Vol. 22.2 March/April 2017

To f a c i l i t a t e , p r omo t e , a nd e du ca t e t h e p ub l i c o n t h e way o f t e a c h i n g a nd p l a y i n g t h e p i a no t a ugh t a t t h e T a l e n t E du ca t i o n R e s ea r c h I n s t i t u t e i n Ma t s umo to , J a pan b y D r . Ha r u ko Ka t aoka

Being Able to

Recognize the

Beautiful as

Beautiful By Haruko Kataoka

From the Matsumoto Suzuki Piano Newsletter

Vol. 6 No 6, November 18, 1996 Translated by Chisa Aoki and

Teri Paradero Edited by Karen Hagberg

One day, one of the teachers brought abook by ShigeoHaruyama entitledBrainRevolution. She explained, “This bookstates similar things you always say tous.”Thisbookwasveryeasytoreadandunderstand.Simply put, the number one rule is thatstress is theworst thing for thebody,sodo not engage in negative thoughts.

Piano Basics Foundation News

Editor Karen Hagberg

Layout

Teri Paradero

Translators Chisa Aoki

Teri Paradero

Production and Distribution Linda Nakagawa

Send Articles to: Piano Basics Foundation

67 Shepard St. Rochester NY 14620 kh@hagbergsuzuki.com

585-244-0490

Memberships / Subscriptions Linda Nakagawa

242 River Acres Drive Sacramento, CA 95831

916-422-2952 g.nakagawa@comcast.net

Next Deadline: April 15, 2017

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Whenmeditating,visualizesomethingthatisbeautifuloranactivity that gives joy. As a result, the right brain producesendorphins. This in turn improves all body functions.Humansarenaturallynotpronetodisease.Rulenumbertwois to engage in light exercise. Rule number three is to becognizant of eating fresh foods. Abide by these three rulesandthebookpurportsthatahumanbeingshouldbeabletolivetobeonehundredfiftyyearsold.It is true that life should be lived not only using the leftbrain’s intellectual knowledge. It is through the use of therightbrain’ssensibilitythatlifecanproceedsuccessfully.Of course, knowledge is important, so having a lot ofknowledgeisbeneficial.However,itiseasytoascertainthatthe role of the right brain is indispensable in achievingrelaxationofthemindandbodysothatwecanliveafullandrobustlife.Whatmustwedotogetinthehabitofusingtherightbrain,a habit we are trying to teach our children through pianostudy?By alwaysbeing in contactwithbeautifulmusic,wemust nurture the ability for themind to recognize what isbeautifulasbeautifulfromthetimechildrenareveryyoung.Primarily for human beings, seeing and listening to nature,smellingscentsthatinvokewell-being,tastingdeliciousfoodand touching things that provide pleasant tactile sensationareallthingsthathumansnaturallycometoknow.However,in this day and age, parents and teachers who are in themidstof childrenmustguide themwithgreat care.Weareconstantly surrounded by many unnatural, bad influences.Asinasayingfromtheoldendays,“Ifyoumixwithred,youwillbecomered.”Beforeyouknowit, this innatesensibilitythat we humans are born with will be damaged and as aresultbecomehumanswhofailtoseeandrecognizewhatisbeautiful.With regards to music, provide listening opportunities forperformances by the world’s best artists to children whenthey are very young. At our piano school, we believe thatpianoeducationisnotlimitedtomerelygivingpianolessons.Inordertoprovidethekindofeducationwherechildrenfeelandbeabletodiscernwhatisbeautiful,wemustassurethatthey are listening to the recordings of the world’s bestperformers and go to concerts of these outstandingmusicians.Throughmusiceducation,wehavecontinuedfor

