Building Noble Hearts & Blog

August 1, 2018 by Brittany Gardner, Jessica Lahey, Margaret Watts Romney

Music practice has its highs and lows. Sometimes we reach a state of bliss and flow as we find the perfect balance of competence, challenge, and creativity with our instrument. Or, sometimes we can feel like Sisyphus; over and over… Read more ▶

September 13, 2018 by Clara Hardie, Mark Mutter, Ashley Nelson, Margaret Watts Romney

What is community? How do you find it? Join it? Build it? It’s more than just showing up to a bake sale with brownies from a box, then taking off (though I’ve done this many times). Is it bowling clubs… Read more ▶

June 17, 2018 by Daniela Gongora, Gail Johansen, Margaret Watts Romney

Margaret Watts Romney: Gail Johansen and Daniela Gongora are both violinists and teachers, but they’ve made music in vastly different areas. Gail Johansen lives in Fairbanks, Alaska… Gail Johansen: Right now since it is almost the winter solstice, we have less… Read more ▶

May 28, 2018 by Margaret Watts Romney

Welcome back to season two of Building Noble Hearts. I’m Margaret Watts Romney. Here, we take a look at the learning environments in which children, parents, and teachers gain new knowledge, and are also encouraged to become fine individuals. Throughout… Read more ▶

July 7, 2017 by Dorothy Jones, Margaret Watts Romney

When is the ideal age to start a music education? Many teachers start students as young as 3 and 4 years old, but Dorothy Jones took to heart Dr. Suzuki’s admonition to focus on the babies. In this episode, we… Read more ▶

October 3, 2017 by Sarah Hersh, Margaret Watts Romney

We are dipping back to a series of recordings—interviews made a number of years ago with people who studied with Shinichi Suzuki in Japan in decades past. In their voices, hear their curiosity and admiration as they remember their experiences. Also, you can hear the inspiration, wisdom, and gratitude that they’ve kept with them since they left. We’ve heard similar stories from Winifred Crock, Helen Higa, and Mark Bjork about their time studying in Matsumoto with Shinichi Suzuki. So while we are working on the full episodes for Season Two, we will occasionally release these Matsumoto Memoires: simple storytelling, straight from the people who were there… Lightly edited for clarity, without narration. Our story starts in the 70’s, in Ohio where Sarah Hersh was studying music. She loved playing violin, was curious about teaching, and happened to have a lucky locker assignment. Welcome to this Matsumoto Memoir from Sarah Hersh. Read more ▶

September 1, 2017 by Mark Bjork, Margaret Watts Romney

Our story starts in the 60’s, in Minnesota, when Mark Bjork was heading to an intriguing concert. He was going to see a tour group of very young Japanese children playing complex concertos brought to North America by Shinichi Suzuki. Welcome to this Matsumoto Memoir from Mark Bjork. Read more ▶

July 27, 2017 by Alice Ann O'Neill, Margaret Watts Romney

Have you ever felt so focused on the project in front of you that the rest of the world seemed to disappear? Perhaps time stood still? You felt in complete harmony with things around you? This place is a source… Read more ▶

June 23, 2017 by Helen Higa, Margaret Watts Romney

Today, we are looking at just one environment created by one teacher, and finding themes that can be applied to good teaching everywhere such as generosity, powerful observation, and warmth. Recently I was introduced to a series of recordings—interviews made a number of years ago with people who studied with Shinichi Suzuki in Japan in decades past. I feel like I’ve had a little trip to Asia in the 1970’s. Read more ▶

June 7, 2017 by Sarah Bylander Montzka, Margaret Watts Romney

Students, Teachers, Parents, Administrators: we are all interested in growth and change. In this episode, Sarah Bylander Montzka explains the skill we can all use of “holding two concepts in one’s mind at the same time”—a skill which can nurture growth in students, organizations, and ourselves. Read more ▶

May 8, 2017 by Carey Beth Hockett, Margaret Watts Romney

How are in-person and engaged communities created? What do they feel like when you’re in them? We interview group class expert and cellist Carey Beth Hockett to hear her answers. Read more ▶

April 24, 2017 by Winifred Crock, Margaret Watts Romney

Who was Dr. Suzuki, why is there a community of teachers following his vision, and what ideas can apply to teachers anywhere? We talk with his former student, Winifred Crock, to answer these questions and more. Read more ▶