena cuando supe de su muerte. Se va una persona muy querida, muy abierta, muy amable y gran gestor y mentor de la guitarra suzuki. Te vamos a hechar de menos, Frank!
Tatiana Muñoz Hagel, Santiago, Chile.
Profesora de Guitarra Suzuki

Frank was such an inspiration.I never met him but I have read about his teaching and listened to his students. I had hoped to meet him sometime. I would like to express my sympathy to Frank’s family and the suzuki community in America.
Ar Dheis De go raibh a anam dilis,

Maire Ui shearcoid. Ireland

Dear Frank, Between the notes and the strings and among your Suzuki friends- you will live forever.
Zohara
Sunshine Coast, Australia

Thank you Frank for your wonderful life of giving and leading us. We are all devastated by your sudden departure and our thoughts are now with those of us left behind to grieve, especially your loved ones, your students and parents, your staff and colleagues. We will keep your memory and visions alive and keep working hard to uphold your standards and ideals. Thank you for being with us for such a brief moment and sharing so much.
Jo Wood
Perth, Australia

I am Frank’s current student since 2001.
Frank-thank you for having touched our lives in so many ways
For being a role model, a mentor, a teacher, a friend
For enriching our lives with music
For sharing your wisdom with us on a daily basis
For your weekly dose of insight into life‘s miracles and lessons
For teaching us how to enjoy the journey of perfecting music and dealing with our imperfections
For sharing your passions with us
For showing us how to enjoy the simple things in life
For bringing out the very best in us
For continuing to inspire us to strive to be better human beings
And for everything else that is beyond the realm of words.

Very sad news. A big loss for the whole Suzuki guitar community.
His work and his legacy will always be an inspiration for everyone

Chela Iznardo and Daniel Srugo
Ottawa, Canada

Muchas gracias Frank por tu legado, tu pasión, tu amistad y por todo tu apoyo!

Thanks Frank for all the memories and lessons. I was looking forward to having teacher training with you at some point, but I learned plenty from just being around you throughout the years. I don’t remember when I met you, I was a five year old boy, but you helped shaped me and you are one of the reasons I am becoming a Suzuki Guitar teacher.

I would like to share a funny memory with everyone. When I was learning the Mozart Bourree in Book 4, Frank was teaching me that I need to take more time in the easier passages. He used the analogy of cooking a steak dinner. “Which one takes longer to cook, the steak or the potatoes?” he asked me. “The steak” I responded. He was expecting me to say potatoes of course and was confused and didn’t know what to say. Frank was confused, but my mom explained. Being a busy teacher, my mom would always cook instant potatoes. That ruined his analogy and we all had a good laugh.

We’ll miss you Frank. It’s always hard to lose someone who you have known for longer than you haven’t know.

Que descanse en paz!. Uno mis oraciones para que todo lo que hiciste para los niños de muchos países y para sus maestr@s sea una razón para estar hoy cerca de Dios, pues seguro que trabajar para hacer mejores niños logra hacer mejores almas también. Condolencias para su familia.

Gracias Frank por transmitirnos tu invalorable trabajo, tu labor esta viva dentro nosotros y lo estara siempre.

Con nuestro profundo agradecimiento por tu legado, hemos sentido una gran tristeza sabiendo de tu salida a otra vida. Varios de nosotros te hemos visto una sola vez y otros no han logrado conocerte personalmente, pero aun sin conocerte han visto tus frutos, cosechando despues de que tú mismo has sembrado con las semillas de tu amor, de tus sueños, de la música, de la guitarra y la vida, que inmensa herencia querido Frank. Nos haces sentir orgullosos de ser profesores de guitarra. Mi mas profunda gratitud por todo lo recibido.
Mercedes Vargas

I am very sad indeed to hear this news. Frank visited Australia many times and I know he was a huge inspiration and lightning rod for the guitar program in this country. He travelled the world to bring Suzuki guitar to life. He will be very much missed. He has friends everywhere.

It has taken some time before I could write anything here.
Frank Longay was my teacher, my colleague, my mentor and my friend.
He has visited Melbourne many times since 1993: inspiring, leading by example, gently, with humour and with the greatest integrity.
In his own exceptional teaching programme in Santa Clara California, his commitment to Dr Suzuki’s vision and to the children and families with whom he worked, was unwavering. He demonstrated through his daily actions what is possible ‘where love is deep’. He had incredible generosity in sharing his discoveries so that every teacher and every student could also share in this journey to discover their potential and their hearts through music.
In the true Suzuki spirit, he recognised my potential and nurtured and supported me to be the best teacher I could possibly be. I feel incredibly blessed and grateful to have had so many opportunities to work with Frank both here in Australia and in the United States over the past 18 years. My sense of loss, both personally and professionally is acute.
My gratitude is so, so deep.

In every note I play, I will continue to go deeper into the heart of sound.

“Stop worrying so much about how you are playing so far, just focus on the actions at hand,” he told me once when I was becoming particularly flustered while preparing for my seasonal recital. It was already 5 minutes past the end of my lesson and in comparison to the blossoming young virtuosos of our studio, my clumsy rendition of Andantino was coming off mediocre at best. He could have easily let me give up like I wanted to, but being a man of unwavering integrity, Frank made me take the extra time to get it right. “You can do this,” he assured me. “Just focus on the notes, the positions, the tone. Keep moving along. Relax. Smile.” And so 11-year-old me began the song again and again until finally, with complete concentration, I finished without mistakes.

I am completely humbled to have had the honor of studying guitar under such a kind, patient, and giving teacher. Concentration and confidence were just two of his many inspiring qualities he passed on to his students, his mastery of them displayed with grace every time he picked up the guitar and played. I am deeply sorrowed by the loss of such a great musician and personal mentor, but it gives me comfort to know that those back at the studio and around the world who have been influenced by his philosophies will continue his legacy and inspire impeccable tone and gracious living for generations to come.

My prayers are wit your family and especially your wife…

This is a shocking news. Deepest condolences to the family.
Frank brought guitar to many people. And this is a joy that nothing can take
away from us.

I was particularly impressed with Frank’s Guitar School and the beautiful facilities, no holds barred, that he wanted for his students and families. He truly let his guitar light shine brightly all around the neighborhood and would not hide it under a bushel. Thank you for bringing this clarity to Suzuki Guitar, Frank. The inspiration will continue to flame for all Suzuki Guitar students. Kathleen Tyree, Greater New Orleans Suzuki Forum

Frank was one of most significant and meaningful teachers in my life. I was learning from him not only how to teach Suzuki Guitar, but things like dedication, patience, humanity, selfdiscipline, diligence, generosity, humor. He was a great Teacher, a Mentor, a Role Model, he was somebody unreplacebale and unique. His unexpectable death was such a shock and loss for me.

Frank, you were an exceptional man filled with love and patience. We thank you so deeply for 10 1/2 years of teaching, coaching and caring.
You were part of Adrien’s daily life and helped him love guitar and music. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! We miss you…

I am very saddened at this tragedy. Frank, you were the best teacher I have ever had. Thank you for teaching me for over one year. I will always remember you and the ways that you inspired me. May you rest in peace.

Kyle

Frank,
I will always miss you. I am so honored that you shared so much of your knowledge about music and life with me. I will never forget the brilliant things we once talked about. 10 years together, and I’m only 13 now. You are the longest teacher I will probably ever have. Thank you, for changing the lives of every Suzuki Guitar Student around the globe. May you forever rest in the peace.