The conference sessions for violinists provided a menu of irresistible treats. There were so many intriguing titles that it was impossible to see everything on my list of top picks. On the flip side, no one complained of opting to… Read more ▶
At this historical conference celebrating the 40th anniversary of the SAA, the viola sessions were right in keeping with the spirit of celebration. From those focusing on Bach to the traditional viola reading session, we were honoring the past while… Read more ▶
September 1, 2012 by Arlette Aslanian-Townsend, James Van Reeth
Members of the Suzuki Youth Orchestras of the Americas (SYOA) presented their concert Sunday afternoon. The audience was treated to an experience rich with quintessential Suzuki tone, electrifying energy and exemplary musicianship. Outstanding conductors Emmett Drake (SYOA 1) and Kirsten… Read more ▶
Bassist Nicholas Walker, guest clinician for bass at the 2012 SAA Conference, sat down to speak with me following Time for Three’s performance at the conference. Read more ▶
With the beautiful hall of the Minnesota Orchestra as the setting, fourteen young musicians were featured in concert at a first-of-its-kind event for the SAA. The Kaleidoscope Concert brought together talented students from around the country performing pieces from and beyond the Suzuki repertoire. Read more ▶
The recorder events at the recent SAA Biennial Conference had a very international flavour, with participants from Bermuda, Brazil, and Canada as well as the United States. Teachers and students worked together with our clinician, Renata Pereira, to perform a… Read more ▶
I have known of Gavin George for a while, I have heard his teacher Mary Craig Powell talk about him; I have listened to his recording on YouTube. I knew he was a very special boy, who loved piano and… Read more ▶
As of writing this, ten days have passed since the 15th SAA Conference, and I am still living on cloud nine!
I seem to be talking about the conference to anybody who is eager (or seems to be eager to… Read more ▶
“Dr. Suzuki, you seem to be more interested in the success of the early childhood programs than anything else. Is that right?” Suzuki replied, “Yes. It is so important, the early training. It is difficult to get support for this… Read more ▶
September 1, 2012 by Sandra Payton, Carol Waldvogel
International Ensembles committee members Carol Waldvogel and Sandra Payton had a great time attending to the needs of the three groups chosen to perform at the International Ensembles Concert on Saturday night. Harpeth Suzuki Strings (Franklin, Tennessee), Concorde Strings (Guelph,… Read more ▶
I had no idea how cool this was going to be,” Ann Shurtz said to me during the catered snack break on Thursday afternoon. Ann was a first-time attendee at the Eleventh International Research Symposium on Talent Education, a pre-SAA… Read more ▶
The Suzuki harp teachers in the Americas, though one of the smallest groups represented at the conference, were nonetheless encouraged and engaged in the several harp sessions and master classes given by the presenters.
Guest clinician Karen Gottlieb, from San Francisco,… Read more ▶
There were many memorable moments at the 2012 SAA Conference, 40 and Forward! It was a great time to share our love and passion for teaching, try some new music for guitar ensemble, listen to our colleagues, and dream of… Read more ▶
This year’s conference offered a veritable feast of information and inspiration, not only in rich instrument area presentations, but also in the General Sessions category. Each session was a gift from the presenter to all present. Read more ▶
September 1, 2012 by Jessica Meyer Foskitt, Carlynn Savot
Chamber music at this year’s conference consisted of two groups, a harp duo, The Timpanogos Duo, and a string quintet, The Quint-Essentials. Both groups were highly polished and poised. They rehearsed on their own, had classes with members of the… Read more ▶
The 2012 SAA Conference was an amazing four days for the flute teachers. We had twenty-eight teachers from nine US states and two Canadian provinces, as well as fourteen students ages 9–19 from six states and Argentina. Our session topics… Read more ▶
A group of Canadian teachers met over lunch at the SAA Conference in May, to discuss our shared issues. We have one: distance. And we have a lot of it. Read more ▶
As teachers, we are always giving, but in return we are blessed with gifts well beyond our sacrifices. Churchill wrote, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Maybe this is the reason so many of us continue teaching well beyond a retirement age. Read more ▶
©2025 Suzuki Association of the Americas
• https://suzukiassociation.org
