In this issue:

• 2014 Conference Dates: May 22-26 in Minneapolis
• Suggested Supplementary Repertoire for Revised Violin Books 6-8
• Suzuki Violin School Book Revisions Update
• Minijournal Cover Contest Winners

2014 Conference Dates: May 22-26

Plans are underway to make the SAA 2014 Conference, “Powered by Community,” a high point of inspiration in the coming year.

We hope that those who have joined us in the past will attend again, and that everyone will feel welcome to join in participating as member-owners of our Association. This is an opportunity to gather together as a sharing community where we can all learn from one another.

The 2014 Conference will take place May 22-26, in Minneapolis, MN.
Save the dates—SAA biennial conferences are not to be missed!

Suggested Supplementary Repertoire for Revised Violin Books 6-8

The SAA Violin Committee is excited to report that the Revised Book 6 of the Suzuki Violin School is finally in print.

In addition to the revised book, the committee has created a list of suggested repertoire from different style periods for Books 6, 7 and 8 to accompany those volumes. This list is organized by category: Tone pieces, Kreisler pieces, Concertos and Sonatas, Bach, “Show” pieces, and Modern pieces.

View the supplementary repertoire list and find out why it was created.

Suzuki Violin School Book Revisions Update

The Revised Book 6 of the Suzuki Violin School and Piano Accompaniment are finally here! While there was some delay in getting the revised Book 6 to press, the ISA Violin Committee felt the book should be thoroughly prepared before any publication.

Additionally, during this past year, the ISA Committee has been working with Alfred to make any corrections necessary in the files for the music, text and translations for Books 1-5. Going forward, all volumes will have an identification number on the title page so teachers and students can be sure to have the most up-to-date printing of each volume.

Read more about the continuing violin book revision process

Minijournal Cover Contest Winners

A big thank you to everybody who participated in the 2013 Minijournal Cover Design Contest. We received so many wonderful pictures!

First place goes to Shannon Lawrence for these cute musical critters.
Click to see all our Minijournal cover contest winners!

You will get a free copy of the Minijournal if you attend an Institute this summer. Copies will be on sale online for 50 cents in September.

2014 Minijournal Cover Design Contest

Guidelines: Original cover design by a Suzuki student between the ages of 4 and 14. Suzuki or music-related subject matter preferred. Please do not send computer-generated artwork. One entry per child.

Deadline: January 1, 2014

Send to: SAA Cover Contest, PO Box 17310, Boulder CO 80308

Upcoming Events

SAA Calendar
May 24: Annual Membership Meeting
Jun 1: Newsletter Submission Deadline

Summer Institutes start on May 28 and run through the end of August. There are so many great summer programs for students and teachers that there isn’t space to list them all here! Please look online for all upcoming Summer Institutes.

Centro Suzuki Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, C, Argentina May 25 – 28
Group Classes Workshop
Violin 6

Studio of Deborah Kemper

Salem, VA Jun 3 – Aug 2
Flute 1

Suzuki School of Houston

Houston, TX Jun 9 – 24
Every Child Can!
Violin 1, 4

Festival Suzuki de Colombia

Bogotá, Colombia Jun 15 – 28
Filosofía
Cello 1, 3
Violin 1, 10
Taller de clases grupales
Balance Corporal Nivel 1
Balance Corporal Avanzado
Balance Corporal Nivel 2
Taller Educación para padres
Primeros pasos en el violín
Estimulación Temprana
Técnica de Alexander
Desarrollo del sonido a través del repertorio Suzuki de violín: Violin

Studio of Tanya L. Carey

Glen Ellyn, IL Jun 17 – 26
Cello 2-5

See all upcoming events

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The Suzuki Association of the Americas is a nonprofit organization of teachers, parents, and educators dedicated to the advancement of the Suzuki Method in the Americas.

Inclusion of paid advertising does not imply endorsement of the advertised products, activities, events, programs or positions.

1st Place Winner

Shannon Lawrence, age 9, plays violin and is from Gorham, ME.

2nd Place

Baylee Rouse, 14 yrs old, from Meridian ID. Her teacher is Milana Colt.