several decades to set as our goal toaccomplish the bigger picture, theeducationofthehumanbeing.Theresultsareevidenttoday.Nowadays,if we attend a concert by a supposedlywell-knownpianist, all the children fromMatsumoto, regardlessofage, frompre-school to high school, are in totalagreementiftheperformanceisbad.Sometime ago, amother of a nine year-old-girl asked for advice, “Because shewillbe learning theHaydnsonatanext, Iamtryingreallyhardtomakesuresheislisteningtotherecording,butsherefusesto listen to it. What shall I do?” Uponfurther discussion, it was revealed thatthe recording theywere listening towasbyaninferiorpianist.I understood immediately. Becausechildren listenwith their sensibility, theydo not need any explanation to knowthatitisnotgoodperformance.So, Igavethemacopyofa recordingbythegreatandfamousLiliKraus.Thenine-year-oldisenjoyinglisteningeverydayonher own without even being asked tolistentotherecording.Childrenarenot yetequippedwitha lotofleftbrainintelligence,butarefarmoreadept at using their right brain thanadults. When considering all stages oflife, they are living in themost splendidstage provided byGod (or nature). Theyarealwaysabletoimagineorconjurethemost beautiful things. Their ability toemote deeply and passionately willenablethemtoleadahealthylifeinbodyandmind.Itismyhopethatallchildrenbenurturedto be able to recognize the beautiful asbeautiful.

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Adults Can Be Nurtured Too!

By Haruko Kataoka

From the Matsumoto Suzuki Piano Newsletter Vol. 6 No 6, November 18, 1996

Translated by Chisa Aoki and Teri Paradero

Edited by Karen Hagberg

InearlyNovember,Igotacallfromaformerstudentsaying,“There’saconcertthatmyfatherreallywantstogoto.Theticketsareavailableforpurchasestartingtomorrow.Doyouthinkthereisachancethattheywillbesoldout?Willwebeabletogettickets?”The concert scheduled for February 2, 1997 was to beperformed by Mischa Maisky (cello) and the OrpheusChamberOrchestra.Ofcourse,wewereallthinkingthatwewanted to go! Because the concert was to be held inFebruary,wethoughtwedidnothavetobetooconcernedaboutpurchasingticketsjustyet.Perhaps, this student’s father’s desire to go surpassed ourhopestoattendtheconcert.Thephonecallcamewhenfourpianoteachershadgatheredtomeet.This student is now in college. She started piano lessonswhenshewasthreeyearsold.Herfatherhadbeenlisteningto the recordings that were played constantly at home inaddition to listening to his daughter practice. Heaccompanied her to concerts by famous performersrecommendedbyherpianoteacher.Byandby,hehadtrulycometoappreciateclassicalmusic.Itissowonderful!

I have another student who is also incollege whose mother is the same way.Thefatherhadatsomepointsharedthiswonderful observation with me,“Because of you, my wife has becomehigh class.When we were first married,sheonly listened topopmusic, but nowshe is a great fan of the classics.” Theirtwo daughters studied piano diligentlyand are both presently attending musicschool. The mother humbly claims thatshe knows absolutely nothing aboutmusic. However, if she finds out that afamouspianistwillbeperforming, she ison her way not only for concerts inMatsumoto, but she will even travel toTokyo or Osaka. Furthermore, hercritique of the performance is alwaysspot-on.Wecannotgiveuponadultseither.Evenifyouare incidentallyaroundmusic, it ispossible that, although unwittingly, youcandevelopagreataffinitytomusic.

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August 2017 Piano Basics Workshop in the City of Brotherly Love

Philadelphia will be the location for the August 3-7, 2017BasicsworkshopwithKawamuraSenseiandOgiwaraSenseifromMatsumoto,Japan.Pleasecomejoinusthissummerinadvance of the school year, for renewed inspiration foryourselfandforyourstudents.Philadelphia is a wonderful place to visit, especially forstudiofamilieswhomightenjoythemanyhistoricsitesandattractions the city has to offer as a vacation destination.And,wearejustatwo-hourtripbybus,car,ortraintoNYC,and about three hours to Washington, DC (two hours bytrain). Travel to Philadelphia from around the country isconvenient frommany areas, with many reasonable directflightsandanabundanceoftrainconnections.And,even inourlargecity,therewillbeparkingforallworkshopvenues.Ifyou’vebeenthinkingaboutattendingaworkshopwiththeteachers from Japan,orhavewanted tobring studentsbuthaven’tyet,now is the time!ThemanySuzukiPianoBasicsteachersofthePhiladelphiaregionwelcomeyoutovisitourcity and researchwith us for theweek at the lovely homeandstudioofJaneGuerin.Summerisagreattimefor

