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Early Bird Rates end FRIDAY! Register Today!

Learn more about the conference schedule and conference pricing at the link below! Registration rates will go up on December 23rd. Need help with registration? Write us at info@suzukiassociation.org or watch this awesome video, which guides you through the process! Wondering what the schedule is like? Be sure to visit the link below!

The Suzuki Association of the Americas is overjoyed to announce that so far, we have raised over $15,000 toward our year-end campaign to support teacher education! We are immensely grateful to all who have donated to the SAA and deeply appreciate how this will support the future of teacher training.

Will you help us get to $20,000, and support 15 more scholarships? Join the community of people who have doubled down on their commitment to the SAA. Make a gift today!

Make a Gift!

The Suzuki Association of Minnesota recently sponsored the Suzuki Principles in Action course! The smiles on this photo show the inspiration of the weekend course! Thank you to SPA Facilitator Joanne Melvin for leading the course, to SAM Member Tamara Gonzalez for organizing it, and to SAM President Miya Kunin for SAM’s support! Interested in hosting a future SPA course? Please reach out to info@suzukiassocation or learn more here!

The Hartt School, University of Hartford offers two degree offerings with Suzuki Pedagogy Emphasis. Picture shows: 3 faculty members, a male cello faculty member flanked by two female violin faculty all smiling.

Office Hours – Be heard!

There are five remaining Office Hours with members of the Suzuki Training Committee, taking place January 3-5.

We are actively seeking your ideas and experiences related to Auditions, Evaluations, Online Learning, and ECC/Filosofía, the four areas that STC is focused on this year.

Our check-processing has moved! As you know, we have a more remote team now! While our offices are still based in Boulder, we’ve switched banks to help us with embracing a more international approach. We’re SO excited! Please send any check payments to the following address:

Suzuki Association of the Americas

24901 Northwestern Highway, Suite312

Southfield, MI 48075

Congratulations to Sebastian Soloff and Nancy Modell!

A huge congratulations to Sebastian Soloff, student of SAA Teacher Trainer Nancy Modell on the news below:

Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) is pleased to announce the results of the composition competition for the Eastern Division, Elementary Winner: Sebastian Soloff!

This winning composition automatically advances to the national competition as a national finalist, and the results will be announced in January. Congratulations to Sebastian for becoming a national finalist for his original piano composition! You can also learn more about how Nancy approaches composition at this year’s conference!

Dance Party!!!

Have good news from your studio you’d like to share? Write us at info@suzukiassociation.org!

SAA Office Closure Notification

The Suzuki Association of the Americas offices will be closed December 25-26, December 29th, and January 1st. During this time, our team will be unplugging to charge up and get ready for the SAA Conference! We appreciate your understanding, and we’ll respond to your inquiries promptly upon our return.

Music by Black Composers Project, Vol. 2!

The Rachel Barton Pine (RBP) Foundation’s Music by Black Composers project has released its Violin Volume 2 for elementary students, the second installment in a series of pedagogical books of music exclusively by Black classical composers around the world. Violin Volume 2 consists of 31 pieces from the 18th through the 21st centuries, written by 20 different composers, five of whom are women, who together represent North America (U.S.), South America (Brazil), the Caribbean (Guadeloupe), Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone), and Europe (England and France). This second volume adds to a series that will ultimately include seven volumes, graded by difficulty from beginner to advanced concerto-level playing. Music by Black Composers’ mission is to increase diversity in the world of classical music, inspire Black students to pursue instrumental training, and make the music of Black composers available to everyone. Order your copy HERE.

News from the Board of Directors

As 2023 draws to a close, the Board wishes to express heartfelt gratitude for your support towards our $20,000 fundraising goal. These funds are vital for scholarships benefitting our teachers, students, and families. If you haven’t yet, please consider making a tax-deductible donation at this link!

Exciting news for 2024 – the SAA Conference is shaping up to be a standout event. Don’t forget to register by December 22, 2023, for early bird rates and join us for this much-anticipated gathering!

Each committee of the Board presented reports and updates on their work. Our Board colleagues Leslie, Araceli, and Andrea gave an especially detailed and compelling report regarding Latin America, and the broader work of Country Associations. Look out for exciting news regarding our new Country Associations Committee in early 2024!

We’re also proud of the SAA representation at the International Teacher Trainer Convention in Matsumoto, Japan – thanks to Angelica Cortez, Ed Sprunger, April Losey, Nancy Modell, and other SAA teacher trainers for their participation.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and looking forward to an exciting year ahead.

News from the International Suzuki Association (ISA)

New Video in the ISA Archive

My Time with Suzuki Sensei

by Mihoko Hirata

The following video was recorded on March 31, 2014, during the Spring Hawaii Suzuki Institute for Suzuki Talent Education of Hawaii. ISA thanks Hirata Sensei and Helen Higa, Director of STEH, for their permission to post this fascinating and humorous remembrance of Dr. Suzuki on the ISA website for Suzuki families and teachers around the world to enjoy.