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Haruko Kataoka
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In Memory of Haruko KataokaThere is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because of your experience, knowledge and ability to demonstrate the truth you must tarry and carry it to all corners of the world so the richness and blessings given to you may be passed on to future generations, if not, it will be lost through any other medium. It is with great difficulty that I write a memorial letter in Kataoka Sensei's honor. I will not be able to convey to you, all of the respect, love and admiration I hold for her personally and professionally. To Kataoka Sensei: All of my life I have been in search of a way to make a difference and to have a positive impact on my community. I want to thank you for the path you have shown me. What a wonderful example you were. You continue to teach me even though I can no longer bring you gifts to unwrap. The gifts I unwrap from you each day become easier to see and hear as I follow all that you have left for me. My prayer is that I will be able to keep alive the many lessons of how the body, mind and spirit work together to produce beauty. Your teachings are healing and will always remain an inspiration to me. The light of what I have learned will never dim, and because of you, I often feel the same as Guiseppe Verdi, "I adore art, when I am alone with my notes my heart pounds and the tears stream from my eyes and my emotion and joy are too much to bear." Your influence taught me to truly listen, to become quiet enough inside to hear. I have to tell you that you have changed my life forever in many different ways. I sent a card to a friend after the shocking news that you were gone. It said, "Some lives are like a song--every note rare and precious. We feel lucky to have heard the music." Thank you for your boundless energy to demonstrate the truth of your experience, knowledge and ability, it will have no end. It will pass to future generations. Thank you, Sensei! To My Fellow Teachers: Our world is filled today with a focus on things that we can only see, our car, skateboard, clothing, home, face, hair, body, etc. Our senses and ability to listen, to become quiet inside, to have richness of mind are very often neglected. Music is life without form and could forever be lost unless it is continued through the dedication of many, for the future of our children. In the last few years of my study with Kataoka Sensei, I recall the many times in her lecture that she told us how to keep studying, and that we must learn to go on without her. When teaching parent training in my studio, I always think of Dr. Suzuki as Father of the Suzuki Method and Dr. Kataoka as the Mother. Dr. Suzuki had no children of his own. Dr. Kataoka had children and grandchildren of which she spoke often. She definitely had the heart of a mother, nurturing and soft but also strict, with the best intentions to help her children. The most important role of a mother is to teach her children to live on without her. Kataoka Sensei wrote many books and articles that are very helpful to keep us on track. I have a vast DVD library of Kataoka Sensei teaching at workshops, in the Suzuki Institute, and in her home in Matsumoto, many 10 piano rehearsals and numerous lectures by her and inspired by her throughout the years. In one lecture, she told us that she went to work with Shinichi Suzuki because she was interested in teaching the whole child. I believe that she accomplished her goal and left us with many resources to continue her work without her. We all would remark in amazement how she had boundless energy. It was a surprise for me to realize that she thought she never did enough; that was part of her beautiful spirit! The Suzuki Institute in Matsumoto has many teachers who had been trained from a very early age by Kataoka Sensei. For two months last summer, I was graced with the opportunity to study with all of these teachers at the institute. This was an experience that has changed my life in many ways, professionally, as well as personally. I will be forever indebted to them for their kindness and generosity to me. I was fortunate to tape many hours of lessons and concerts on DVD so that I am able to renew my inspiration easily and study very carefully through use of this media. I began my study of the Suzuki Method in 1977 with Dawn, my oldest daughter. She heard violin music which captured her soul, and so it all began. I was a traditional piano teacher at the time. I wanted to give my children the gift of music since I could hardly wait to begin my own piano lessons as soon as I turned five! My early moments at the piano are still the most vivid and wonderful memories I have as a young child. I was fortunate to begin my study of the Suzuki Method with Dr. Suzuki at the American Suzuki Institute in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Both of my daughters, Dawn and Sarah, began study of the violin at the age of three. What an exciting adventure it has been! After many years of Suzuki piano workshops and lessons throughout America and Japan, and with many hours of practice, I was able to evolve with the piano method. Kataoka Sensei brought to us new ways to produce a better tone and taught us to be more effective teachers. I was so excited to have some of my students benefit from private lessons with her as well! When I studied in Japan last summer, it brought everything together for me. Since I was able to observe many hours each day, I watched as students progressed through their lessons week after week! Several hours each day, I was able to practice in Kataoka Sensei's room and study further through my own lessons! I feel so blessed to have been able to stay for so long! I could write on and on... just one last thing. In a lecture at Concordia University in the summer of 2003, Kataoka Sensei reminded us of the book The Little Prince. The author was writing about how to keep a young mind. Sensei said to us: You must imagine in your head that you are six years old, please remember your childhood. Everyone will die someday, so let's keep youth! You need to beg God to stay relaxed. God might say, 'Oh, she has not changed her way of thinking so I won't do it.' So, we exist to borrow the power from the universe. You must change your way of thinking before anything else can happen! You must teach children about life force! In loving memory, thank you Kataoka Sensei! Karen Nalder |