families to travel, and out-of-townstudents alsohave theoptionof comingjust for theweekend, for amaster classlesson and/or participation in theFriendshipConcert.Check your email for registrationinformation, and be sure to register bytheMay25deadlineforthelowestratesand for your students to have theopportunitytostudyandperform!Feel free to have prospective studiofamilies be in touch if they would likemore information about getting aroundthecityorways toexplore theregiontoenjoyday-trips.Hopetoseeyouthere!JanetKaidoWorkshopDirector

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Learning How to Live

by Christine Darling

AsIreflectonmytimeattheSuzukiPianoBasicsWorkshopinOrangeCounty, I amacutely aware that learning is for alifetime. I grewupasa Suzukipiano student, studiedwiththebestSuzukiteachersandteachertrainers,havetraveledtoMatsumoto,Japantostudy,andnowIhavetheprivilegeto create a loving and musical environment for my infantdaughter, Lucy. Having Lucywithmeat theworkshopwasveryspecial. Everyteacherwassokindandexcitedtohaveher there. To be in a community of piano teachers thatvalues exposing children to music from birth was veryencouragingtome.

Attheworkshop,theareaoftheroomwhereIneededtositwith Lucywas not in viewof the keyboards. At first Iwasdisappointedthat Iwouldnotbeableto learnasmuchas IwouldifIcouldseethehandsofstudentsandteachers,butsoonIrealizedthatIwasgleaningmuchmorefromlistening.I heard differences in tone as the students worked onmovingtheirfingers.IheardhowtheSenseidemonstrated,and the language used to produce desired outcomes. As Ireturned to my studio the following week, I took care tolistenwellandpersistentlytoworkonadesiredgoaluntilitwas achieved. Attendingworkshops remindsme to take astep back, slow down, and build a solid foundation oflisteningandtechnique.

Details are important, and musicality is about the smalldifferences. The key to success at the piano, and in lifereally, is by being intentional with everything you do,whether it isplayingTwinklesor fixingyour student’sdressatarecital.ThisiswhatkeepsmecomingbacktotheSuzukiMethod.ThereisalwaysanotherlayerofBasicstoapplytomy playing and teaching that can be carried into everydaylife.

Learningtolistenandtocreateanenvironmentof loveandlearning is a goal I want to achieve as awoman, a parent,andapianoteacher. Slowingdowninlifeandinthestudiowillproducequalitythatisneededinourworldtoday.

Christine Darling, first recipient of theKataokaResearchScholarshipgrantedbytheSuzukiPianoBasicsFoundation,received funds to attend the OrangeCountyWorkshopinFebruary2017.

Christine Darling and daughter Lucy with Keiko Kawamura (L) and Keiko Ogiwara (R) at the Orange County Suzuki Piano Basics Workshop, February 2017.

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Keiko Kawamura teaching Brandon Seil’s student, Kamyar Saririan, age 11, at the Orange County Suzuki Piano Basics Workshop, February 2017. Photo by Linda Nakagawa.

Keiko Ogiwara teaching Rae Kate Shen’s student, Ariana Khazaeni, age 6, at the Orange County Suzuki Piano Basics Workshop, February 2017. Photo by Linda Nakagawa.

Piano Basics Workshop Orange County, California

February 2017

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Teachers at Piano Basics Workshop, Orange County, California, February 2017. Photo by Ken Matsuda.

Making Things Possible

That Were Not Possible Before

By Renee Eckis

IhavebeenreadingthebookPEAK: SecretsfromtheNewScienceofExpertisebyAndersEricssonandRobertPool.Ithasbeenfascinatingseeinghowthisresearchsupportsboththe Suzuki philosophy of “any child can” and the pianobasics philosophyof taking one step at a time to improve,not through knowledge, but through skill. He talks a lotaboutdeliberatepractice.