3rd Place

Tomos Salathiel, 8 yrs old, from Ontario. His teacher is Nena LaMarre.

Honorable Mention

Joshua Hettinga, 9 yrs old, from Ontario. His teacher is Nena LaMarre.

Honorable Mention

Elsa Salathiel, 10 yrs old, from Ontario. Her teacher is Nena LaMarre.

A big thank you to everybody who participated in the 2013 Minijournal Cover Design Contest!

You can get a free copy of the 2013 Minijournal if you attend an Institute this summer. Copies will be on sale online for 50 cents in September.

2014 Minijournal Cover Design Contest

Guidelines: Original cover design by a Suzuki student between the ages of 4 and 14. Suzuki or music-related subject matter preferred. Please do not send computer-generated artwork. One entry per child.

Deadline: January 1, 2014

Send to: SAA Cover Contest, PO Box 17310, Boulder CO 80308

The Revised Book 6 of the Suzuki Violin School and Piano Accompaniment are finally here! While there was some delay in getting the revised Book 6 to press, the ISA Violin Committee felt the book should be thoroughly prepared before any publication.

Additionally, during this past year, the ISA Committee has been working with Alfred to make any corrections necessary in the files for the music, text and translations for Books 1-5. Going forward, all volumes will have an identification number on the title page so teachers and students can be sure to have the most up-to-date printing of each volume.

The ISA Violin Committee met October 2012 in Melbourne, Australia to continue its work for the Revised Book 7, not only on the repertoire, but also the exercises and added text necessary. The ISA Committee also met during the International Conference in Matsumoto, March 2013 to finish its work on Book 7 so the music can be sent to the publisher for engraving. The ISA Committee will meet again in October 2013 to begin work on Book 8 and plans to have the music ready for a recording of both Books 7 and 8 in 2014. Publication of both volumes would follow within the year after the recording.

Following the mandate given the ISA Violin Committee after lengthy discussions by all the violin participants at the International Teacher Trainers Conference in Boston in 2009, Books 6-8 will retain the present Suzuki repertoire, with attention to current performance practice and the urtext for the Handel Sonatas and the Bach Concerto. Additionally, the ISA Committee has deleted extraneous articulations and dynamics in many of the shorter pieces while adding scales and exercises pertinent to the repertoire, as has been done in previous volumes.

Also by mandate from the 2009 Conference, it was the intention of the ISA Violin Committee to compile a list for publication in Books 6-8 of suggested repertoire from different style periods appropriate for each book level. It proved a difficult task for all the Regional Association Violin Committees to arrive at consensus over a specific list. As a result, each Regional Association will assemble its own list for distribution to its members. This is not to create an alternate repertoire but to suggest additional pieces to fill out the depth of the current books, in many instances with pieces Dr. Suzuki himself used in lessons and concerts. To that end, the SAA Violin Committee, in collaboration with the SAA Violin Teacher Trainers, has been working actively on such a list over the past two years. This list is now ready and available to all teacher members of the SAA.

View the Violin Books 6-8 supplementary repertoire list

The SAA Violin Committee encourages all SAA violin teachers be conversant with the revised editions. This applies not only to the adjustments in the repertoire, but also to the wealth of added material available to teachers and families. In particular, this applies to Dr. Suzuki’s writing in the Prefaces of Books 1, 2 and 3.

It is surprising and a little concerning how many teachers and families using the Suzuki books are not familiar with this added material there at their fingertips. How frequently do we hear teachers discussing the importance of understanding the Suzuki philosophy and its principles, and not just racing through the pieces! That being said, it behooves us as the teacher in the Suzuki triangle to provide the leadership and guidance in this process for the student and the parent. We need to take the time to point out the importance of daily practice, daily listening, and utilizing the opportunities provided by the new resources in the revised editions to expand the student’s and parent’s experience with the repertoire. This has been our mission and our goal as the SAA Violin Committee and as individual Suzuki teachers.

