Career
An internationally acclaimed string pedagogue, Mr. Kendall taught violin at the college level for more than 50 years and was largely responsible for bringing the Suzuki Method to the United States. Mr. Kendall received his undergraduate degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1939, and earned a master"s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University.
In 1959, he spent six weeks in Japan observing Doctor Suzuki and his students, and returned for further study in 1962.
Mr. Kendall planned the first United States Suzuki conference in 1963, and organized the first Suzuki tour of the United States. Doctor Suzuki and 10 students toured 19 cities in 21 days. This tour captured the attention of audiences everywhere and introduced the Suzuki Method to the United States. That someone was John Kendall."
Currently, it is estimated that more than 350,000 children are learning according to Suzuki principles on violin, viola, cello, piano, guitar, flute, recorder, harp and bass.
There is a Suzuki preschool, and the body of literature for Suzuki Parent Education continues to grow. John Kendall directed the SIUE program until his retirement in 1994.