American Cellist and Pedagogue Rick Mooney has Died

Mooney was a renowned Suzuki teacher and published multiple cello study books with Alfred Music

A leading specialist Suzuki teacher, Mooney grew up in a musical family and began learning the piano at age five, and cello at age eight. His cello teachers were Victor Sazer and Eleanore Schoenfeld.

He studied Suzuki pedagogy with Phyllis Glass at the University of Southern California and later traveled to Japan for further study in 1976. 

Mooney taught the Suzuki method and workshops around the U.S, Canada, Asia, England, New Zealand, and Australia, where he made an indelible impact on music students and trainees in Western Australia, in particular with the Grow With Music studio.

He authored and composed music for the Suzuki cello series, and served on the Board of Directors and the Cello Committee for the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Additionally, he wrote dozens of articles for the American Suzuki Journal. 

Mooney was also the founder and director of the National Cello Institute, which hosts a Summer Institute and a Winter Workshop, plus publishes music for cello ensembles. 

“We are saddened to learn about the passing of Rick Mooney,” wrote Alfred Music publishing on Facebook. “[We] enjoyed a long relationship with him, publishing many of his popular cello books. An influential and renowned member of the Suzuki cello community, his work will go on to influence cellists for years to come.”

Our condolences to Mr. Mooney’s family, friends, students, and colleagues.

A conversation between Mooney and Scarlett Arts can be viewed below.