(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students from across Utah and the country spend the week in Salt Lake at the University of Utah's Gardner Hall for the Utah Suzuki Harp Institute camp, likely the largest of its kind in the country. The students will spend the week honing their harp skills and give a free concert on Friday. Harp institute draws students from across county
By Lisa Schencker
The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah is known for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
It’s home to fry sauce and scones.
And it may soon be known for something else: Suzuki method-educated harp players. (If you didn't know, I am a Suzuki harp instructor)
This week, about 80 students from Utah and other states are honing their skills at the 2010 Utah Suzuki Harp Institute on the University of Utah campus. Organizers say the weeklong institute is the largest Suzuki harp-only institute in the country.
Under the Suzuki method, students learn to play musical instruments in a way that’s meant to mimic how children learn their native languages. They learn by listening and repeating before studying how to read music.
“Just like [children] would not read books before they learned to speak, they learn to play first by listening,” said Mary Kay Waddington, who studied the method under creator and Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki and is part of the institute faculty.
A number of musical instruments can be taught using the Suzuki method, but Waddington said she was the first to use it to teach harp, and many say she’s partly responsible for its start in Utah. When one of Waddington’s students in Colorado (Cate Cannon-my first and FAVORITE Suzuki teacher) moved to Utah decades ago, the student’s mother, Connie Cannon, had to find someone else to teach her daughter. So she brought Waddington to Utah to teacher friend ShruDeLi Ownbey (the professor at the U who I took from at age 14 and on) how to teach harp using the Suzuki method, and Ownbey then taught many other Utahns.
Now, the institute is drawing harp students, ages 4 to 18, from as far as Virginia, Minnesota and Spain. Younger players are spending time learning how to move their arms, open and close their hands and hold their thumbs while playing. Older players are learning more complex musical pieces on the gentle, sweet-sounding instruments.
“There’s not another place like it in the country,” said Shari Petersen, who traveled with her daughter from Colorado to attend the institute. Other states also have Suzuki institutes but not dedicated just to the harp, said Maria Phippen, institute director.
Harp students said Wednesday they enjoy the rare opportunity to play with other harpists (this is what I always liked). Many say they were drawn to the harp at a young age.
“It’s unique and beautiful,” said Cannon’s granddaughter, Mary Jane Todd, 12, who traveled from Virginia. “I think it’s fun to be unique and to be able to do something different.”
Petersen’s daughter Aubrey Petersen, 6, said she wanted to learn after watching her cousin play. “It sounded so pretty,” she said.
Perhaps the only thing missing from the institute this week is the opposite sex. This year’s students are all girls. No one is exactly sure why, but student Caroline Richards, 13, of Pleasant Grove has a guess.
“You picture angels playing [the harp],” Richards said, “and boys don’t want to look like angels.”
END OF ARTICLE
I had a very interesting experience this year at harp institute. While most of my students were in classes that consisted of technique, theory, a master class (private lesson with a master teacher), rhythm, group class and even arts and crafts....I was in a teacher training class.
I found myself leaving most nights feeling kinda sad or inadequate. I didn't really figure out why until I thought about it. Being there again made me kind of relive my experiences that I had as a child growing up and going to music camps, music lessons and feeling the immense pressure in the land of music. I'm sure some of you might do this when taking your kids to dance, gymnastics, sporting events etc.
The music world is an interesting place. If you are any good, it is a very intense world. Even though I am a teacher now, there is still that same dynamic. Feelings of ....I should have practiced more, should I have strived harder to go to a big music school like Juliard or Arizona State (excellent harp program). Also, I can see it in my KIDS as well....
Almost all of them had a few moments of wanting to cry or feeling not very good (they are here surrounded by the best of the best). All day they hear "Get your thumb up, elbow up, gesture, correct notes, correct fingering etc etc. If you were in a competition you would loose" This sounds like a fun camp doesn't it? Well, on a positive note, I heard a lot of bonding with other harpists, laughing together and them making plans to play places and play in groups together. Overall, I hope for a positive and motivating experience for them.
What I came away from this year was exactly what I went into camp thinking but now it's even more intensified. I am trying to prepare my kids for LIFE! I want them to learn to think and to learn dedication and self esteem. Yes musicality and wonderful harpists will be a result, HOWEVER My focus as a teacher is to give them praise and positive feedback and THEN make them work hard (while they are feeling great and that they can do it!)
I want to teach them to separate their WORTH from PERFORMANCE. This is a challenge that we all face I think.
We do good, get a promotion, our kids do great, make more money=we feel great!
We loose our job, kids get into trouble, gain weight, etc=we feel like we are worthless
This is such a temporal focus! Speaking spiritually this is exactly where Satan wants us. If we can feel bad about ourselves based on our performance it is easy for him to get us down.
In the music world it can all be about reaching our maximum and beyond and being the best. Well yes, I do want my kids to succeed and excel but what I really want is them to EXCEL in having a balanced and fulfilling life! Ultimately to use their music to BLESS LIVES.
By Lisa Schencker
The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah is known for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
It’s home to fry sauce and scones.
And it may soon be known for something else: Suzuki method-educated harp players. (If you didn't know, I am a Suzuki harp instructor)
This week, about 80 students from Utah and other states are honing their skills at the 2010 Utah Suzuki Harp Institute on the University of Utah campus. Organizers say the weeklong institute is the largest Suzuki harp-only institute in the country.