SAA Violin Committee, May 2013
Allen Lieb, Chair; Ronda Cole; Lorraine Fink; Karen Kimmett; Sandy Reuning

The SAA Violin Committee is excited to report that the Revised Book 6 of the Suzuki Violin School is finally in print. Included in the mailing of the next SAA Journal is a list of Suggested Repertoire for Books 6, 7 and 8 to accompany those volumes. Here is a bit of history and explanation for that list:

By mandate from the 2009 International Teacher Trainers Conference, the ISA Violin Committee was to compile a list of suggested repertoire from different style periods appropriate for each book level to be published in the Revised Books 6-8. It proved a difficult task for all the Regional Association Violin Committees to arrive at consensus over a specific list. As a result, each Regional Association is to assemble its own list for distribution to its members. This is not to create an alternate repertoire but to suggest additional pieces to fill out the depth of the current books, in many instances with pieces Dr. Suzuki himself used in lessons and concerts. There will be a paragraph published in the Revised Books 6, 7 and 8 explaining this procedure. (See pg. 32 of the newly published Revised Book 6 for this paragraph.)

Beginning in 2010, the SAA Violin Committee, in collaboration with the SAA violin Teacher Trainers, began compiling such a list. The Committee appreciates the generous input from the Trainers in that process.

This list is organized by category: Tone pieces, Kreisler pieces, Concertos and Sonatas, Bach, “Show” pieces, and Modern pieces.

The list you have received today does NOT preclude any teacher from using their personal favorites, nor a Trainer from presenting a more comprehensive list for each book or distributing their own list. This list is meant as a guideline for our membership and provide a baseline resource in our training courses. This list is NOT immutable and will be revisited and revised as we work with the list in our teaching and training over the next several years. We look forward to your feedback.

SAA Violin Committee:
Allen Lieb, Chair; Ronda Cole; Lorraine Fink; Karen Kimmett; Sandy Reuning

Suggested Repertoire for Suzuki Violin School

Volume 6:

Elgar Salut d’Amor/Faure Apres un Reve
Kreisler Rondino/Song of India/Tempo di Minuetto
Dancla Air Varie Op. 89/Dvorak Sonatina/Schubert Sonatine
Bach Concerto for Two Violins 2nd mvt. (both parts in score)
Potstock Souvenir de Sarasate/Severn Polish Dance
Bartok Duets Book 1/Kabalevsky Album Pieces/Persichetti Masques

Volume 7:

Bach-Gounod Ave Maria/Faure Berceuse/Massenet Meditation from Thais
Kreisler Gluck Melodie/Schoen Rosmarin/Sicilienne & Rigaudon
Accolay Concerto/Haydn G Major Concerto 1st mvt./Nardini Concerto/Mozart Sonata E minor K304
Monti Czardas/Schubert L’Abeille/Wieniawski Obertass Mazurka
Bartok Sonatina/Gardner From the Cane Break/Shostakovich Duets

Volume 8:

Paradis Sicilienne/Svendsen Romance/ Tchaikovsky Canzonetta/Wieniawsky Romance (Con. No. 2)
Kreisler Praeludium & Allegro/Syncopation/Variations on a Theme by Corelli
DeBeriot Concerto No.9/Scene de Ballet/Mozart G Major Concerto/Viotti Concerto No.23/Beethoven “Spring” Sonata 1st mvt./Mozart Sonata in G Major K301
Bach Concerto for Two Violins 3rd mvt. (both parts in score)
Brahms Hungarian Dances/Novacek Perpetual Motion/Ten Have Allegro Brilliante/Wieniawski Legende
Bartok Roumanian Folk Dances/Bolling Suite for Violin and Jazz Piano—Romance & Gavotte/Copland Hoedown

Solo Violin Recommendations:

Telemann Fantasy No. 1, 7 and 10
Bach G Minor Sonata, Presto/D Minor Partita, Allamanda/E Major Partita, Bourree & Gigue

Download this list in PDF to print:
Suggested Supplementary Repertoire for Violin Books 6, 7 & 8

Suzuki teacher Winifred Crock received the 2013 St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Educator of the Year award. Congratulations!