“Thegoalofdeliberatepracticeistonotjust reach yourpotential but tobuild it,to make things possible that were notpossible before. This requireschallenging homeostasis, getting out ofyour comfort zone, and forcing yourbrain or your body to adapt. Once youdo this, learning is no longer just awayof fulfilling some genetic destiny; it

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becomesawayoftakingcontrolofyourdestinyandshapingyourpotentialinwaysthatyouchoose.”Thisappliesnotonlytothestudentbutalsototheteacherandparent.Asteachers,wemustcontinuetoresearchthebest tone and the best way to teach our students. PianoBasics workshops with the Japanese teachers are anexcellent way to challenge our own homeostasis. As youtakealessonyouareoutofyourcomfortzoneandtryingtoadapttonewideasphysicallyandmentally.Watchingotherlessonsbringsevenmorefocusontoneandwaystoteachthebesttone,notjustthecorrectnotes.Asparents,wecanobserveourchild'slessonaswellasotherstudent'slessons.It gives us perspective to see the individual focus for eachchild. Itmaybequitedifferent, even though theymaybestudying the same piece our own child is working on athome.Justaswewouldnotwanttogotoasurgeonordoctorwhois not knowledgeable about the latest research in her/hisfield, we must apply that same standard to our ownteaching. “The best among us in various areas do notoccupythatperchbecausetheywerebornwithsomeinnatetalentbutratherbecausetheyhavedevelopedtheirabilitiesthrough years of practice, taking advantage of theadaptability of the human body and brain.” We arefortunate to be able to study from someof thebest. Theteachers from Matsumoto have spent years researchingbothwithDr.Kataokaandwitheachothertofindthebestwaystoteach. KeikoKawamuraandKeikoOgiwarawillbeteachinginPhiladelphiaandinSacramentoinAugust.Iurgeyoutoattendandtohavealesson.Bringastudenttohavea lesson or perform in the friendship concert. It is awonderfulopportunityforgrowth.It is also important that our students can see thatwe aretryingtoimproveandtomaketheefforttobecomebetterteachers.Thismodelsthemindsetwehopetonurture.Thismindset goes far beyond the music lesson; it is a lifelongskill.Themostimportantgiftswecangiveourchildrenarethe confidence in their ability to remake themselves againandagainandthetoolswithwhichtodothatjob.Theywillneed to see firsthand, through their own experiencesdeveloping abilities that they thought were beyond them,that they control their own destiny. It is a greatresponsibility we have. We must study deliberately tobecomethebestmodelpossible.

Renee Eckis teaching grandson, Henry Ormson. Photo by Carinn Ormson.

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Piano Basics Foundation

Upcoming Workshops/Events

Suzuki Piano Basics Web Site and discussion group:

http://core.ecu.edu/hist/wilburnk/SuzukiPianoBasics

The events listed above are for the information of Suzuki Piano Basics Foundation members and others. Suzuki Piano Basics Foundation does not endorse, sanction, or sponsor events.

To add or change items on this list and on the Suzuki Piano Basics website, contact

Karen Hagberg (kh@hagbergsuzuki.com, 585-978-0600).

April 30, 2017 Matsumoto, Japan

Suzuki Piano Basics International 10-Piano Concert Contact Karen Hagberg, 585-978-0600

kh@hagbergsuzuki.com Deadline for registration has passed.

July 7-10, 2017 Tacoma, Washington Suzuki Piano Basics Festival

with Rae Kate Shen Contact: Jacki Block 253-759-7213

jblock@ups.edu

August 3-7, 2017 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Suzuki Piano Basics International Teacher Training Workshop with Keiko Kawamura and Keiko Ogiwara

Contact: Janet Kaido 267-251-0429 janet@alumni.curtis.edu

August 10-14, 2017 Sacramento, California

Suzuki Piano Basics International Teacher Training Workshop with Keiko Kawamura and Keiko Ogiwara Contact: Linda Nakagawa 916-422-2952

g.nakagawa@comcast.net