Under the Suzuki method, students learn to play musical instruments in a way that’s meant to mimic how children learn their native languages. They learn by listening and repeating before studying how to read music.
“Just like [children] would not read books before they learned to speak, they learn to play first by listening,” said Mary Kay Waddington, who studied the method under creator and Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki and is part of the institute faculty.
A number of musical instruments can be taught using the Suzuki method, but Waddington said she was the first to use it to teach harp, and many say she’s partly responsible for its start in Utah. When one of Waddington’s students in Colorado (Cate Cannon-my first and FAVORITE Suzuki teacher) moved to Utah decades ago, the student’s mother, Connie Cannon, had to find someone else to teach her daughter. So she brought Waddington to Utah to teacher friend ShruDeLi Ownbey (the professor at the U who I took from at age 14 and on) how to teach harp using the Suzuki method, and Ownbey then taught many other Utahns.
Now, the institute is drawing harp students, ages 4 to 18, from as far as Virginia, Minnesota and Spain. Younger players are spending time learning how to move their arms, open and close their hands and hold their thumbs while playing. Older players are learning more complex musical pieces on the gentle, sweet-sounding instruments.
“There’s not another place like it in the country,” said Shari Petersen, who traveled with her daughter from Colorado to attend the institute. Other states also have Suzuki institutes but not dedicated just to the harp, said Maria Phippen, institute director.
Harp students said Wednesday they enjoy the rare opportunity to play with other harpists (this is what I always liked). Many say they were drawn to the harp at a young age.
“It’s unique and beautiful,” said Cannon’s granddaughter, Mary Jane Todd, 12, who traveled from Virginia. “I think it’s fun to be unique and to be able to do something different.”
Petersen’s daughter Aubrey Petersen, 6, said she wanted to learn after watching her cousin play. “It sounded so pretty,” she said.
Perhaps the only thing missing from the institute this week is the opposite sex. This year’s students are all girls. No one is exactly sure why, but student Caroline Richards, 13, of Pleasant Grove has a guess.
“You picture angels playing [the harp],” Richards said, “and boys don’t want to look like angels.”
END OF ARTICLE
I had a very interesting experience this year at harp institute. While most of my students were in classes that consisted of technique, theory, a master class (private lesson with a master teacher), rhythm, group class and even arts and crafts....I was in a teacher training class.
I found myself leaving most nights feeling kinda sad or inadequate. I didn't really figure out why until I thought about it. Being there again made me kind of relive my experiences that I had as a child growing up and going to music camps, music lessons and feeling the immense pressure in the land of music. I'm sure some of you might do this when taking your kids to dance, gymnastics, sporting events etc.
The music world is an interesting place. If you are any good, it is a very intense world. Even though I am a teacher now, there is still that same dynamic. Feelings of ....I should have practiced more, should I have strived harder to go to a big music school like Juliard or Arizona State (excellent harp program). Also, I can see it in my KIDS as well....
Almost all of them had a few moments of wanting to cry or feeling not very good (they are here surrounded by the best of the best). All day they hear "Get your thumb up, elbow up, gesture, correct notes, correct fingering etc etc. If you were in a competition you would loose" This sounds like a fun camp doesn't it? Well, on a positive note, I heard a lot of bonding with other harpists, laughing together and them making plans to play places and play in groups together. Overall, I hope for a positive and motivating experience for them.
What I came away from this year was exactly what I went into camp thinking but now it's even more intensified. I am trying to prepare my kids for LIFE! I want them to learn to think and to learn dedication and self esteem. Yes musicality and wonderful harpists will be a result, HOWEVER My focus as a teacher is to give them praise and positive feedback and THEN make them work hard (while they are feeling great and that they can do it!)
I want to teach them to separate their WORTH from PERFORMANCE. This is a challenge that we all face I think.
We do good, get a promotion, our kids do great, make more money=we feel great!
We loose our job, kids get into trouble, gain weight, etc=we feel like we are worthless
This is such a temporal focus! Speaking spiritually this is exactly where Satan wants us. If we can feel bad about ourselves based on our performance it is easy for him to get us down.
In the music world it can all be about reaching our maximum and beyond and being the best. Well yes, I do want my kids to succeed and excel but what I really want is them to EXCEL in having a balanced and fulfilling life! Ultimately to use their music to BLESS LIVES.
3 comments:
you are the cutest and the best teacher ever :)
So you mean to tell me that Satan is to blame for Wonka syndrome?! Well he can go to hell....he he
Satan LOVES Hell! It's a party there and we're ALL invited!
Hey Heidi. I found your blog again (on purpose this time) because I wanted to know what happened to you the last night of teacher training!? Hannah and I were like, "Where's Heidi?!" I saw you during the day. Were you just done?! Ha, because I was. It was hard to do teacher training after such a long day of observing classes. It was a great learning experience, but I'm SO glad it's over. :) Long week.
Email me and I can invite you to my blog so you can blog stalk me. :)
wearethebriggs@gmail.com
PS...unless you record songs for the Bk 3 and 4 Suzuki CD's and have the name of Angela...I think the rest of us harpists feel inadequate at many times! You're awesome. No worries, I definitely felt the same feelings you did.
Love ya
Maryann
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