We are Suzuki: Embracing the Vision

Downtown Minneapolis

Image by Andreas Beuschel

May 26-30, 2016

Meet you in Minneapolis!

The 17th Biennial SAA Conference will be held at the Hilton Minneapolis and Minneapolis Convention Center, May 26-30, 2016. Come join fellow teachers, parents, and students as we celebrate the theme “We Are Suzuki: Embracing the Vision.”

What’s outside the Conference: Highlights of the City

From skywalks to river walks, downtown Minneapolis has a lot to explore! You’ll definitely want to step outside the Hilton doors during your stay in the Twin Cities!

Nicollet Mall features a variety of restaurants—ranging from carry-out establishments to sit-down restaurants with white tablecloths—all within walking distance of the Hilton. This twelve-block stretch of food and stores includes such Suzuki favorites as Hell’s Kitchen, McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, 8th Street Grill, plus Target’s flagship store, Chipotle, and Jimmy John’s.
Care for a stroll? Springtime in the Twin Cities is beautiful and a brisk walk during the busy conference weekend will rejuvenate you! Explore several of the 10,000 lakes for which Minnesota is known, or investigate the paths along the Mississippi River.
Light-rail transit runs to and from the airport! Conveniently located near the Hilton, it also stops at eighteen other destinations including the popular Mall of America. And don’t forget that Minnesota claims no sales taxes on apparel and shoes!
Nice Ride Minnesota city bikes are located just outside of the Hilton Hotel. Be sure to peruse their website for detailed information on costs. Consider renting one for a fast pedal to places like Whole Foods, where you can grab a quick lunch or snacks for the weekend. After all, Minneapolis is known as one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the country!
Escape to a museum! Minneapolis hosts the Walker Art Center (contemporary), the Minneapolis Institute of Art (“home to over 80,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history”), and the Mill City Museum (learn how one product—flour—fueled the start of Minneapolis).
And remember, the Hilton offers a fitness center and health club. Nearby is the local YMCA—a welcome place to stretch your legs between conference sessions.

What’s inside the SAA Conference: Highlights of the extended weekend

From pre-conference offerings to the closing ceremony, the four-and-a-half day event will include more than 200 sessions, keynote presentations, masterclasses, concerts, and gatherings.

Enjoy the Minnesota Orchestra on Thursday, May 26: “Symphony in 60″ features concertmaster Erin Keefe playing Brahms Violin Concerto. Go early for happy hour and stay late for a post-concert onstage gathering with the Minnesota Orchestra musicians! While supply lasts, special ticket rates are available for SAA Conference attendees who register by March 31.
Mingle with old friends and meet new colleagues at the Welcome Reception on Friday, including a not-to-be missed performance with more than 50 students from Parker Elementary School in Houston, TX.
Friday night’s Clinician’s Concert will include a potpourri of artists and pieces, from solos to string octet.
Your ears will be inspired by Saturday evening’s International Ensembles Concert showcasing groups from Chicago Consort, the Aber Performance Troupe, and Ensamble de Guitarras Suzuki—Ollin of Mexico City.
Come shout a “hip hip hooray” as we acknowledge our many accomplishments! The We Are Suzuki! Celebration will include perspectives of the past, present, and future from Nicolas and Yumi Kendall, this year’s new Violin Performing Ensemble led by Nicolas, and much more!
More than 250 students will be in attendance throughout the weekend. Your vision of excellence will grow as you hear performances by the Suzuki Youth Orchestras of the Americas, Suzuki Young Artists String Ensemble, Flute Performing Ensemble, the Piano Concerto winner, Three-Piano Ensembles, Guitar Ensemble, and others.
Observe the best! See the special guest clinicians in action at the various instrument masterclasses, covering Suzuki repertoire and beyond—more than 50 students participating!
Stay “in tune” with your professional organization—the SAA—and hear news and updates at the Annual General Meeting, Saturday, May 28 at 8:30 a.m.
Bid on amazing auction items!