Winifred Crock is the Director of Orchestras at Parkway Central High School and maintains a private violin studio in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. During her tenure, the Central High Music Department has been awarded GRAMMY Gold Signature school status as one of the top music departments in the country.

She is also a frequent speaker at SAA conferences and received an SAA Creating Learning Community award last year, along with William Dick and Laurie Scott for “Suzuki in the Schools: A Celebration of Environment.”

Read more from the St. Louis Beacon

Photo by Katrin St Clair

On an unusually sunny Saturday, March 23, in Olympia, Washington, children of all ages climbed the steep steps of our state capitol building with violin, viola and cello cases.

They traveled up to three hours to participate in the second annual “Suzuki Concert at the Capitol.”

Students were led and accompanied by Lucy Shaw, Betsy-Stuen Walker, Katrin St. Clair, Janis Upshall, Ginger Christiansen and Anita Dizney. They performed inside the great dome known as the rotunda. As the sound of the strings filled the air, parents and members of the public, who just happened upon the concert, were moved by the beautiful music the children made.

“The children love playing in this great building,” parents stated. One little girl said, “Mommy, it’s like playing in a castle.”

This concert was a free event for the children performing and audience. The teachers all volunteered their time. Quietly passed around the audience during the concert were small slips of paper asking for donations to the scholarship fund for the Suzuki Association of Washington State. Money was raised to help support Suzuki students who wish to go to institutes and teachers to teacher training.

Janos Starker, master cellist, educator, and member of the SAA Honorary Board of Directors, died Sunday in Bloomington, Indiana, at age 88.

In addition to serving on the Honorary Board, Mr. Starker was a guest at the first SAA Conference, where he performed and presented master classes.

For more about Mr. Starker’s life, read his full obituary in the New York Times.

We’ve given you a preview of a few June Institutes and July Institutes, and now we would like to invite you to view a snapshot of a few upcoming institutes that will be taking place in August. Please click on the names of the institutes below to view each preview:

Please note that this is only a partial list of institutes, including only those who chose to participate. For a full list, see All Summer Institutes.

South Carolina Suzuki Institute at Furman

Saturday, July 13 to Saturday, July 20, 2013

Students: Cello, Viola, Violin
Teachers: ECC, Violin, Cello

Hartt Suzuki Institute

Friday, August 2 to Friday, August 9, 2013

Students: Cello, Guitar, Piano, Viola, Violin
Teachers: ECC, Guitar, Piano, Violin

Japan-Seattle Suzuki Institute

Friday, August 2 to Friday, August 9, 2013

Students: Bass, Cello, Viola, Violin
Teachers: ECC, Bass, Cello, Viola, Violin

PhoenixPhest Grande Suzuki Institute

Friday, August 2 to Saturday, August 10, 2013

Students: Bass, Cello, Viola, Violin
Teachers: ECC, Cello, Violin

Carolina Suzuki PianoFest

Saturday, August 3 to Thursday, August 8, 2013

Students: Piano
Teachers: ECC, Piano

Boston Suzuki Flute Institute

Sunday, August 4 to Thursday, August 8, 2013

Students: Flute
Teachers: Flute

Southwestern Ontario Suzuki Institute

Saturday, August 10 to Sunday August 18, 2013

Students: Cello, Piano, Suzuki Early Childhood Education, Viola, Violin

Teachers: ECC, Cello, Piano, Suzuki Early Childhood Education, Viola Violin

DePaul Community Music Division Suzuki Teacher Workshop

Monday, August 12 to Friday, August 16, 2013

Teachers: Guitar

Now available from the SAA store: 101 Japanese Children’s Songs For Developing Note Reading Skills by Yoko Abe.

This book is a collection of 101 Japanese children’s songs which were mostly composed from 1884 to 1921.

Japanese people admire the beauty of nature, season, and scenic places. Many lyricists and composers have expressed such beauty by creating songs for children. From 1912 on, Western music was accessible to the Japanese. Prior to that, however, they used the pentatonic five tone pattern, which is challenging to children who have not grown up hearing these tunes. Unable to guess notes or keys, they must truly read each note to play it correctly.

