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Journalism of Courage
After putting together the first-of- its kind violin orchestra in India, the Suzuki School of Violin accomplished an enriching music weekend for its students and at Khandala
A child learns music at our school in much the same way the mother tongue is learnt, what we do is develop and enhance this ability of a child through a nurturing environment,8221; said Rama Chobe, who is the first teacher and founder of Suzuki School in India. A gold medalist in Indian classical music, Chobe is also a faculty at Lalit Kala Academy UOP. Leading the school, which is part of Suzuki Association, worldwide, Rama is trained in the Suzuki method of teaching music to small children from academy at Florida and has done a teachers training course at Suzuki Association in Japan.
Dr Shinichi Suzuki, the legendary Japanese teacher, founded the Suzuki method of education. He called the process as the Mother Tongue method and the whole system of teaching as Talent Education. Today, the movement has over four lakh children in 38 countries.
At Pune School, 60 budding violinists between ages two and15 are trained in the Suzuki method. The students have now formed India8217;s first of its kind violin orchestra that regularly performs at concerts in Pune.
8220;In the west we learn only one language and never get perfect in learning any other language. It8217;s amazing in India every Indian knows more than two languages, its this ability that makes Indians master anything very easily,8221; said Helen Brunner, the founder of the London Suzuki group who regularly visits Pune school to take group classes. Western classical exponents and students from France, Germany and UK also come regularly to share their experiences.
Over the weekend on November 8 and 9, a two-day conference was organised by school at Khandala, designed towards inspiring children to develop listening skills and the art of appreciating Indian and western classical music. The music conference aimed towards children and parents who together experienced a weekend of music and melodies. It was attended by luminaries like Suzuki music teacher Helen Brunner from UK. Special invitee sessions conducted by Dr Kedar, professor, FTII, Pune, Arnaud Devic, western classical music patron, France and Ashok Ranade, Hindustani classical vocalist, the students also performed in a concert to end the conference where they rendered the Suzuki repertoire as well as folk songs and classical music from India.
