For more information about the Suzuki Organ Method, please go to www.organsuzuki.com
 

For permission to reproduce this article please contact the editor

FOR THE FIRST TIME:
SUZUKI ORGAN TEACHERS
Organ becomes a Suzuki instrument
by Haukur F. Hannesson

The first ESA Level 1 examination ever for organ teachers took place in Örebro in Sweden on the 9th of September 2002. This pioneering effort was lead by ESA Organ Teacher Trainer Gunilla Rönnberg who has been giving a teacher training course for Suzuki organ teachers in co-operation with the Music College in Piteå during the past few years.

Six organ teachers passed their Level 1 on this occasion. Most of them live in the north of Sweden, where interest for the Suzuki Organ Method has been big, particularly from the Swedish national church and church musicians employed within it.

The Suzuki Organ method has been developed by Gunilla Rönnberg in co-operation with organist Lars Hagström. They have developed all aspects of the method, including specific home practice organs at affordable price, as well as raised pedal keyboard for church organs and literature similar to other instruments.

Gunilla (who is also a Suzuki piano teacher) has continued with a new organ teacher training course in co-operation with the Music College in Stockholm, aiming for examinations in September 2003. She has also presented the Suzuki Organ Method at the annual conference of the Suzuki Association of Americas attracting much attention and positive response. This work has also attracted attention in other European countries and South Africa.

It has been very interesting for me to follow the development of this project and to observe the professionalism and dedication of Gunilla and Lars in their work. The Suzuki Organ method is a very welcome new member of the Suzuki family and will have the first books published by Warner Bros. in the summer of 2003. Congratulations!