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Ms. Karen Nalder Kazarick |
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Specialized Training With: Dr. Shinichi Suzuki Haruko Kataoka Karen Hagberg Kathy Hargrave Keiko Ogiwara Keiko Kawamura |
For more information about Ms. Karen’s background and training, click here.
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My musical experience started when I joyfully began playing the piano at the age of five. My siblings were all taking lessons and I was anxious to play just like they did. I admired their ability to produce beautiful, organized sound. I couldn’t wait to be just like them and have my turn at the piano. One of my earliest childhood memories was getting to go to my piano teacher’s house with many of her students there. Each of us had an opportunity to play for the others in attendance. I was awestruck to hear and see the older students play. I enjoyed practicing and thrived on my parent’s approval and fascination of my ability to play the piano. I knew how much they appreciated the performing arts since our home was often filled with the sounds of Opera or a beautiful symphony, in addition to my siblings’ practice of the piano. We did not realize at the time that much of my childhood experiences were in tune with Shinichi Suzuki’s ideas of how parents help a child to learn with love. I have studied the Suzuki Method many years to enable me to teach parents about the life force as Dr. Suzuki instructs us to do. When I look back on my childhood, my own children and my students, they have proven his theory over and over. Throughout my school years, I was involved in many musical activities. During my high school years I was in Chorus and often accompanied the school chorus. I played at Church. Saxophone was my instrument in our high school Marching Band. I participated in the Solo and Ensemble contests each year in all of these areas. Eventually, I went on to college and majored in Music Performance. I studied piano many years with Mrs. Marcus from Germany. I continued to play professionally through college as I began my family. I also continued to teach traditional piano lessons through the years of raising my two girls. Then, one day my oldest daughter, Dawn, heard a beautiful recording of a violinist. We were sitting in an ice cream shop when this violin music captured her soul and she asked me if she could play the violin. She was 2½ years old. To my delight, Dr. Suzuki was coming to Symphony Hall here in Phoenix with his inspiring group of young violinists. Dawn was so excited, and of course, so was I. Little did we know how much this concert opportunity would change our lives! I found a Suzuki Violin Studio in Phoenix and enrolled her at the age of three. We were doing so well and she was learning so fast I was amazed at this new way of making music! I had dreams of my little girl becoming a concert artist since she was playing such advanced pieces at an early age. I was determined to practice with her even more! It was all so exciting for me! Unfortunately, our musical experiences together were becoming strained as time went on and my daughter and I were unable to continue music lessons. Sadly, I realized that while the studio I was attending had many talented musicians and used the Suzuki repertoire and recordings, they did not do Parent Training. Parent Training classes (that I now teach) introduce parents to the history of the Suzuki Method, Dr. Suzuki’s theory, and effective ways to guide your child in daily practice. I believe a parent must have this knowledge and know how to put it to use to nurture their child’s ability in a loving manner. Around this time, her younger sister, Sarah, was striving to be like her big sister and wanted to play the violin also. This time, I researched and read all of Dr. Suzuki’s books on how to make the environment conducive to letting the child learn at his own pace and now to nurture the child’s natural curiosity. Armed with this new knowledge, I was able to nurture Sarah, my younger daughter, with more success. She played throughout high school and majored in music in college. She became an accomplished musician. Sadly, she was forced to change her major because of a car accident and is now and Organic Chemist. Her musical experiences have always stayed with her, and though her career plans changed, she still performs and music brings her happiness in so many ways. In fact, she recently organized and performed in a concert to raise money for HIV/AIDS research. In the end, it doesn’t matter if your child becomes a musician, it is more important that they grow a beautiful, sensitive spirit. My first work with Dr. Suzuki was at the American Suzuki Institute in Stevens Point, WI. What an exciting adventure it has been! After many workshops and lessons throughout America and Japan, and with countless hours of practice, I was able to evolve with the Suzuki Piano Method. One of the people that made this transition possible for me was Haruko Kataoka. Five years after I began my study of the Suzuki Method for violin with my children, I was introduced to Haruko Kataoka, a pianist and master teacher at the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan. That first lesson with Haruko Kataoka was in 1984 at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. Haruko Kataoka brought to me and my colleagues new ways to produce a better tone and taught us to be more effective teachers, after working side by side with Dr. Suzuki since 1957. I was excited to have some of my students benefit from private lessons with her as well. I have been studying the piano technique as taught by Kataoka Sensei since that time by attending the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan and workshops throughout America. I also continue my studies with Karen Hagberg, Ph.D., the President of Suzuki Piano Basics. Suzuki Piano Basics is an organization of teachers from around the world that have studied under Haruko Kataoka and continue to participate in the 10 Piano Concerts in Sacramento, California and Matsumoto, Japan. I also became licensed with Music Together in 2003 and then Kindermusic in 2004 to teach classes at Desert Garden Montessori. I now work in my private studio with my two grand pianos as I was taught to do by Haruko Kataoka. This year I organized a piano research group where teachers from Tuscon, Flagstaff and Phoenix attend once a month. The teachers at the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan have helped our group realize we must continue to study the basics in a group setting so that we can continue to grow as teachers and to keep our technique excellent. I have just been elected President of Suzuki Piano of Arizona. We have many activities planned for 2009-2010. You will be able to see what we have done and can stay informed by visiting the Schedule section of our website. After over 24 years of studying this approach to teaching the Suzuki Method and my continued endeavors in the United States and Japan, I am excited to bring the fullness of the teaching techniques of Dr. Suzuki and Haruko Kataoka to our community. I am currently working on a scholarship program for my students to be able to study in Matsumoto, Japan with me. It is my hope as president of our association that I will be able to inspire other teachers and parents to understand and use the Suzuki Method to make a brighter future for our children. I look forward to working with you and your family to discover the joy of playing the piano and all of the benefits that come with the experience. Click here to learn about the benefits of piano instruction with the Suzuki Method. I am currently enrolling students of all ages as well as parents in Parent Training classes. Please contact me for more information on how to make the piano a part of your life! |