11 - 14 January 2008 - 1st Suzuki Days in Tychy

click to see the pictures...

We were very cheerful that the Silesia Suzuki Days gathered so many Suzuki violinists and their parents. As we mentioned before, this winter event was different than others organized in the past. Participation in former international workshops helped us to organize the event in the proper way. Long discussion carried on workshops'matters between great teacher trainers and organizers abroad brought new good ideas which forced us to work on a characterize of the event. we heared charming children's ensemble concerts. Because of them we invited young pianists who aslo learn through mother tongue method.

We were very surprised that the children liked spending lots of time on nonstop activities throughout a whole day. We spotted also that the children liked having lessons with new teachers even though it was their seventh hour of learning.

We are very positive that we will not just stop on this event! We are very happy of any participants, those who take part in the event activly and guests who are a perfect audience. We believe that children's brain development is not a guestion of intelect and knowledge, but positive emotions which are brought threw painting activities, fun music games, orchestra classes and ensemble concerts.

Below, you can see recording made during final concert of the workshop. There is large group of advanced students in Suzuki School in Tychy, so we could create the very first Suzuki Orchestra with Polish only pupils :)

11 January 2008 Individual lessons with Martin Rutiman

click to see the pictures...

Martin Rüttiman came to Poland for three days in 2008. We were very happy that we could invite him to our Suzuki School in Tychy. He is an experienced Suzuki child. As he is one of few Suzuki teachers who learned to play the violin through Suzuki Method. His broad Suzuki education makes his advice very invaluable not only for teachers but also for Suzuki children: )

6 January 2008 Caroling-Concert in Olkusz

click to see...

The concert took place on 6 January 2008. Childrens from Suzuki Violin School in Tychy were invited by Mrs Elizabeth Pałka (Suzuki teacher) and young violinists from Olkusz to perform a short concert after mass at 11.30 in St Adrew's basilica in Olkusz. Children from our home town (Tychy) together with the children from Olkusz not only gave the concert after the mass but also played some carols during it. Main idea of the concert was to show the efects of our long term work and to encourage Olkusz residents to join together with their children by playing the violin as parents from Tychy did.

It was not a first time we gave such kind of concert to promote Suzuki Method especially in places where the method has not been known yet.Few years ago we went to Tarnowskie Góry and Częstochowa to gave a support to newly begun Suzuki teachers in their teaching. We are always very happy when we hear parents saying: 'We went to your concert with our child and liked the the performance so much that we decided to enroll our child in school with Suzuki Violin Method'.

5th January 2008 - CHRISTMAS CAROLING PARTY

click to see...

Well, during the Christmas season teachers of Suzuki school in Tychy decided to arrange a Christmas caroling party for all Suzuki students and their parents. All teachers, students, as well as their parents were delighted to sing carols and play the violin. The party was organized very well. There were a variety of finger foods, cold and warm, and a variety of drinks, including tea to warm up the carolers : ). Everybody gathered around Christmas tree to sing the most popular Christmas carols.

12th December 2007 - GRADUATION CONCERT AT SUZUKI SCHOOL

click to see...

On Wednesday, after the Orchestra some students performed in front of their parents and younger students. Parents and younger students had chance to listen to nice music and happen to know how younger students will play in the future.

24&25th November 2007 - TEACHERS' TRAINING SESSION

Well, during those two days teachers' training session was held at our school in Tychy. The first training session took place 13&14th October 2007 under Mrs Anna Podhalanska's tutelage. We were very pleased that our students were able to contribute towards improving the value of our training session.

1st - 4th November 2007 Workshop in Hof (Germany)

(see the pictures)

This time, 28 our students took part in workshop abroad. Younger pupils take part in typically group sessions and painting lessons. The older ones were classified to individual master classes which were led by Anke Schittenhelm - concertmaster of symphony orchestra in Hof. Moreover, advanced students were playing in workshop orchestra. So, there was no time, except music and eating, for anything. Especially Friday (2nd Nov.) was the most intensive day of workshop. Despite of it, students make their own rehearsal in hotel at 10 o'clock p.m. They wanted to be well prepared for the next day. Where do their powers come from?

Anyway, the workshop time has its own secret, which adults would never understand. They only could accompany their children and happy with music together.

ESA Leadership Conference

On 14th- 16th September 2007 I took part in ESA Leadership Conference. I met there lots of teachers from all over the world. I also got to know the new ones. I'm writing about it, because during Conference, I met three Ladies (teachers and parents) from Scotland. I met them in taxi, when we were going to airport. One of ladies was looking at me carefully, then she said: "I know you! I know where from! We met at the Suzuki Method World Convent in Turin. Moreover, we were living at the same floor in Hotel Crimea! Your students were living next to us. For all week it was sounding very nice music from their rooms" After my come back to Poland, I got an e-mail from one of Ladies. Mrs. Linda Bruce (whose child is taught by Mrs. Mysie Ferguson) invites our Parents, who speak English, to make contact with Suzuki Parents from Scotland. She invites to International Suzuki Chat on Yahoo. It's a great way for changing the ideas between Suzuki Parents and Teachers in whole world. The chat address is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/suzukichat/ Linda invites also to The Annual Workshop in Edinburgh for viola, violin and cello players. This year is full but what about next year? There are good budget flights direct from Poland to Edinburgh, and a range of accommodation. Scottish parents sometimes can offer accommodation in their homes. The leader next year will be Sven Sjogren from Sweden ( some violinists from Tychy could meet him soon; he will be on workshop in Hof).

Elżbieta Węgrzyn

July 2007- Summer Workshop in "Szarlota" (Poland)

The 5th International Violin Workshop for Suzuki Children in hotel "Szarlota" in Kaszuby has finished. The Final Concert took place in Saint John Church in Gdańsk. Young violinists got standing ovations for their performance. Year after year children present higher and higher level of play.

july 2007- Family Days in "Fiat Auto Poland"

8th July took place a concert of Suzuki Children at Family Days of Fiat Auto Poland in Tychy. The concert was excellent- all weather and audience didn't let down. Congratulations for young violinists.
We played:

• A.Vivaldi - Concerto a-minore mov. I
• A.Dvorak - Humoresque

• J.Brahms - Waltz
• R.Schumann - Happy Farmer
• S.Suzuki - Andantino
• S.Suzuki - Allegro
• Song of the Wind
• Twinkle Variation
• Greek song

June 2007- Academy of Music in Katowice (poland)

Programme:

• G.F. Haendel- Sonata I F-majore mov. II

• A. Vivaldi- Concerto a-minore mov. I
• A. Dvorak- Humoresque
• J. Brahms- Waltz
• J.S. Bach- I Menuet
• Song of the Wind
• Twinkle Variation

April 2007- 24th Stage International in Chaillol (france)

9th to 14th April we took part in Stage International in Chailol (Haut-Alpes)with some our students. The small Polish group counted nine people.

April 2007- workshop for teachers in retie (belgium)

We were also present at Suzuki workshop for violin and viola teachers organized by Vlamsee Suzuki Vereniging in Retie from 3rd to 7th April 2007.

April 2006 Suzuki World Convention in Turin (Italy)

It was our first "Suzuki trip". Children look tired in photos, but they still have on minds happy time they have spent in Turin. Experience they could share with children from all over the world.