Alabama State University News August 13, 2018 ASU Professor Only American Certified to Teach Suzuki Horn An Alabama State University music professor is the only American certified to teach the Suzuki Method. ***** Dr. Brenda Luchsinger, assistant professor of music (horn) at Alabama State University, is the first American in the world to be certified to teach the Suzuki French horn. Luchsinger completed the Suzuki Brass Level 1 course this summer at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, along with French hornist Laurie Matiation (Calgary, Alberta), who became Canada's first certified teacher. Since completing the Unit 1 certification, four other hornists from South America (Brazil) and Europe (Denmark and Iceland) have also become certified. "There are currently a total of six Suzuki French horn teachers in the entire world certified to teach this specialized method," Luchsinger said. The Suzuki Brass Method was developed by Swedish trumpet player Ann-Marie Sundberg, who is the chair of the International Suzuki Association's Brass Committee. She taught the teacher-training course in Calgary, which was the first Suzuki Brass training course offered in North America to all brass instruments. "Six musicians representing Canada, the United States and Mexico took the course, which consisted of the study of Suzuki pedagogy, the origins and history of Suzuki brass, an in-depth study of the developed Suzuki brass repertoire, in-depth study of teaching techniques and tools used for Suzuki brass, classroom observations and teaching a class of Suzuki brass children (ages 5-8), as well as creating a portfolio of written assignments, and teaching and performance examinations," Luchsinger said. The Suzuki Method is a worldwide music education method and philosophy, founded by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki of Japan in the mid-1900s, beginning with string instruments. An important part of the Suzuki philosophy is the concept of nurturing the development of students, through a positive learning environment at lessons, group classes and at home. A core belief is the idea that "every child can," meaning any child is capable of learning a difficult skill very well at a very young age, as long as this growth is nurtured by both the teacher and parent. "The Suzuki Method is a specialized method of music education with the belief that children as young as age three have the ability to learn a musical instrument, the same way a child learns to speak their first language," Luchsinger said. "One of the focal points of the Suzuki philosophy is developing character as well as ability. Students learn through a nurturing environment in individual lessons, group lessons and in the home," Luchsinger said. "Parents play an important role, attending lessons with their child, learning along with the student, and becoming 'practice parents' or 'home teachers.'" For more information on enrolling your child in Alabama's first and only Suzuki Brass program at Alabama State University, please contact Dr. Brenda Luchsinger at bluchsinger@alasu.edu. "Children can begin a Suzuki Brass program as young as age four," Luchsinger said. SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org/ sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org%3cmailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. The 8th HBCU Library Alliance Membership Meeting is scheduled at the Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library (GA) on Sunday through Tuesday, October 7-9. Click here<http://www.hbculibraries.org/meeting-2018-info.html> for registration and session details. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/