Check out this sampling of our 175 informative sessions:

The Suzuki Quadrilateral: Adding an Extra Dimension

Scaling to New Heights

Developing Tone in Layers: Ways to Develop Tone in Addition to Tonalization!

Never Too Old to Twinkle

From Here to Eternity: The Transition to Independent Learning

Learning to Read the “Write” Way!

Creating an Effective Home Practice Plan

Invigorating Integrations!

The Power of Creative Collaboration

“Coach’s Corner”

All Children Doing Many Good Things: Creating a Can’t Fail Environment

Vision of 1000!

Join the vision of 1000! We challenge you to increase your state, province or Latin American country’s attendance at the 2016 Conference. Help your area reach its goal and stretch the tipping point beyond 1000! Extend an invitation to a fellow teacher, future teacher or another acquaintance in your area.

Check out your area’s current progress toward its individual goal and view the conference maps. Let’s expand our circle and come together this May to celebrate We Are Suzuki!

13th International Research Symposium on Talent Education

May 26 (3:00-7:00 p.m.) and May 27 (8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.)

The International Research Symposium on Talent Education (IRSTE) highlights the applications of research as it relates to music teaching and learning. Of special interest are those topics that relate specifically to aspects of the Suzuki method. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Ani Patel, of Tufts University and author of Music, Language and the Brain. He will be addressing “The Origins and Power of Synchronized Movements to Music” during the symposium itself, and speak to the full conference on “Hidden Connections between Music and Language Processing in the Brain.”

Established by Margery Aber in 1990 at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the symposium promotes research among Suzuki teachers, disseminates research that influences teaching practice, and educates teachers to use research in resolving studio challenges. IRSTE is co-sponsored by the Suzuki Association of the Americas and the American Suzuki Institute.

“Dalcroze Education: Developing Artistry through Purposeful Movement” With Dr. Jeremy Dittus

Thursday, May 26 (12:30-7:30 p.m.; six hours with a break)

This six-hour workshop will be geared towards professional musicians and educators. Ideal for both experienced and beginner students, Dalcroze Education uses the body to explore musical concepts in dynamic, engaging, and playful ways. Throughout this workshop we will discover new and meaningful ways to understand music using focused physical gesture and movement. In addition to movement courses concentrated on adult learning, participants will survey principles of Dalcroze Education along with specific Dalcrozian strategies and techniques to acquire new approaches for personal practice and performance, the private lesson, and group classroom teaching. Topics to be covered include:

The main branches of Dalcroze Education

Dalcroze Eurhythmics: Eurhythmics provides training for structural elements (beat, rhythm, meter, texture, phrase, and form) and aesthetic elements (dynamics, nuance, articulation, and affect). Students gain control of their bodies, becoming freer to express creatively—both physically and musically.
Solfège trains the eyes, ears, and voice. It enables a student to listen to music and transcribe it onto paper, and to look at sheet music and hear it internally without the use of an instrument.
Improvisation enables students to create music instrumentally or vocally. It usually begins with movement or the voice to facilitate the creative process. Bodily gestures relate to gestures used on the instrument; the connections between movement and music are clarified.

Dalcroze Education Principles in Action

Dalcrozian Techniques and Strategies for Practice and Inspired Performance, both for Private and Group Lessons

Dalcroze Active Listening: Solfège with a Smile

Revitalizing Old Repertoire through Interdependent Learning and the Spirit of Play

Every Child Can! Introduction to the Suzuki Philosophy

Thursday, May 26 8:00-10:00 a.m. and continuing 3:00-7:00 p.m.

Every Child Can!© (ECC) is an introduction to Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy and its application to Suzuki education. For parents, teachers, prospective teachers and others, this course provides an inspiring, in-depth look at the Suzuki approach to teaching and learning. ECC serves as the first course in the SAA’s Teacher Development Program. This course will be taught by Kathleen Schoen.