Tartu School Teachers

Mari Tooming: handbells, solfeggio, piano

Mari has been working for the Arsis Handbell School in Tartu from its very beginning. She started out as a piano teacher, continuing as a teacher of handbells and solfeggio. Her interest in music appeared already while she was in the kindergarten, and she developed it further in many schools. She currently continues her studies in the Viljandi Culture Academy. Besides piano music and choir singing she has always been fascinated by the king of all instruments – the organ. Children consider Mari as cheerful, sometimes strict, yet a lovely and wonderful teacher. She has taught children in various schools and choirs, which has increased her persistence and determination in pursuing her ideas and dreams. Mari loves classical and contemporary music performed by professionals. She is a true music fan who has said that if she worked in any other field, she would still make music.

Made Kudu: piano

Made became familiar with the Arsis Handbell School through substituting for the piano teacher who was ill. And she came to stay. Made has lived with music since she was five and attended the Tartu Children’s Music School. As a piano teacher, she has worked in the Otepää Music School, Pühajärve Basic School and the Tartu private school Audentes. Pupils think that Made is a good teacher who can be fun but who never overlooks any mistakes.

She loves to listen to classical music and jazz, but prefers to do that at a concert because she likes silence at home. If a tree, Made would be a rowan as her slightly bitter and healing humour reminds us of the taste of a ripe rowanberry.

Toivo Sõmer: guitar

Toivo’s career as a musician began in a punk band in which he played during basic school. Toivo could be characterised as a single extra long and colourful note the sound of which enriches the entire family of the Tartu Handbell School. Both his colleagues and pupils value highly his good sense of humour. Besides the guitar, Toivo can also play and teach the lute, bouzouki (a national instrument originating in Greece) and various zithers. He can tell fascinating stories equally about European early music and Oriental music, which are among his musical preferences. If he were not a musician and a teacher, he would probably be an artist and a designer, but he would certainly stick out as an oak tree. Besides everything else he is a wonderful father for his sons and an acting musician in the ensembles Triskele, Paddy’s and Strand... Rand.

Anneli Erdfeld: music history

Anneli has always loved children and music. That is why it was only natural for her to go to the Tartu Pedagogical School (currently known as the School of Teacher Education of the University of Tartu) after graduating from the music class in Tartu Secondary School No. 7 (currently the Karlova Upper Secondary School). Anneli’s diploma proudly declares that she is a “music teacher and pioneer guide”. She never got to guide pioneers, however, as the system had changed already by that time. Instead, Anneli has taught children music both in the kindergarten and at school. Her own daughter and two sons have been attached to music and, by the way, learn at the same school where their mother did – in the Tartu Karlova Upper Secondary School.

Everybody who knows Anneli agrees that she is a natural talent for teaching children – she is cheerful, playful, kind and... strict.

Kadri Pihlar: piano

Kadri came to music through her family tradition to make music at home, which got more serious with piano lessons started from the fourth grade. She became a member of the body of teachers at the Arsis Handbell School through an accidental meeting with her future colleague. She has worked as a music teacher in the Tartu Kivilinna Upper Secondary School and Sillaotsa Basic School. Working with children inspires her, and they together always discover something new or create something beautiful. She can accompany children’s own creations on the piano, recorder or guitar. Her tree would by all means be a rowan that gives her strength to be systematic, persistent and kind.

Mailis Järveots: piano

Mailis is one of the youngest members in our team. She joined us in 2007 after graduating from the H. Eller Tartu Music School. She is continuing her studies in the Estonian Academy of Music. She works as a piano teacher in the Arsis Handbell School and in Tartu Music School No. 1. Her favourite musical style is boogie-woogie and her most beloved composer is Shostakovich. When asked about the meaning of music, she says that silence can be even more telling than music. Words of wisdom, aren’t they? On the other hand, she points out that the real beauty grows from the inside of every person with the help of music or through making music. Mailis enjoys relaxing, playing, catching butterflies in every sense of the word. She considers herself a warm, naughty and sometimes obstinate young woman. As a piano teacher, she is friendly, strict and hard-working.