Suzuki News

June 16, 2009

The SAA recently launched its Certificate of Achievement, Level 1, and applications have started to come in! The Suzuki Association of the Americas is committed to excellence in teaching and to establishing standards within the framework of the Suzuki philosophy.… Read more ▶

June 16, 2009

Congratulations to the SAA’s newly elected Board members: Sue Baer, Ellen Berry and Marilyn O’Boyle. Their three-year terms will begin August 1, 2009. Chair-Elect Teri Einfeldt will assume the role of Board Chair in August and Betsy Stuen-Walker will fill… Read more ▶

June 16, 2009

Thank you to all who took part in the SAA’s first Virtual Leadership Retreat. The total number of registrants reached 276—100 more than have attended in-person SAA leadership retreats. Participants included teachers from Canada, US, South America and a few… Read more ▶

June 16, 2009

At the SAA’s April 4 Annual Meeting, a brand new Teacher Development video was unveiled. We are proud to present this new short film, “The Promise…The Challenge: A Suzuki Teacher’s Pledge.” It gets to the heart of Dr. Suzuki’s vision… Read more ▶

June 16, 2009 by Sally Gross

Carole L. Bigler of Big Flats, NY, died Saturday, April 18, 2009 at home in Big Flats surrounded by her family. Carole was born in Kingston, PA on October 16, 1940, the daughter of the late Hans and Irene (Papp)… Read more ▶

June 16, 2009

The SAA Annual Meeting took place on the web on April 4th, 2009, in the SAA office in Boulder, Colorado. Many of you participated through the live broadcast on the SAA website. With skits and presentations delivered in a lighthearted… Read more ▶

June 1, 2009

1st Place Winner Mia Lei, age 8 Potomac Falls, VA Mia has studied violin with David Strom and Mariam Gregorian. 2nd Place Danika Kunimoto, age 12 Edmonton, AB Danika’s violin teacher is Bonnie Gregory. 3rd Place Abby Friesen-Johnson, age 12 Denver, CO Abby studies flute with Gail Seay. Honorable Mention Hannah Arnott, Age… Read more ▶

June 1, 2009 by Ann Montzka Smelser

“Tone has a living soul without form.” When I traveled to Matsumoto, Japan, in 1986 to study with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, I packed so much music in my head and in my violin case. I was only to be there for… Read more ▶

June 1, 2009 by Hannah Frey

“Tone has a living soul without form.” We have all heard this quote by Dr. Suzuki, but what does it mean? Think of an electronic keyboard, one that has many different instrument settings. Have you listened to the violin setting? A keyboard… Read more ▶

May 22, 2009

TEAMWORK May 27-31, 2010, marks the SAA’s 14th Biennial Conference in Minneapolis, MN at the Hilton Hotel and Convention Center. Be sure to save the dates for this special event! The theme for 2010 is TEAMWORK. Ensembles and chamber music at… Read more ▶

May 22, 2009 by Mariana Emilia Capponi

I would like to publicly thank Prof. Laurel Ann Maurer for sharing—with me and my Suzuki flute students—a wonderful day of teaching and music in Argentina. Prof. Laurel Ann Maurer has shared generously with us her broad experience as a flutist… Read more ▶

May 15, 2009

The entire Committee was present for the call: Andrea Cannon, Mychal Gendron, Seth Himmelhoch, Bill Kossler, Andy Lafreniere, Frank Longay, David Madsen, Mary Lou Roberts Welcome to the Guitar Committee new members Mary Lou Roberts and Mychal Gendron! Agenda The SAA Virtual… Read more ▶

May 13, 2009

Lucky winners of the Essay Contest sponsored by Thomastik were Ann Montzka-Smelser and Hannah Frey. Congratulations to Ann and Hannah. They are receiving a set of strings from Thomastik. Their essays, both on the topic of “Tone” will be featured… Read more ▶

May 10, 2009 by Ramona Stirling

“Would you ever bring this group to Argentina?” Ramona Stirling heard a voice behind her ask, at the 2006 SAA convention in Minneapolis. She turned to meet, for the first time, Fernando Piñero of Córdoba, soon to become the first… Read more ▶

May 10, 2009

The Annual Meeting will be held at the SAA Office, 2465 Central Ave., Boulder, CO, on Saturday, April 4, at 5:30 pm Central. It will be broadcast live on the SAA website with Board member presentations plus opportunities to email… Read more ▶

May 10, 2009

This year’s board ballot for election of new Board members is online and ready for voting by all current Active members whose email we have in our database. You will need to log in to your online account to access… Read more ▶

May 10, 2009

Member access to the SAA website opens many new opportunities to SAA members. If you have not set up your account to access the “members-only” section of the website, please do so right away. You will need an account to… Read more ▶

May 10, 2009

In 1994 the SAA Board became increasingly aware of the importance of understanding and sharing concepts of Leadership. Believing that Leadership is essential to the growth of the Suzuki method and to the future success of the Association, the SAA… Read more ▶

May 10, 2009 by Pam Brasch, Teri Einfeldt, Gail Lange, Mary Craig Powell

The International Suzuki Piano Committee, working with Mr. E.L. Lancaster of Alfred Publishing Company, met in Boulder, CO, in November 2008 to begin work on revisions to Suzuki Piano Method Books 4-7. History was made for Suzuki Piano as a… Read more ▶