17 A s far as I can remember, I wanted to become a musician and a teacher. I was almost 12 years old when I started flute lessons. When I studied at the Brussels Conservatory almost 40 years ago, by chance I shared the same student house as Wilfried Van Gorp. During the short breaks in our kitchen, he enthusiastically told me about the Suzuki method. He was the first child trained according to this method to continue his studies at a Conservatoire Royal. His enthusiasm stimulated me and by chance I found the book “Nurtured by Love” in a Brussels music store. I read the book, put it aside and continued my studies. Almost 10 years later I had become the mother of a daughter, Lieselotte. I wanted her to be able to start playing a musical instrument at a young age. By chance again, I found a flyer in a music store for Violin School Kortjakje, led by Veerle Van Gorp and Wim Meuris. They were also old acquaintances of mine from my student days in Brussels. When Lieselotte was 9 months old, her father and I took her to a Christmas concert by Kortjakje. I quickly made up my mind: this was what I wanted for our child. When Lieselotte was nearly 4 years old in 1997, the Suzuki Viola adventure started with much love, patience and perseverance. At that time, I had already been a traditional flute teacher at the Music Academy of Herentals for 10 years, but the Suzuki stimuli became too intense. In 1999 I went “on expedition” in Seaford (near Brighton) to a Suzuki Flute workshop, led by Sarah Hanley. Here I also met the other pioneers of the Suzuki Flute method in Europe: besides Sarah also Marja-Leena Mäkilä and Anke van der Bijl. I immediately started Teacher Training and had the luxury of being able to follow it with 3 Teacher Trainers. This whole adventure has given my view on children, parents, education, more loving insights. In 2008 I achieved level 5 and founded Suzuki Fluit Vlaanderen to be able to organize workshops. My Suzuki Flute studio Flautino also saw the light of day: our official music education system in Flanders does not allow children under 8. I welcome them together with their parents at Flautino from the age of 4. After a few years they can take the step to the music academy. After reaching level 5, my interest in sharing my expertise with other Flute teachers grew. Anke van der Bijl became my mentor and guided my path from Teacher Instructor to Teacher Trainer, for which I am very grateful. My Suzuki Violin colleagues (Koen, Wim, Veerle & Wilfried) in Belgium are still a great source of inspiration. For many years I have been a member of the TESIB Board. We have a close-knit team, and the Suzuki community is in full expansion. We are preparing the first national workshop in March 2025 for all the instruments trained according to the Suzuki method in Belgium: violin, Viola, violoncello, flute, piano and guitar. It is a great honour to be able to contribute to this. Anke and I have currently begun the set-up of a hybrid Suzuki Flute Teacher Training program as a tandem. My daughter Lieselotte and her partner Mattijs are also Suzuki Teachers (Viola & Violoncello) and in the meantime, my grandson Florian is also taking his first steps into the wonderful world of music via the Suzuki method… “Where Love is deep, much can be accomplished” S. Suzuki 2024 Teacher Trainer Appointments Machteld Van Geenhoven FLUTE, BELGIUM Photo Geert Peelaerts
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