The International Music Festivals started as the Chicago Suzuki Institutes, founded in 1985 by Dr. Ray Landers.  In 1989 the name was changed to International Music Festival and the venue was moved to Andrews Univeristy in Berrien Springs, Michigan and the offerings were expanded to include other approaches in addition to Suzuki as well as addition of art, drama, and sports along with music.  Subsequent locations have included Anderson University, Anderson, Indiana,  Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio, and Bay Presbyterian Church/ Conference Center and nearby Marriott Hotel/Centers near Cleveland, Ohio.  These were all week long events; in 2011 it was decided to change the format from a one week long summer festival to two weekend festivals, one in spring in New Jersey, the other in fall in Florida.  The goal remains the same: to provide a high quality education in the arts for all ages of students and their families and for teachers of all approaches.  IMF believes strongly in the importance of the arts  and sports in life, especially in developing intelligence, cooporation, sensitivity, kindess, compassion and more understanding of the human condition.  As Allan Inman states, we believe that "Music is a Necessary Luxury" and that other arts and sports are also necessary.  Unique in our vision is the addition of theatre, art, and sports to our course curriculum, all with emphasis on how the arts interrelate with each other in helping to develop the human condition.  We strive to offer a total environmental approach that includes the participation of families and provides an environment of well structered classes, lessons, concerts, field trips, lectures and other events.  A positive attitude of Suzuki's philosophy that "Every Child Can Be Educated" is encouraged through an eclectic use of approaches of numerous caring educators and philosophers.  Our international eclectic approach emphasizes use of aspects of educators such as Japan's Suzuki, Hungary's Kodaly, France/Switzerland's Dalcroze, Germany's Orff, and America's Gordon, Gardner, Clark, Duckworth, Pace, and numerous others.  We believe in the potential of all men and strive to provide an openness that allows for growth through continual positive feedback.  Education should start as early as birth, even during pre-birth.  IMF instructors are chosen from outstanding teacher/performers from all over the US and other countries; emphasis is placed on faculty that are tops in their fields and, most of all, love children and see their great potentials.  Always, our emphasis is on positive reinforcement and having respect for the highest potential for all.