I hope that this collection not only improves note reading and sight reading skills for young students, but that it also provides them with pleasure while playing the tunes.

“This book of Japanese folk songs is a wonderful gift: It is a fine collection of basic sight-reading material, mostly modal, and it strengthens the bond between Suzuki children of the Japanese and Western cultures. Dr. Suzuki would love this book!”
—William Starr

You have within you more resources of energy than have ever been tapped, more talent than has ever been exploited, more strength than has ever been tested, more to give than you have ever given.
—John Gardner, former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare

What are your strengths? How can you put those to work for the benefit of your fellow SAA members?

This was a birthday party to rival all others. People came from around the world to celebrate. And they brought with them gifts—immeasurable gifts. The kind that abide within each one of us. The kind that we share freely with our friends, our colleagues, our students, and all of the Suzuki Association of the Americas.

At the 2012 SAA Conference, we celebrated forty years of our success as an organization. It was a joyous occasion. We looked back with appreciation on the important figures in the development of the SAA, the programs that have been created, the growing membership, and the successes of Suzuki student alumni. Our hearts soared with pride as we applauded the accomplishments of the Kaleidoscope Concert performers. We were awed and inspired by the eclectic performance of Time for Three. We were moved by their music video denigrating bullying, a tangible product of the melding of music and noble character. Our minds were overflowing with information, gifts of knowledge and imagination from among our fellow members.

This historic moment provided us with the opportunity not only to take stock of our accomplishments, but also to seriously consider what lies ahead of us, what our goals are, and how we’re going to meet those goals in the next forty years. This is no small matter as it requires some serious introspection on the part of each individual member and the organization as a whole. At the Annual Membership Meeting held earlier in the day, each Board member shared his or her commitment gift to SAA. At the celebration dinner, postcards were distributed on which conference participants were given the opportunity to record their commitments to provide acts of service to SAA as their birthday gift to the organization.

This activity was also a way for the SAA Board to assess what is important to the membership as we move forward toward our next landmark birthday. What the Board learned was that our membership is awesome! It is truly a learning community filled with people who are grateful for what SAA has to offer them. But they are also eager to give back. The resources evident within our membership really could change the world!

Commitments to SAA

Commitment statements took many forms. Several people volunteered for activities that would directly affect the SAA. Several people generously pledged financial support by making a donation to the Annual Fund or a Scholarship Fund, soliciting support from outside the organization, remembering SAA in their wills, organizing benefit concerts, and becoming lifetime members. Many people offered to contribute to our collective wisdom by writing articles for the journal or session proposals for the next conference. One person committed to developing a venue for Suzuki podcasts. Others came up with creative ways to lend their voices to raise community awareness of Suzuki Education and the SAA by speaking to civic groups and college music students, posting Suzuki quotes on Facebook, linking the SAA website to studio and school websites, and organizing community outreach concerts.

Commitments to Our Communities

Our members are also deeply committed to making a difference in their local communities. To this end, declarations were made to mentor other teachers and to invite new teachers to attend Leadership Retreats and Conferences. The desire to belong to a larger community was evident in the number of pledges to foster the collaboration of teachers and programs by forming chapter affiliates, hosting regular teacher get-togethers, organizing regional workshops, and creating a local newsletter. The empathy that fills our hearts was displayed in the promises to teach children with special needs, to reach out to underserved populations, to teach in remote locations, and to make scholarships available to new teachers and students.

Commitments to Studio Families

Our members are particularly dedicated to nurturing the parents of students in their own studios. We are all aware of Dr. Suzuki’s statement that “the fate of a child is in the hands of his parents.” Suzuki teachers are keenly interested in helping parents to be effective home teachers. In order to do that, commitments were made to encourage parents to participate in Parents as Partners Online, to include SAA membership in studio family tuition, to provide Minijournals for studio families, and to share ASJ articles with parents.

