The Program has been developed by Doctor Päivi Kukkamäki 1987-2003 with same children during 17 years at Sibelius University, Docmus-department. The idea to start this program with expectant mothers came from Ilari Kukkamäki 1985.

European Suzuki Conference was held during Easter 1986 in Finland and Päivi Kukkamäki met Doctor Shinichi Suzuki and Mrs. Waltraud Suzuki for the first time.

On September 15th, 1986 Päivi Kukkamäki travelled to Matsumoto, Japan for the first time.

October 10th, 1986 Suzuki violinists in Matsumoto asked soprano Kukkamäki to perform with them Schubert’s ”Ave Maria” for Dr. Suzuki as a present. October 16th, 1986 Dr. Suzuki’s 88th birthday was held in Talent Education Institute. Dr. Suzuki liked Kukkamäki’s voice very much and asked her to perform more. October 28th, 1986 Kukkamäki sang for the second time in the Institute with Marilyn Anderssen. After concert Dr. Suzuki gave her the music “By the Waters Minnetonka” and asked her to sing it with his best violinist Yuriko Watanabe at the next Monday recital November 11th, 1986. The pianist was Caroline Govers. Ethel Fang accompanied “Kun päivä paistaa” composed by Oskar Merikanto and folk song “Taivas on sininen ja valkoinen”.

November 13th, 1986 Doctor Shinichi Suzuki invited Kukkamäki to the Calligraphy classroom and started to discuss singing and listening tapes. Kukkamäki told Dr. Suzuki about the idea of starting Suzuki Singing with expectant mothers. Dr. Suzuki asked Kukkamäki to record the listening tape after returning to Finland. He asked that the voice model must be clear and it has to have the center of the tone. Kukkamäki sent the tape to him in December 1986.
November 14th, 1986 Kukkamäki received an invitation from the Suzukis to the Song recital in Matsumto.

November 17th 1986 Kukkamäki sang again at the Institute: Julius Benedict “La Capinera” with the flautist Laura Larson and pianist Ethel Fang. Marylin Anderson accompanied the Finnish section: songs composed by Tauno Pylkkänen.
November 18th 1986 Dr. Suzuki came again with thanks for the songs and invited Kukkamäki to the Matsumotos’ restaurant “Taiman” for dinner and a meeting with Waltraud Suzuki.

November 19th 1986 (Wednesday) meeting (time 2.00 p.m.) Kukkamäki received more specific advice and the main suggestions for the songs and lullabies for the first book. The decision to start with expectant mothers was made. It changed Kukkamäki’s life. Dr. and Mrs. Suzuki asked her to come to Berlin 1987. Waltraud Suzuki’s suggested songs have been included in level 1–3 Suzuki Voice repertoire and Dr. Suzuki’s suggested songs and the other songs Kukkamäki sang in Japan have been included in Suzuki Voice level 4–5 repertoire.

May 5th 1987 the first expectant mothers group started the program in Vantaa, Finland. Reports were sent to Japan regularly. Kukkamäki has had personal contact with Dr. and Mrs. Suzuki until their deaths.

1987 in Berlin Kukkamäki introduced the first results of the program and approval was given to continue the program with this repertoire. Over the years she has travelled to a lot different countries, participating in conferences, conventions and workshops: with lectures, program introductions and demonstrations with her own students in many countries and finally training new teachers.

1991 Kukkamäki became the ESA Teacher Trainer. Mette Heikkinen is appointed as the Second ESA Teacher Trainer 1993.

1998 the first ESA Suzuki Voice Exams were held in Finland.

2001 Kukkamäki did completed thesis of “The Effect of Singing on the Life of a Growing Child from Pregnancy to the Age of Six” thereby gaiming her the Licentiate of Music degree at Sibelius University.

2002 The First International Suzuki Voice Workshop was held in Vantaa, Finland. Engelbert Humperdincks’ opera “Hänsel und Gretel” was performed seven times at Concert Hall Martinus in its original language, German.

February 28th 2003 Kukkamäki used the completed Suzuki Voice Program over 17 years to gaim her the Doctorate of Music degree at Sibelius University. The opponent professors were from four different Universities.

May 27th 2003 the first level 5 Suzuki voice students graduated and Singing Group “Crescendo” was founded by Kukkamäki.

The last level 5 Suzuki Voice Teacher’s Training requirements were accepted and approved by ESA board September 14th 2003.

Suzuki Voice Program was approved by ISA October 17th—18th 2003 in USA.

May 14th 2004 the first level 5 Suzuki Voice Teacher examination was held in Finland: Mezzosoprano Katrina Pezzimenti from Melbourne, Australia.

ISA Suzuki Voice Committee was formed in 2004.
Teacher Training short courses started in USA 2005 at American Suzuki Institute.

October 2006 Suzuki Voice Volume 1, English and Spanish translations were approved by ISA and Katrina Pezzimenti is appointed as the Third ESA Teacher Trainer.

2007 Suzuki Voice Program celebrates its 20th Anniversary year. Web-pages have been opened.

“Songs for Sharing” International Suzuki Voice Workshop was held in Finland June 2007.