Barbara Balatero

Barbara Balatero graduated from Oberlin Conservatory with a bachelor’s degree in cello performance and a master’s of music in teaching where she studied cello with Andor Toth. At Oberlin, Art Montzka introduced her to the Suzuki method. Between 1974 and 1976 she served as a US Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador, playing in the National Symphony, teaching cello and starting the Suzuki program in the National Music School. Barbara maintains a large private studio of Suzuki students in Seattle, and has recently retired from being the director of the Japan–Seattle Suzuki Institute in order to do more teacher training in Latin America. She is a registered teacher trainer of the SAA and is a cello student of Rajan Krishnaswami.

Mil saudações? Deve ser brincadeira?

August 11, 2017 by Barbara Balatero

Quando eu tenho um novo aluno de violoncelo, uma das primeiras tarefas que eu dou a ele é: fazer 1.000 saudações ou cumprimentos! Eu não permito que meus alunos colocem o arco na corda do violoncelo até que isso seja… Read more ▶

A Thousand Bow Holds? You Must Be Kidding!

August 11, 2017 by Barbara Balatero

From the Video Series, Parents as Parnters Online 2016 When I have a new cello student, one of the first big assignments I give them is to make 1,000 good bow holds. I don’t allow my students to place the bow… Read more ▶

¿Mil tomas de arco? ¡Debes estar bromeando!

August 11, 2017 by Barbara Balatero

Cuando tengo un estudiante de violonchelo, una de las primeras tareas que le asigno es lograr 1.000 tomas de arco correctas. No permito que los estudiantes pongan el arco en la cuerda hasta que dicha tarea esté lograda. Así que… Read more ▶

Dots, Stickers, and Tapes, Oh My!

by Barbara Balatero, Jean Dexter, Sally Gross

Cello, Columns, Finger Tape, Teaching Tools
ASJ 44.2, page 24

Inspiration and Connection at the 2015 Leadership Retreat

May 29, 2015 by Barbara Balatero, Heather Watson Hardie, Samara Humbert-Hughes, Laura Nerenberg, Alice Ann O'Neill, Kathleen Schoen, Rafael Videira, Danette Warren

For many Suzuki teachers, SAA Conferences and Leadership Retreats are the best way to kick off summer. Packed full of inspiration and camaraderie, these events are not to be missed! Read more ▶

Los “Cubos” de “Estudio”

May 31, 2011 by Barbara Balatero

Es cierto que todos los maestros de Suzuki han trabajado con alumnos que, a pesar de practicar y escuchar, todavía tienen problemas tocando “Estudio” sin que se pierden. Como maestros, necesitamos tener muchas maneras de atacar el problema… Read more ▶

Yuko Honda: Treasured Voice for Dr. Suzuki in the Americas

November 1, 2006 by Barbara Balatero, Sandra Payton

Undoubtedly most of us have read about Yuko’s childhood in her father’s memoir Suzuki Changed My Life. She began her violin studies at age four with Yamamura sensei. During her early childhood, her parents took her to Matsumoto to study… Read more ▶