McCarthy in Edinburgh. I then became a Piano Instructor, with Mary as my mentor. It has been a privilege to receive training from two people who knew Dr. Suzuki personally and studied with him in Matsumoto, Japan. Through the gentle guidance of Anne and Mary, I have absorbed much about Suzuki’s philosophy and character. Caroline Fraser has also been a huge inspiration and has provided invaluable guidance on my Suzuki journey. It is wonderful to see how the SUZUKI METHOD™ teaches families to develop a love and respect for both music and each other, while also achieving very high standards of performance. I now know that it takes years to fully appreciate the benefits and workings of this amazing Method, and how it can truly transform lives. It is exciting to be doing what I love. I will continue to share the core messages of the SUZUKI METHOD™ with those whom I teach: the young people, their families, and future Suzuki teachers. 11 2025 Teacher Trainer Appointments Nancy Birse PIANO, SCOTLAND I am so thankful for the friendship and support of everyone in our extended global Suzuki community. Observing other teachers and musicians has really influenced how I teach music to others. I have experienced the joy of sharing music and, like Suzuki, believe that ALL children can learn to play. “Musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed. Any child who is properly trained can develop musical ability just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential of every child is unlimited.” Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. piano. I believe the SUZUKI METHOD™ would have been my ideal way of learning. I was born in South Africa to Scottish and American parents, and my first musical experiences were hearing the Zulu community sitting on our porch, singing Zulu songs every evening. I still love all kinds of African rhythms and songs. My mother also taught me and my three sisters many American Girl Scout songs and Folk songs. Although we were back in Scotland by the time I was three, we sang these songs for years, on every car journey and simply for fun. At the age of five, I began piano lessons. Although they were shortlived, I loved performing concerts for my Scottish grandmother. I played the piano while my little sister sang. My grandmother adored these concerts and always encouraged us. I resumed piano lessons at the age of eleven with an amazing teacher. I also played the flute and pipe organ at school. My introduction to the SUZUKI METHOD™ came as a teenager when I read about Dr. Suzuki’s visit to Britain in a magazine. Although still at school, I was fascinated by a photo of three and four-year-olds in Japan learning how to hold their violins, take a bow, and perform, even before playing a single note. The article also emphasised the enjoyment of lessons and learning. About fifteen years later, once I had children of my own, this article came back into my mind. I began researching whether there were any Suzuki teachers in Scotland. Amazingly, Anne Turner was now living in St Andrews and had started a Piano Teacher Training course. I auditioned in April 1998 and began Anne Turner’s training course in St Andrews. After Anne stopped teacher training, I continued with Mary For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to play the
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