COURSE DESCRIPTIONS & FEES

EVERY CHILD CAN!    $130, plus registration fee
Every Child Can! is an introduction to Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy and its application to Suzuki education.  For parents, teachers, and perspective teachers, this course provides an inspiring, in-depth look at the Suzuki approach to teaching and learning.  For teachers, ECC serves as the required first course in the Suzuki Association of the Americas’ Teacher Development Program.  In addition to exploring the elements of the Suzuki approach and its far-reaching goals, it includes an introduction to learning styles, history of the development of Suzuki education, the role of parents, the importance of Suzuki pedagogical training, and an overview of the SAA’s role in supporting teachers and parents.  A fast-paced, engaging and inspiring program, ECC includes new video materials and SAA-developed coursework, and provides each participant with useful reference materials for further study.  For teachers and parents of all instruments.

                                                                                                              Photo by Sophie Chalk

UNIT ONE   $605
In this course, the class will study how to implement the Suzuki philosophy in teaching Suzuki Book One.  The class will discuss how to motivate the child to want to learn and how to prepare for lessons.  By studying the book one repertoire and with the use of videos and on-site demonstration lessons, the instructor will show how to develop the child’s ear and how to learn to play with physical ease.  The instructor will also cover such topics as parental involvement, cumulative learning, how and when to introduce music reading and the important teaching points of each of the book one pieces.
Book One is the foundation for all later learning!
Participants will be required to play the repertoire fluently and musically. Memorization is highly recommended. The repertoire must be memorized in order to teach it.

UNIT TWO $405    and UNIT THREE  $405
The Unit Two and Four courses each discuss how to continue implementing the Suzuki philosophy in the newly revised international edition of Bk 2 and Bk 3 which contain additional repertoire.  Teachers will experience the importance of continuing to develop the child’s ear, the role of a Bk 2 or 3 parent, the continued development of music reading and theory and how to develop a natural technique in the repertoire.  Videos and on-site demonstrations will help show how the students and parents study the pieces.
Participants will be required to play the repertoire fluently and musically. Memorization is highly recommended. The repertoire must be memorized in order to teach it.

UNIT FIVE    $405
Caroline Fraser will also be presenting the new International Edition of Book Five and exploring the best ways to present the material for the Suzuki students' well-trained ears and eyes.  Teachers will be thoroughly educated on the analysis & technique the pieces in Book Five demand as well as the important pedagogical ideas necessary for presenting the music to the students.
Participants will be requiredto play the repertoire fluently and musically. Memorization is highly recommended. The repertoire must be memorized in order to teach it.

PRACTICUM   $515
The SAA Practicum Unit has been developed to enhance the SAA’s system of short term workshop training.  While the core training units mainly offer focus on Suzuki repertoire and piano technique, the emphasis of the Practicum is on honing the art of teaching.  Topics to be explored will include communication skills, teaching strategies, diagnostics and observation.  IN a nurturing and supportive environment of peers, using video footage from their home studio and on-site teaching, participants will practice self -assessment skills to identify their strengths in teaching and those areas in need of improvement.  The Practicum will provide teachers with an invaluable opportunity at any stage in their development.  Participants must have taught Suzuki students for a minimum of one year and completed and registered ECC and Unit 1.

The Practicum class will be limited to five participants per session.  The schedule includes 15 hours of classroom work and 8 hours of observation of master classes.  The participant must prepare a video tape for the class with the following format:
VHS or DVD format
Video must include 2 lessons; 30 minutes each.
For best quality sound, an external microphone is recommended.
Angle of the camera must show the student’s hands; it is suggested that the closest possible camera placement be used that includes the student’s entire body.  It is important that the teacher be visible during much of the lesson.  


CONSULTATION AS PART OF UNITS
In addition to the 15 class hours for each unit, a SAA-required consultation with each Participant will be necessary.  This will be a 5-10 minute discussion, one-on-one with each Participant. One of the purposes of the consultation is to assist trainees in preparing for the next course.

REFRESHER COURSES:  Books 1 & 2    $420 each

These courses are designed for experienced teachers to revisit the focus points in the respective books and get fresh ideas for their teaching. The class will review the main teaching points of the repertoire and how to continue implementing the Suzuki philosophy and a natural technique with their students. Participants are encouraged to bring DVD's of their teaching and student performances and receive feedback from the instructor. Class size is limited.

ENRICHMENT CLASSES  $195 each

The classes can be registered with the SAA.  They complement the Suzuki Pedagogy classes, and can also be taken independently.  There is no admission requirement.


Enrichment I:  Music Reading 1               $195         Caroline Fraser
How to Introduce Music Reading
In these courses the instructor will demonstrate, through examples and teacher participation, a natural approach to music reading where the children learn by absorbing and by “doing”. As Dr Suzuki discovered, children have an amazing ability to learn through their senses. Music reading and theory, apparently very rational subjects, can be introduced in exactly the same way.

The instructor will show how children can be guided to see the written score and hear it. Learning music reading in the Suzuki style means that musical notation will grow naturally out of the children’s playing abilities and not treated as a separate subject, allowing the children’s discovery of the written language to evolve directly from their own experiences.


Enrichment II: Teaching Group Classes              $195            Caroline Fraser

The instructor will show through on-site demonstration lessons how piano group classes can develop the students’ ensemble skills, music reading ability and musicianship in a natural and joyful manner. The instructor will discuss how to plan lessons, how to sequence activities and how to keep all the children involved. Group lessons are an essential motivating factor in the Suzuki Approach.


Enrichment III:  Music Reading 2                   $195                       Caroline Fraser