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 February 18, 25, March 4, 11 & 18, 2022
Online via Zoom
This is a 15 hour class that reviews the teaching points presented in Book 1. We will also discuss ideas on parent education, group classes, and developing reading skills. There will be 3 hours of online observations sent to the participants.
Violin Revisiting Book One
PAST COURSES
Fridays September 17 & 24, October 1, 8, & 15, 2021
Online via Zoom
This course will cover all of the musical and technical development of the material in Suzuki Violin Book 5 as well as additional technical exercises, including shifting and vibrato. This training will be registered with the SAA. Observation videos will be provided to course participants for viewing outside of class hours.
Violin Book Five
October 2 & 3, 2021
Online via Zoom
Every Child Can! is an introductory course on the Suzuki philosophy and its application to education.
Every Child Can!
Tuesdays October 5, 12, 19 & 26; November 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30; December 7, 2021
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.
Violin Book One
October 9, 17 & 24, 2021
Online via Zoom
This exciting 10 hour course is about the how to teach; filling your toolbox with more creative techniques but also addressing more subtle areas for improvement. Each participant will be asked to show 3-4 short videos of your teaching, consider it a masterclass in teaching techniques.
This course has no observation requirements.
Cello Teaching Strategies
October 15, 22, & 29, November 5 & 12, 2021
Online via Zoom
This course will be co-taught by Nancy Hair and Sally Gross.
There is so much more happening in the studio besides bow holds and left hand tunnels that we are constantly assessing. As Dr. Suzuki often times said, we are teaching the whole child. However we are also nurturing the practice partner and taking care of ourselves all at the same time. In this 10 hour enrichment course, we will delve deeper into the teacher’s intuition of all of this through discussion and videos.
Teaching with Instinct
Thursdays October 7, 14, 21 & 28; November 4, 2021
Online via Zoom
This course will cover all of the musical and technical development of the material in Suzuki Violin Book 2 as well as an in depth study of Suzuki's Tonalization concepts for tone production.
Violin Book Two
Fridays October 22 & 29, November 5, 12, & 18, 2021
Online via Zoom
This course will cover all of the musical and technical development of the material in Suzuki Violin Book 6 as well as additional technical exercises, including shifting and vibrato. This training will be registered with the SAA. Observation videos will be provided to course participants for viewing outside of class hours.
Violin Book Six
Thursdays November 11 & 18; December 2, 9 & 16, 2021
Online via Zoom
This course will cover all of the musical and technical development of the material in Suzuki Violin Book 3. Special emphasis on introducing the student to the concepts of musical phrasing and the techniques of shifting and vibrato. This course also covers Mr. Kreitman's approach to music literacy.
Violin Book Three
Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31, 2022
Online via Zoom
This 15 hour course is for people who want a refresher of Unit One talking points. Sally will design the course around your needs by having you fill out a questionnaire before the course begins. If her past courses are any indication, the conversation is rich and spirited. You will walk away with many new perspectives and ideas!
Cello Revisiting Book One
Fridays January 7, 14, 21, 28 & February 4, 2022
Online via Zoom
This course will cover all of the musical and technical development of the material in Suzuki Violin Book 7, as well as additional technical exercises, including shifting and vibrato. This training will be registered with the SAA.
Violin Book Seven