European Suzuki Association - Teachers Newsletter Vol 38 2018

5 see how inspired, creative and supportive the growing communi- ty is. Since her training, Patricia has continuously taught SECE in Swit- zerland, while also helping to build up the SECE community in the ESA. In April 2018 Patricia was appoint- ed ESA Teacher Trainer for SECE fulfilling a long term objective of the ESA’s to have their own trainer based in the region to ensure the further growth and development of SECE in Europe . swers to the challenges of today’s society. Amongst many aspects, it is an invaluable way to guide parents in creating a calm, beauti- ful and stimulating environment where every child truly can ex- plore their full potential at their own speed and in their own way. In the last couple of years, there have been notable accomplish- ments made by the ESA to contin- ue the establishment and growth of SECE within the multinational/ multilingual European Suzuki community. The numbers of SECE teachers and SECE classes is steadily growing. It is fantastic to 2018 Teacher Trainer Appointments P atricia Rüttimann was born and raised in Switzerland, a country that has it all - education, wealth, healthcare, beautiful countryside …. though surprisingly (or perhaps not) this seems to limit the creativity, the curiosity and courage for new, inno- vative and extraordinary things. Thus, not an unchallenging place to introduce the Suzuki Method™. Nevertheless, in the late 1970s, Pa- tricia’s parents, Peter and Marianne, took a bold step and did just that. Patricia and her brothers, Martin and Cyrill, have always felt very strongly connected to their parents’ Suzuki school and the Suzuki com- munity. From a very early age they watched and learnt all the different aspects of running a Suzuki school; the many highs as well as the hur- dles. Looking back, it seems it was always clear to them that they must continue and further grow and share what their parents had established. One aspect which has always in- trigued the three – aside from the obvious love for music and passion for teaching – is how to connect and work on little pieces in order to fos- ter and improve ‘the big picture’. In 2009, Patricia learnt about anoth- er piece of the puzzle - she went to the USA where she met Dorothy Jones, SAA & ESA SECE Teacher Trainer and learnt about the Suzuki Early Childhood program (SECE). Later, she met Dorothy’s daughter, Sharon, and then under their tute- lage and through the SAA, Patricia completed all five levels of SECE Teacher Training. SECE is a beautiful opportunity to introduce the child and the whole family to the Suzuki Method™ and make the transition (the start) to a Suzuki instrument very smooth. SECE could also provide some an- Patricia Rüttimann Suzuki Early Childhood Educa- tion, SWITZERLAND