A native of Portland, Maine in 1968 Ben Edgecomb, "Mr Ben", at 3 years of age began learning to play the violin. The method, "The Suzuki Method", was in its infancy after arriving in the United States. A very special woman by the name of Ms. Louise Behrend, Founder of, "The School For Strings", NYC, along with John Kendall had earlier moved to Negoya, Japan to live and study under Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. They would later become instrumental in bringing Dr. Suzuki's Method for violin education, created especially with the youngest of children at heart, to the U.S. Dr. Suzuki often said, "Any Child Can Learn". After their time in Negoya Louise and John returned to the United States where they shown Dr. Suzuki's words to be so. Adoring parents and families came to appreciate the opportunities for music development that had not prior been known in the United States. In the decades to follow children throughout the world and here in the United States would come to be introduced, study, and celebrate their love for the violin and music in general throughout many other areas of the world. This new approach of child learning of the violin and childrens' development that has shown to succeed over and over again was born. Dr. Suzuki Dream is now in more than 130 countries world wide.
Mr. Ben's, professional violinist mother, having studied under Louise Behrend in the late 1960's - 1970's ( www.SchoolForStrings.org ) in NYC later came to establish one of the more influential Suzuki Violin Programs in the Northeast. Later in the 1980's, she too had her opportunity to move to Negoya to study under Dr. Suzuki.
. In 1984 Mr. Ben had his own brief opportunity to spend and observe, although brief, Dr. Suzuki in then West Berlin, Germany. In the 60's and 70's The Suzuki Movement came through the United States like a wave and the result for Mr. Ben was that he happened to be raised in the midst of 1 of the more progressive, larger, more influential Suzuki Violin Programs in New England.
As the gifts of music, beginning at the roots with Dr. Suzuki, in Mr. Ben's case, Louise Behrend of The Juliard Music School, and School for Strings, on to Mr. Ben's mother/ Portland Suzuki Music School, onto to Mr. Ben. Mr. Ben now makes every opportunity for each child he works with to receive some of Dr. Suzuki's, "Touch", and how he came to bring music from being something simply, "nice"..........into the gift it has come to be to many, many of the youngest youth musicians in the world today. Dr. Suzuki passed in 1998 at the age of 99 years of age. His life was that of a century, but his legacy will only be measured in how many Centuries his belief and love of and in children will impact and make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands/ millions.
Music Experience:
- 1970-1979 - Played/ Studied in Summer ASTA programs
- String Quartet and Symphony Violin 1973 - 1987
- 1984 - Participated in seminars/ study with Dr. Suzuki at The World Suzuki Festival in Berlin, Germany
- 1983 – 1987 - Played with the UW Madison String Orchestra
- 1990- 2005 - Teacher of children between ages of 3 – 12 in a variety of capacities from Music, Tennis, Golf, and 1 of his proudest achievements, Coach of an undefeated 1st Place Championship Little League Baseball Team in Madison, Wisconsin.
- 2002 - Pres. - Private Suzuki Violin Inst./ Coach/ Director of ECSVS
- Long Standing Member of ASTA (American String Teachers Assoc..
"Music has been the passion which drives me to share my experience and knowledge with new generations of music lovers."
I Believe: Children are most malleable in the earliest stages of their lives. They have the ability to learn at paces, with detail, expression, and sensitivity to myriads of environmental conditions that can often cause the heads of their parents and even, after the closest observations of hundreds of children, Mr. Ben's head still spins! It is a delight for anyone who cares and loves a child to watch as the child grows and develops in maturity, as a child very proud of his/ her accomplishments, as well as that of a young, more and more accomplished violinist. Brain cells multiply almost exponentially during these formidable years. Complex tasks such as developing ear, tone, violin technique, stance, instrument, bow hold, bow arm, wrist, coordination of all become second nature if introduced at a young age. With repetition, focused interest, and lots of love any child can learn to be adept with the violin. Come watch your child's journey begin today. Mr. Ben 678-232-9250
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