Dots, Stickers, and Tapes, Oh My!

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.

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Jean Dexter (BM—Michigan State; MME—Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, specializing in the Suzuki Approach with John Kendall) is a cello and violin Registered Teacher Trainer with the SAA. Jean has twice served on the SAA Board of Directors, most recently as Secretary, has served on SAA committees to develop systematic teacher training courses, and received the first Missouri ASTA Studio Teacher Award and the Suzuki Chair Award at the American Suzuki Institute in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Jean maintains a private Suzuki studio of cello and violin students in Olathe, Kansas.

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A native of the Chicago area, Sally Gross is currently Cello Director at the Western Springs School of Talent Education and the Naperville Suzuki School. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Northern Illinois University where she studied with Marc Johnson, and a Masters of Music in Suzuki Pedagogy from Ithaca College where she worked with Carey Beth Hockett and Sandy and Joan Reuning. Before returning to the Chicago area in 2004, Sally taught at the Suzuki String School of Guelph in Ontario where she was also Artistic Coordinator. She has been a teacher trainer since 1990. As a dual citizen of the US and Canada, Sally has a keen interest in expanding Dr. Suzuki’s vision in both countries through her leadership, teacher training, and guest clinician appearances.

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