European Suzuki Association - Teachers Newsletter Vol 36 2016

7 2016 Teacher Trainer Appointments M ichaela Zirnbauer teaches Violin and Viola in her private studio in Cologne Germany using the Suzuki Method. She also teaches Violin class at the Rheinische Musikschule Cologne as a certified Colour Strings teacher. Her students give regular concerts, partici- pate in Chamber Musik Workshops, play in various Orchestras and participate regularly in the German Festival Jugend Musiziert. Michaela has 25 years teaching experi- ence. Influences in Suzuki Method™ and Pedagogy come from active courses with Judy Bossuat, Rhonda Cole, Ellie Albers, Judy Offman, Elizabeth Stuen Walker, Amy Barston, John Kendall and Kerstin Wartberg. Other influences include treasured colleagues Yoko Hoshino, Cathy Shepheard and Koen Rens. It was in the USA that Michaela studied Viola with Joseph DePasquale at Curtis Institute, with Francis Bundra at Univer- sity of Michigan, and with Heiichiro Ohyama at UC Santa Barbara. Further study included instruction from Emile Cantor in Germany. Having achieved ESA Diplomas in both Viola and Violin, Michaela continued with her Violin studies as ESA Violin In- structor which lead to her appointment of ESA Violin Teacher Trainer this year. Michaela enjoys employing an ever growing spectrum of teaching ideas and techniques in her aspiration to teach every child. D orte Rolff-Petersen . ’It is an honour to be appointed Teacher Trainer within the ESA’. ’I hope that the ”Mother Tongue method” can be both preserved and renewed in my work as a Violoncello Teacher Trainer’. Dorte was 21 yrs old when she began playing the Cello. ’I had no parents to help me! I knew nothing about music – I just loved the sound of the Cello. It was quite discouraging in the beginning. The first teacher I asked for lessons said ” No, it is a waste of time and money to begin at your age. ” Well – the short story is that I did find a teacher, and I managed to enter the Music Academy within two years of playing’ Dorte became a professional Cellist, and also played in a chamber orchestra for 8 years. ’I was thrown into freelance-life rather brutally: the orchestra was cut down financially, and four musicians fired. I was one of them’. Luckily for Dorte, a job became available at Aarhus Music School in Denmark. ’I had always loved to teach, and now teaching became my main occupation. I started training in the Suzuki Method™ with Anders Grøn, ESA Violoncello Teacher Trainer, Denmark. Since Dorte’s own Cello development started late, she was always very aware of the importance of starting early - ’I know from personal experience all about muscle tensions and anxiety!’ Dorte loves to teach beginners and finds it extremely rewarding to watch and follow their development, even after they leave and have other teachers. ’I love to meet families and to be an important person in their lives’. ’The Suzuki repertoire is like a ”bible” to me — the classical repertoire is beautiful. For supplementary pieces I have had several pieces written by Lars Soegaard for my Cello group: Ex ” Cello Cabana” and ” Cello Swingtime”. Modern children like to work with fun rhythms’. Since 2009, Dorte has organised four Cello Festivals in Denmark. At most there have been up to 150 Cellists on stage. Dorte explains that ’Danish Cello teachers like to co-operate’. Dorte is very keen to help to continue the development of the Suzuki Method™ in her country. ’I believe in the power of group playing and I have been much inspired by meeting Carey Beth Hockett, ESA and SAA Violoncello Teacher Trainer, and her way of thinking. ’It is important for me to stay alive as a musician’. Since 2010, Dorte has been a member of the group ” Baroque Aros ”. ’The awareness about phrasing, tension and relaxation can be directly implied in my teaching. My students play baroque without knowing it! It is nice be able to invite my students to concerts where I play, as I am an important role model for them!’ Salla Ahokanto VIOLIN, FINLAND Mervi Sipola-Maliniemi VOICE, FINLAND Michaela Zirnbauer VIOLIN, GERMANY Dorte Rolff-Petersen VIOLONCELLO, DENMARK