Margery Aber
Leaving a Legacy of Joy in Life

Training for the Future       A New Beginning       Continuing the Story       A Spirit that Lives On

An enthusiasm and zest for life coupled with a love and respect for others, especially children, is a legacy left by Margery Aber, an accomplished violinist and skilled teacher. She is credited with making the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point one of the foremost centers for the advancement of Suzuki Talent Education in the United States. This contribution alone has left an impact that continues to influence children and parents alike and will continue to contribute to a way of life that brings love and peace into our struggling and oftentimes destructive culture. Marge had a bright, welcoming smile that drew people to her. This smile came from a deep appreciation for beauty, a sense of humor, and a knack for having fun that kept her active midst the trials and struggles of a long life.

Training for the Future

Margery Aber was born February 15, 1914, in Racine, Wisconsin. She graduated from Oberlin College in 1937. Her first job was teaching violin in public schools in Detroit, Michigan. She continued teaching in Detroit for thirty years. During these years, she attended after-school classes at Wayne State University to fulfill Michigan’s requirements for educators. She then earned master’s degrees in music and music education from Columbia University by attending summer sessions. She also had a part-time after-school position at Wayne State University in Detroit, teaching string pedagogy.

While teaching and working on yearly solo recitals for her students, Marge performed as concert mistress of the Faculty Symphony Orchestra and played in the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra and in various chamber music organizations.

This sounds like enough for a life time, yet after thirty years of violin teaching, education, and music performance in Michigan, Marge had no thoughts of retiring with satisfaction in her accomplishments. She decided it was time to move back to her home state of Wisconsin, and she applied for a position as violin professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

A New Beginning

Ever eager for more learning, in 1967, Marge signed up for a tour to Matsumoto, Japan to learn from Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, an innovator of talent education. Little did she know that this would be an experience that would influence her work for the next thirty-three years of her teaching career. Dr. Suzuki was an educator who believed the first purpose in education is to nurture love and peace among people as they develop. With this philosophy, Suzuki had developed a method for instruction in string instruments. Marge was impressed with what she experienced, and she saw the development of childen involved with the Suzuki method.

Marge later wrote in her book, Hip! Hip! Hooray!, “A group of twenty string teachers and their families, including myself, traveled to Japan to observe and learn from Dr. Suzuki. The tour began with a concert. From the moment we heard 200 children playing the Bach Double, and the more than 400 performing much of the Suzuki repertoire in the same concert, a humbling action began to shake the depths of our determination.... As the days went by, the seeds of desire to train beautiful children to make beautiful music and enjoy doing it at the moment became stronger and stronger in all of us.”

While in Matsumoto, Marge accepted her new position at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. When she began the school year in 1967, she was eager to try out the Suzuki method. The music department chair assigned her to start a Suzuki program in the university lab school in addition to teaching college, violin lessons and conducting. When the lab school closed in 1973, the parents petitioned that the Suzuki program be kept. Eventually, the American Suzuki Talent Education Center and the American Suzuki Foundation were born.

Through creative thinking and unending energy, Marge worked hard to bring to reality the dream of having a summer institute in America patterned after the Matsumoto school in Japan. In dreaming about such an American Suzuki Institute, Marge wrote, “Playing together would be a primary goal at the American Suzuki Institute. Offering small groups and larger groups would provide every child with various learning experiences and inspiration.” Another goal was the training of teachers in the Suzuki method.

In 1971, this dream became a reality with the first summer institute held in Stevens Point with about 350 participants. The institute continued to grow and became an important annual event. When Marge retired from the university in 1984 at the age of 70, close to 3,000 were attending. There were many highlights during the years of the American Suzuki Institute and two of these were the times that Dr. Suzuki himself came to Stevens Point in 1976 and 1984. Marge’s joy in the fun side of life became part of the Institute through the Talent Shows which developed as a part of this summer experience. She says in her book,” I was the one who received whipped cream or shaving cream in the face and was the butt of many jokes. The top person had to be ready to take it with a big smile. Actually, I loved all of the attention.”

Continuing the Story

Reaching retirement age did not diminish or change the enthusiasm of this dynamic woman. She never stopped living and communicating the Suzuki philosophy. She continued to teach violin with private lessons in her home, and she continued her world-wide travels. She introduced the Suzuki method to Germany and Estonia. She taught both children and teacher trainees in the U.S., Canada, Japan, China, Belgium, Finland, Australia, and New Zealand.

Marge continued to keep herself physically fit and was known for her trademark canoe perched on top of her car. She frequently welcomed friends to join her in her favorite relaxation of canoeing.

Perhaps Marge’s zest for life had its greatest test in 1988 when she became ill, was hospitalized and had a non-malignant brain tumor removed. Months of intensive therapy followed until Marge once again was able to play her violin with all of the former skill and beauty. She attributed much of her healing to the hundreds of wishes and prayers she received from friends, students, and parents which helped her to regain her energy, spirit, and humor.

Marge once again began to attend conferences and continued her travels. She worked with Dee Martz and Pat D’Ercole to present the First International Research Symposium on Talent Education in 1990. To celebrate her 80th birthday she performed in a recital of chamber music at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and again performed on her 85th birthday.

At the age of 87, Marge with the encouragement of friends published her book, Hip! Hip! Hooray! Thirty Years with the American Suzuki Institute, which recalls the early history of the institute, interesting stories, annual highlights, and choice photos. It is a reflection of the joy and sharing of her life that the day before her death Marge was present at the institute in Fun Night Talent show, and led the young musicians in a resounding “Hip! Hip! Hooray!”. She died on Thursday, August 16, 2001.

A Spirit that Lives On

In the conclusion of her book, Marge spoke of the Suzuki programs around the world. She stated, "The children are our joy and our reason for being here. Their laughter, shy smiles, concentrated efforts, and the beautiful music they make are our reward. Dr. Suzuki’s dream was to help children reach their potential through music.”

Marge in her life certainly helped many children and others to reach their full potential through her music and passing on to others the gifts, talents, and joy in life that were hers. The countless lives that have been touched throughout the world can never be known. Through teaching and training others to be teachers with a noble philosophy, her influence continues to be felt and lived.

Two events after her death point to the continuing impact of her life. In August 2002, she was honored as a Memorial Honoree at the Community Leadership Celebration which honors the lives and contributions of those who have had a tremendous impact on the community of Stevens Point and the lives of so many. On February 15, 2004, Marge’s former student and close friend, Patricia D’Ercole, presented a violin recital using the violin (made by David Tecchler) previously owned by Marge Aber. It would have been Marge’s 90th birthday and in the recital program Pat stated, ”This recital today is played in her (Marge’s) stead and is given with much gratitude for her inspiration, instruction, and friendship. Consequently, all of the program selections were chosen because they had some connection with memories of her.”

So lives on the music and joy of a life well lived -- to continue the work toward building noble characters through nurturing love and peace in the development of the young.