13 I n 2003, five years aŌer obtaining my Master's degree in Violin at the conservatoire in Antwerp, I came into contact with the Suzuki method for the first Ɵme at the naƟonal Workshop in ReƟe (Belgium). At that Ɵme, I was mostly acƟve in orchestras, but also started teaching in several music academies and gave private lessons to 4-year-old children whilst seeking out which methods I could use - and I kept on looking for the 'right' method. The interest in teaching young children has always been there, partly thanks to my mother who was a kindergarten teacher. As a teenager, I was someƟmes allowed to help in her class and once I told her that, later on, I would like to work with small children in combinaƟon with the violin… One day, a friend took me to the naƟonal Suzuki workshop in ReƟe. What I saw there was a completely new world for me - I was totally unaware that this Suzuki method existed in Belgium. And so, in 2003 (as a mother of two liƩle daughters), I started Suzuki training with Peter Nys under the direcƟon of Mrs. Jeanne Janssens. She taught us the philosophy, the technique, the teaching points, the repertoire and encouraged us to observe as many lessons from colleagues as possible. I felt that this was what I had been unconsciously looking for for years. In 2008, Peter and I reached Level 5 and, thanks to our Belgian colleagues, we had already had a lot of beauƟful opportuniƟes. The Suzuki method and the philosophy really changed my life. In 2006, as a Suzuki mother of my youngest child, An-Sofie, I joined the Violin classes in the studio of Koen Rens in Turnhout. For 14 years in his class, I was able to learn from his experƟse and experience, his enthusiasm, his philosophy, his way of trying to let the child's soul speak. Also, the group lessons led by Wilfried Van Gorp were a source of inspiraƟon. A few years ago, Peter and I were asked if we were interested in becoming an Instructor. At first, we both thought that this step was too early for us because training teachers requires another level of responsibility to being a Suzuki teacher. However, this certainly appealed to me because, with the opportuniƟes and experience I have gained myself; I thought it must be a privilege to be able to transfer this to (younger) colleagues. Colleagues who, just like myself in 2003, also want to be open to discovering this method with its philosophy and to offer this to as many families as possible. And now, aŌer a wonderful period of being an Instructor I am very grateful to be a Suzuki Teacher Trainer. During my Instructorship, I observed exams and learnt through listening to teacher trainees and watching their learning process. I also saw how excellent Examiners/Teacher Trainers help trainees to progress with posiƟve advice, respect for the human being, and philosophical and technical support. I realise this learning progress is not yet complete, but I believe I am ready to share my 20 years of experience as a Suzuki Teacher and 14 years of experience as a Suzuki mother with the next generaƟon of teachers. I would like to build on what Dr Suzuki said, ‘It is in our power to raise all the children of the world to become a liƩle beƩer as human beings, a liƩle happier’. 2023 Teacher Trainer Appointments Griet Wytynck VIOLIN, BELGIUM
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4MzY=