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
Tuesdays March 7, 14, 21; Wednesdays April 12 & 19
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 (Kreitman)
Tuesdays April 18, 25; May 2, 9, & 16
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 (Spring)
April 21 & 28, May 5, 12, & 19
Hybrid: Western Springs & Online
There will be 15 hours of class time, during which we will explore etudes and other materials for students Suzuki Books 3-7. These
materials will cover the development of reading skills, left hand skills
and bowing development.
Supplemental Materials and Etudes for the Development of Reading and Technical Skills for Books 3 - 7 Suzuki Violin Students
PAST COURSES
January 12 - 16, 2023
Western Springs School of Talent Education (in person!)
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.
Violin Book Five
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 (Jackson)
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
Tuesdays October 11, 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
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 (Jackson)