Alice Kay Kanack graduated from the Eastman School of Music,where she earned bachelor’s degrees in performance and composition. In 1984, she traveled to Japan to share with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki her ideas on developing creative ability in children. In a speech to the Matsumoto summer Conference that same year, Dr. Suzuki nicknamed her “Mozart’s Mother” in response to her innovative work in the development of the creative part of the brain. He added to this his hope, that as a result, someday all children might create their own music.

In addition to her work with Dr. Suzuki, Alice has also worked with Suzuki teachers Kay Sloan and Anastasia Jempelis. She was also on the faculty of the Third Street Settlement in Manhattan where she conducted the orchestra and taught violin, and Creative Ability Development classes.