Suzuki Flute Teaching

Anne-Elise Keefer has been the Head of the Suzuki Flute Department at the Vancouver Academy of Music since 2001, and has taught for the programme since 1995. She received her training at Eastern Tennessee State University with Rebecca Paluzzi and privately with Kenichi Ueda. Her initial teacher training was sponsored by the Suzuki Institute in London, Ontario, for whom she taught in 1985-86.

The Suzuki Flute Method is an offshoot of the Suzuki Violin Method that was pioneered by Shinichi Suzuki after the Second World War, as a new way to instruct very young children in music. Based on the observation that all children learn their mother tongue with ease, Suzuki believed that they could assimilate music in the same way, through constant exposure by ear to the songs they were to learn. Reading of the music was gradually introduced after the student had learned some repertoire by ear and had started to master the complexities of the instrument.

The Suzuki Method has been adapted to several other instruments including viola, cello, piano, harp and flute. It has been very successful both as a means of teaching music to children as young as three years old, and as a proven method of encouraging a wealth of neurological development in these students. An added bonus is the close bond that is forged between parents and their children as they attend lessons and classes together and practise the music at home, under the parent's guidance.

The distinguished Japanese flutist, Takahashi developed the Suzuki Flute Method, employing much of the Violin Method's approach, as well as incorporating playing techniques, repertoire and interpretations from the French School of Flute, as embodied by the great performer and pedagogue, Marcel Moyse.

An enthusiastic and dedicated teacher, she has approximately 30 students and three repertoire classes at the Vancouver Academy. Students participate in two solo recitals a year: Winter Festive Concert and Spring Recital, in which they can highlight their skills playing repertoire by memory, accompanied by Anne-Elise at the piano. Each spring Anne-Elise's Suzuki flute students participate in a gala concert at Vancouver's Orpheum Theatre, featuring all the Suzuki programs taught at the Vancouver Academy. The flutists present an impressive 20-minute programme consisting of solo repertoire and ensembles, accompanied on flute and piano by Anne-Elise.The children are thrilled to play on the same stage on which the Vancouver Symphony performs, and are overawed by the theatre's ornate gold and red-plush interior!

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." - Thomas Jefferson

Anne-Elise's students perform in other events as well. They charmed audiences at the Vancouver Opera's performance of Tosca in 1998, when they entertained patrons in the lobby before the show, In 2004, they delighted flute students and professional musicians alike when they gave a flute choir concert honouring William Bennett at the first annual FluteFest at the University of British Columbia.

In keeping with Dr. Suzuki's humanitarian ideals, Anne-Elise's students have performed for children with life-threatening diseases at the Vancouver Children's Hospital. They have also played at a fund-raising silent auction for Canuck Place, a hospice for children which provides palliative care.

The Suzuki Flute Programme also enjoys at least two delightful parties each year.They attend a "Welcome Back" party each September at Anne-Elise's home, where they play an impromptu ensemble concert, make crafts, play with pets and enjoy a delicious potluck dinner. They also have a wonderful time at the annual Watermania Pool Party, held either at Halloween or Christmas. The students perform a half hour ensemble concert, eat a tasty potluck lunch, create fun seasonal crafts and then have hours of fun playing at the waterslides and wavepool.

Anne-Elise has provided opportunities for her students to enjoy learning in the summer by organizing flute camps both in town and in idyllic natural settings out of town. The Bowen Island Suzuki Flute Camp (1999-2001), offered a beautiful ocean-side location where students could stay for four days either in the cosy main house, rustic cabin or in tents in the woods. After dining on fabulous home cooked cuisine, they had the option of swimming, kayaking, hiking and making crafts when they weren't busy playing their flutes. Anne-Elise Keefer and Kenichi Ueda taught as a team, giving warm-up classes, playing repertoire, giving private lessons and rehearsing a final gala concert for the parents.

The two teachers also taught at the Richmond Suzuki Flute Camp in 2000, held at the Richmond Music School, where Anne-Elise teaches Suzuki Flute. Here students could learn new skills in a scenic pastoral setting south of the city, enjoying lunches by the Fraser River and having art classes, crafts, skating, swimming, bowling and movies in addition to flute tuition.

Anne-Elise's Suzuki Flute Programme continues to flourish and grow and the waiting list expands accordingly. Her students have received top marks in Royal Conservatory Exams, been awarded silver medals for the top marks in British Columbia and have won Provincial and National Competitions.

For further information on enrollment in the Vancouver Academy Suzuki Flute Programme please telephone the office at: 604-734-2301.