Why I’m Grateful I’m a Suzuki Teacher

Because there are so many different music education philosophies and methods out there, and in honor of the holiday I wanted to feature a very special blog post series this week. Here in the United States we are celebrating Thanksgiving, so I asked my friends and colleagues to share their reasons why they are grateful to be a Suzuki teacher.  (The following posts will feature grateful parents, and grateful students.)

The answers I received touched my heart and reminded me how much I love this method and philosophy. Parents and students, please ask your teachers why they are grateful to be a Suzuki teacher. Their answers will illuminate and inspire you.

Here are some of the answers I received.

Paula Bird is a Suzuki violin teacher, and teaches violin at the college level at Texas State University. She has a fantastic blog and podcast about the Suzuki method. (Check these out, she’s amazing.)

I’m grateful I’m a Suzuki teacher because it causes me to look deeper at my students and what their needs are. I really get to know them! I’m grateful I’m a Suzuki teacher because it motivates me to look for the positive and nurturing, even during those times when I’m tired or run down. I remember that I’m part of a mission and philosophy that is so much bigger than my own little world, and that motivates me to keep going all the time.”

Elise Winters-Huete is an accomplished violinist and teacher in Austin, Texas. She is the author of a new method that synthesizes Suzuki and Kodály to create the optimal experience for the child studying the violin, viola or cello.

I’m grateful I’m a Suzuki teacher because I get to help children speak from the heart and discover their unique voice.”

Christine Wilson Goodner is a Suzuki violin teacher and Suzuki Early Childhood Education instructor in Portland, Oregon. She serves as the president of the Oregon Suzuki Association and maintains a very helpful blog for Suzuki parents and teachers.

I’m grateful I’m a Suzuki teacher because I get to spend everyday doing something I love. I know that I’m helping many children and their families learn to work with one another, develop a love of music, and learn to play their instrument to the best of their ability. I think it’s rare to be able to wake up excited for work and to know you’re making a difference somehow – I feel lucky and grateful that I get to do that everyday.”

Mercedes Zepeda is a Suzuki teacher in Dallas,Texas. She runs the Bella Corda Violin Studio, and also teaches at the Dallas Suzuki Academy.

As a teacher, I’m thankful to get to be a part of the learning and growing happening between my students and their parents. It brings me so much joy to see these little ones making beautiful memories with their parents.”

Heather Figi is a violin teacher and prolific composer in Eugene, Oregon. She shares her compositions (designed especially for Suzuki students) and much more on her website: Music For Young Violinists.

I am grateful to be a Suzuki violin teacher because it allows me to interact with the most incredible families. Parents who hold a high vision for their children and children who are given the necessary support to let their inherent talents flourish. This inspires me constantly and is an incredibly positive environment to surround myself with and for this I am very grateful.”

Reading these answers has filled me with gratitude for Dr. Suzuki and for the Suzuki method. It’s amazing, I have never met these teachers but we are truly a part of the same community, and the same movement to help parents and children around the world. Our shared philosophy, method, and repertoire makes the world a little smaller and brings us all closer together. I’m so grateful for the generosity of Suzuki teachers I’ve known, how willing and ready they are to help other teachers and share their knowledge.

“When love is deep, much can be accomplished.”
–Dr. Shinichi Suzuki

Are you a Suzuki teacher? Please share why you are grateful to teach this method in the comments!

Parents or students? I’d love to feature you in the next posts of this series:
10 Reasons Why I’m Grateful to be a Suzuki Parent
and
10 Reasons Why I’m Grateful to be a Suzuki Student
Please send me your reasons in the comment section!