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2006March 19th, 2006 How time has flown! I am preparing to go once more to the UK where I will teach at the II National Workshop, and then on to Turin, Italy for the World Conference. I am excited about making a presentation on the Suzuki Method in Latin America. What is special about this trip is that my daughter Caitlin will travel with me. This will be our mother-daughter adventure and it will be her first time in Italy. The timing is perfect as we will be in England for grandaughter Xo's first birthday! Looking back at the remainder of 2005, there have been several highlights for me in my professional life… One of the most important is the amount of work our Suzuki Association of Peru has been able to do within Peru. In May we gave a philosophy course in Juliaca, in the South of the country, and in June we held the II National Workshop in Huanuco in the centre of Peru. Both events were landmark occasions in their regions, attracting unprecedented participation. Local teachers Amador Ccala in Juliaca, and Rosario "Charo" Kong in Huanuco did a wonderful job of organizing, publicizing and managing these courses. Armed with will power, faith and very little in the way of economic resources, they have introduced the Suzuki philosophy to parents and teachers and changed their lives forever. The so called “provinces” of Peru (anywhere outside of the capital city, Lima) are economically and geographically disadvantaged. Their reality is completely different from that of Lima. We want to make sure that the concept “Every child can learn” includes the children from these distant places, which at times seem to be forgotten and abandoned by their own government.
A delegation of around fifty teachers, parents and children came from Cusco to particípate in Master classes and to give a concert. As there was no piano, we used a clavinova for the lessons. The children were unperturbed when frequent problems with the electricity caused us to stop the class temporarily. They simply got off the bench, checked the outlet then hopped back on and the class continued. The clavinova was transported to the locale of the final concert on a tricyle! The final concert was superb and a wonderful inspiration for the families in Juliaca. “All children can learn” said Shinichi Suzuki. When the children from Cusco performed, the children and families from Juliaca knew that they could aspire to do it too. Thanks to Flor Canelo, piano teacher from Chsco, who had the idea of bringing her children to the workshop in Juliaca. I understood the importance of teaching by example. The people of Juliaca learned more from the childrens’ performances than they would have from hours of lectures. Let the children’s music talk! My colleague Lucha del Rio and I traveled to Huanuco on a tiny plane. The co-pilot had to kneel before as he gave us the flight instructions. Huanuco is close to the Peruvian jungle, high in the mountains, “The city of Eternal Spring”. After the damp grey Lima winter, it was a pleasure to enjoy the sunshine and blue sky. Part of the course took place in the “Instituto Superior de Musica Daniel Alomia Robles”. He is the composer of the famous “El condor pasa” perhaps better known to some in the version made popular by Simon and Garfunkel, “I’d rather be a sparrow than a snail.” More than 90 participants signed up for the courses Early Childhood music and Suzuki philosophy. The organizar, Charo had done a great job of publicizing by going on her bicycle from one school to the next, persuading the school directors that their teachers should take the courses. These were not music teachers, but classroom teachers. Charo was determined to bring the Suzuki philosophy to the schools and change the whole approach to education. She convinced the directors to help make the courses financially possible for the teachers. The schools made the arrangement whereby the ten US dollar cost of the course could be deducted in monthly payments from the teachers’ salaries.
Suzuki philosophy is for everyone, not just for music teachers. We must spread the word and revolutionize the entire education system. Imagine schools where there are absolutely no drop outs. This is the focus of my presentation for the World Conference. Shinichi Suzuki said “We must change the whole world through education.” Let’s do it. |
The streets of Juliaca are filled with large tricycles, which transport entire families and famers with their goods. In the morning the streets look very colourful as the tricyles carry children dressed in their uniforms to school. Each tricyle has its own name. The photograph depicts “Taxi Goliath”. In the following photograph you can see the music school “Escuela Superior de Formación Artistica” which is in a commercial centre full of Internet cafes, photocopying services and various venders. The first night I was taken to three televisión studios for interviews. Because I was introduced as the Scottish teacher, the newscasters were all very interested to find out about Scotland, its weather, its terrain and its people. I wanted to speak about the course!
More than sixty teachers and students registered. The room could not hold any more. A mother sat in the back of the class every day nursing her baby Efigenio. At this school students start their instrumental studies at age 17, hoping to make music their career. Dr Suzuki’s message “We must start younger” was revolutionary and left a deep impression on the students, teachers and administrators.
Charo also know the courses would be more attractive if they had official recognition by the Ministry of Education. She made inquiries about how to get the courses recognised. She was told that was a process which would take several months. The next day she went back again to inquire, but this time bringing her 7 year old daughter Mailyn who is a very good violinist. Mailyn performed “El Condor Pasa” and Charo was immediately informed that the courses would have official recognition. Charo understood the importance of teaching by example! Mailyn’s music talked! With Charo we plan to offer the first Suzuki philosophy course in the Peruvian jungle this May.