12 I was born in the north of Italy, in the city of Turin, and although my ancestors were from the very north of Europe, Eastern philosophy and culture have always played a major role in my life. However, unƟl I came into contact with the figure of Dr Suzuki, I had no idea about how to pracƟcally transfer that philosophy into my acƟvity as a music teacher. When I finally became involved with the Suzuki world, I was struck by the great possibiliƟes that such a system could have on my work. I sƟll remember the first Ɵme I aƩended a Suzuki children’s concert, where I met guitarist Elio Galvagno with whom, years later, I began training to become a Suzuki teacher. In looking back, I have to thank more than one person, first of all my teacher at the Conservatory, the guitarist and music historian Mario Dell’Ara, as well as the fluƟst Marlaena Kessick, and tenor Francesco Sai (known for his collaboraƟon with the renowned “SolisƟ VeneƟ” ensemble). Studying with them and performing with the laƩer two allowed me to acquire a solid musical base. Of course, I soon discovered that the necessity to put into pracƟce daily the philosophy which permeated Dr. Suzuki’s enƟre life, was so simple, yet, at the same Ɵme, so difficult - it was something which went far beyond the teaching of music to children. I gradually began to realise that if I seriously wanted to fulfill Dr Suzuki’s expectaƟons of any teacher who used his name, I needed to do more than just concentrate on the musical side of the method, I needed to improve myself and my everyday behavior and not just when teaching. I feel incredibly lucky to have met some wonderful people over the years who are deeply rooted in Dr. Suzuki’s high ideals and philosophy of life - humble people who have dedicated their lives to puƫng into pracƟce those ideals, regardless of their own interests and from whom I have received great examples, mainly about what a real Suzuki teacher should be. Among them I would like to menƟon Ruth Miura, one of the first two ESA Piano Teacher Trainers, for her fairness and unwavering devoƟon to Dr. Suzuki, and also TERI senior Violin Teacher Shozo Matsumoto, for his wonderful sense of musical interpretaƟon. All these fantasƟc colleagues, together with others like Violinists Koen Rens and Christophe Bossuat, just to menƟon two, as well as the community of Guitar Teachers and Teacher Trainers from Europe and abroad, have all helped me to become a Teacher Trainer myself. I am grateful to all of them. Now for me, it is Ɵme to look ahead and to try and share the modest knowledge I have acquired with any future guitarists for whom I might eventually become Teacher Trainer on their path into the Suzuki world. 2023 Teacher Trainer Appointments Mauro Bianco Levrin GUITAR, ITALY
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