Commitments to Ourselves

These postcards indicate that Suzuki teachers love to learn, and they are dedicated to becoming better teachers. Many, many members vowed to take action toward continuing teacher development. Several voiced their intent to take the Suzuki Principles in Action (SPA) course and some even said they would organize one for their community. The future of SAA is secure if everyone who pledged to earn their Certificate of Achievement or to become a Teacher Trainer follows through! Resolutions were also made to play a recital, memorize all the books, write a book, learn more about teaching the very young, be more enthusiastic, and stay healthy. And perhaps the most poignant promise to nurture one’s self—to attend every conference.

None of us will change the world alone. But if all of us contribute our gifts, collectively we will color the future bright for the next generation of Suzuki subscribers.

“I am big on setting goals, so this activity made me really think about how I, personally, could make a difference to the SAA. The activity also inspired me to think about what else I could do to continue to grow as a teacher.”
—Christine Goodner from Hillsboro, OR

“One of the reasons the SAA means so much to me is that we are the northernmost large city in North America, off the beaten track, and SAA programs connect us to a wider community. I never seem to get around to all of the things I know would be worthwhile, but these resolutions renew my commitment to serve my community and give back to the SAA.”
—Tim Eckert from Edmonton, Canada

“The postcard activity at the celebration dinner was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on what being a member of the SAA means to me personally. It is because of my Suzuki background and training that I get to do a job that I love every day. While the majority of my time is spent teaching alone in my studio, it is assuring to know that I am part of a broader Suzuki community that shares my values. I tried to think of goals to write on the postcard that would put my feelings of support for the SAA into action.”
—Corinne Erb White from Lancaster, PA

Responding to requests from members, the International Suzuki Association began working with Alfred Music Publishing approximately a year ago to make the Suzuki recordings available as mp3 downloads. We are very excited to let you know that this summer recordings will become available at Alfred.com/downloads, beginning with the first volumes of violin, viola, cello, and bass.

The request is in to iTunes and Amazon to also carry the recordings, but Alfred has no control over when this will happen. For pedagogical reasons, the ISA made the decision that the recordings will be sold by book as albums, rather than as individual pieces. Alfred is pleased to make this option available.

Also working with new technology, these same volumes will be released as eBooks later in 2013 through the Apple store. This exciting format includes the audio, embedded on the page with the music.

Welcome to the Suzuki Institute at PhoenixPhest Grande!

PhoenixPhest Grande is a combined chamber music festival and full-scale Suzuki institute on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The synergy between the two events creates a truly inspiring experience for all!

Those who register for the Suzuki institute will take part in traditional Suzuki offerings including group classes, private lessons, teacher training and play-ins, while those on the chamber music side have a week of intensive chamber music coaching and private lessons. In addition, there are daily student & faculty recitals, as well as scheduled use of on-site practice rooms. Electives, available to all, include chamber music, jazz improvisation, Alexander Technique, Solo Bach, Orchestral Repertoire, and Practice Techniques.

Suzuki student program

• Violin, viola, cello, and bass instruction
• Half-day pre-twinkle program
• Noncompetitive, nurturing environment
• World-class faculty
• Choice of electives

Teacher training

• Every Child Can with Melissa Kraut
• Cello Unit 1 with Melissa Kraut
• Cello Unit 2 with Pamela Devenport
• Violin Unit 1 with Nancy Jackson
• Violin Unit 2 with Linda Fiore
• Violin Unit 3 with Ronda Cole
• Violin Unit 4 with Tom Wermuth

Faculty

• Lynne Aspnes
• Gabriel Bolkosky
• Miriam Bolkosky
• Ronda Cole
• Pamela Devenport
• Andrew Duckles
• Rodney Farrar
• Linda Fiore
• Stephanie Flack
• Dan Foster
• Annie Fullard
• Diana Gannett
• Christian Howes
• Nancy Jackson
• Melissa Kraut
• Meg Lanfear
• Dana Meyer
• Nurit Pacht
• Vera Parkin
• Mari Sato
• David Strom
• Almita Vamos
• Rami Vamos
• Roland Vamos
• Anna Weller
• Derek Weller
• Thomas Wermuth

Electives

• General music
• Jazz improvisation
• Alexander Technique
• Solo Bach
• Orchestral Repertoire
• Practice Techniques

Details & registration

Please visit our website, www.PhoenixEnsemble.com, for more information about our programs, including housing, financial aid, and online registration.

