TEACHER TRAINING
The Suzuki Association of the Americas has developed extensive teacher development courses offered at various locations across the country by a select group of registered teacher trainers. The Western Springs School of Talent Education and Naperville Suzuki School counts among it's faculty four of the country’s leading teacher trainers.
Apprenticeship Teacher Training Courses create a community of teachers who meet together to receive pedagogical instruction from Suzuki Association of the Americas registered teacher trainers. Together, we share solutions to common teaching problems and all of the relevant teaching points, philosophy and pedagogy related to the unit of study. Upon completion of all course requirements, participants' training will be registered with the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Additional information, including SAA Teacher Training guidelines, can be viewed on the SAA website.
We are also pleased to offer a growing collection of violin lesson observation videos available at realviolinlessons.com. We know that it is often difficult for active teachers to complete their Teacher Training Observations, so we have developed this website to make teacher training more attainable for current teachers.
UPCOMING COURSES
Listed in chronological order by start date
Fridays September 23, 30, October 7, 14 and 21
Online via Zoom
This class will include discussion and demonstration of all of the teaching points in the Book 2 repertoire, plus ideas for incorporating review into lessons and practice assignments, steps for teaching note reading, and group class ideas.
Violin Book Two
October 1 & 2
Online via Zoom
Every Child Can! is an introductory course on the Suzuki philosophy and its application to education. There is a full scholarship available for a BIPOC teacher.
Every Child Can!
Tuesdays October 18, & 25; November 1, 8, 15, & 29; December 6 & 13
Online via Zoom
This course will cover all of the musical and technical development of the material in Suzuki Violin Book 1 as well as Suzuki Philosophy and parent education. There is a full scholarship available for a BIPOC teacher.
Violin Book One
Thursdays October 20 & 27; November 3, 10, & 17
Online via Zoom
The SAA Practicum Unit is a short-term unit developed to enhance the SAA’s system of short-term workshop training.
While unit core training mainly focuses on Suzuki repertoire and instrumental technique, the emphasis of the Practicum is on honing the art of teaching.
Violin Practicum
Fridays October 21, 28; November 4, 11, & 18
Online via Zoom
This course is core to the success of teaching. It is one thing to know what to teach, it is a whole other thing to communicate it effectively to the young mind in front of you. Every child is a unique human being, and we will discuss strategies to reach these individuals through effective communication and teaching skills. Every participate will share live and pre-recorded lessons from their own home studios. More details to follow.
Participants will be expected to do observations in between sessions, as well as assignments involving your own home teaching.
Cello Practicum
Fridays November 4, 11, 18 and December 2 and 9
Online via Zoom
This class will include discussion and demonstration of all of the
teaching points in the Book 3 repertoire, plus ideas for incorporating review into lessons and practice assignments, steps for continuing to develop music reading skills, and group class ideas. Vibrato will also be covered, along with ideas for guiding the student to take ownership of the process of learning to play the violin.
Violin Book Three
Tuesday January 3 – Thursday January 5
Naperville, IL
This 15 hour course (plus 3 hours of observations) will be completed in a three day immersion of Pre-Twinkle and Book One. This course is ideal for the teacher who realizes there is a lot more to Book One than they thought and wants to hear it again. OR the teacher who took Unit One online but wants to have the in person experience of setting a bow into a child’s hand or setting the cello between the child’s knees. OR perhaps for the teacher who has been away from teaching for a while and wants a review of Book One.
Revisiting Cello Book One (In Person Only)