2022 Education magazine

2022 Education Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS February / March 2022 Page 5 Ms. Jean Tweet of Springfield grew up in a musical family: her mom was a singer, and her sister played a violin. The public school system had a string program and so she started taking lessons at a young age. She realized quickly that you can “do music by yourself, in a small group or ensemble, or in an orchestra” and she was hooked for life. Ms. Tweet majored in Music Performance in college and played violin in church and for weddings. After college Tweet freelanced for about 3 or 4 years in Milwaukee and then, she moved with her family to Minneapolis. In Minneapolis, Ms. Tweet took the opportunity to take the Suzuki Teacher Training, a program committed to Dr. Suzuki’s belief that every child can be educated, and music ability can be developed. She started teaching in Minneapolis, but her family moved to Springfield a few short years after her training. Ms. Tweet played in the Springfield Symphony Orchestra for 15 years. In 2000 she started to have ear problems and the loud orchestra music made her dizzy. Unfortunately, things deteriorated to the point that she had to give up playing in the orchestra. She did not, however, lose her love of music and is “grateful to have music even though (I am) getting older.” Ms. Tweet teaches violin, viola, and cello lessons at her shop in downtown Elkhart. Birdsong Books & Vintage on Main Street offers a variety of books and vintage fabric as well as knick-knacks and seasonal items. When closed, you can find Tweet teaching her students the importance of music. Tweet says, “Music is so good for the brain because you have to think about what you’re Continued p