Gabe Bolkosky, Institute Director
734-358-2100
gbolkosky@gmail.com

Julie Hathaway, Event Administrator
734-546-5032
info@phoenixensemble.com

Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass students and teachers, please join us in August for an international Suzuki experience! Faculty and students from the United States, Canada and Japan.

Students – to register visit

http://www.japanseattle.org/student-registration-fees/

August 5-9
Pre-twinkle on in Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass
Advanced programs in Violin (with Bryan Hall), Cello (with Amy Sue Barston)

Teacher Training – to register visit

http://www.japanseattle.org/teacher-registration-fees/

*Book 1 participants can take BOTH ECC and Book 1, Book 1 will begin immediately following the conclusion of the ECC program.

Canada’s biggest Institute is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a very special week of great programs for string and piano in the WLU’s modern and complete music facilities. Our top-notch international faculty will inspire students and teachers alike!

One of our special anniversary events is Viola Fest — A One-Day Celebration of Suzuki Viola! on Sunday August 11. The day will include 2 hours of Viola group classes (with Joanne Martin), one hour of Fiddling (with Joanne Melvin), a Performing with Poise and Pizzazz class with Clayton Scott, and an Improvisation class with Sera Smolen. In addition, lunch will be provided, and students will perform at the Orientation session for SOSI, and at the Tutti play-in backed by a faculty orchestra.

You’ll also be able to kick up your heels and start the SOSI week in style. The ever popular Relative Harmony leads a good ’ol barn dance! This year, in celebration of our 30th Anniversary, we are holding the Barn Dance in a real barn off campus—the J. Steckle Heritage Homestead!

Visit our web site to explore the complete range of string and piano programs, complete with orchestras for all ages, and lots of optional classes such as conducting, organ for pianists, fiddling, viola for violinists, percussion, Music Through the Ages, and Music at the Movies. We also feature a special seminar on Alexander Technique, optional private lessons, and a Suzuki Baby & Toddler Class (with Sharon Jones).

For advanced students, we offer the Young Artist Programs with violinist Jeremy Bell (ON), cellist Paul Marleyn (ON) and pianist Anya Alexeyev (ON).

Teacher Development courses include Every Child Can! and Violin Unit 1 with Paule Barsalou, Violin Unit 2 with Ed Sprunger, Violin Units 5-6 with Allen Lieb, and Viola Unit 4 with Joanne Martin. We also feature Cello Unit 1 with Catherine Walker, Cello Unit 5 with David Evenchick, Piano Unit 1 with Marilyn Andersen, and Piano Unit 6 with Gail Lange.

Suzuki Early Childhood Education (SECE) continues with Dorothy Jones leading the Suzuki Early Childhood Education (SECE) Prenatal Through Early Years, Stage Two, emphasizing the development of a child from birth through age three. We also have the Suzuki Baby & Toddler Class for infants and toddlers from birth to age 3. Developed by Dorothy Jones, who was charged by Dr. Suzuki to develop a program for our youngest children, the class will be led by her daughter, Sharon Jones.

To help you manage your week with young children, SOSI continues to be one of the few Institutes with Daycare.

Dream, Inspire, Discover, Express…

Enjoy this web version of a special DVD video that gives you a taste of our wonderful institute (made in 2008).

CLICK HERE TO VIEW
Note to Windows users: Apple QuickTime is required. Download the plugin here.

Questions About the Programs

Violin or Viola student programs, or Violin Teacher Development: Elayne Ras, e-mail or phone (519) 605-0145

Cello student programs or Cello Teacher Development: Sally Gross, e-mail or phone (630) 892-1096

Piano student programs, or Piano Teacher Development: Ellen Berry, e-mail or phone (519) 658-4205

For general questions, contact our administrator Tracy Jewell, email or phone (519) 824-7609