Conference
Pictures from the 2008 conference. See more.
Location and Times
The conference will be held at the Hilton Minneapolis, 1001 Marquette Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, with some events held at the adjacent Minneapolis Convention Center.
Everything begins at 8:30 am on Friday, May 28, and concludes at 11:30 am on Monday, May 31. Recommended arrival time is Thursday evening, May 27, as many sessions will take place on Friday morning and Friday afternoon.
Watch the website and newsletter for details about any pre-conference events for Thursday, May 27.
Registration
Register by March 31 and save. Basic full Conference fee for members staying at the Minneapolis Hilton Hotel is $190, plus $20 tickets to the SAA Gala Benefit Concert. (Conference fees remain at the 2008 rate!) Register and pay online for a 5% discount.
Prices
| By March 31 | After March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full, 4-day attendance, Friday through Monday | $210 | $230 |
| Online discount | -5% | -5% |
| Hilton stay discount | -$20 | -$20 |
| College student discount | -$30 | -$30 |
| Single day attendance | $110 | $110 |
| Friday Gala Concert, adult | $20 | $20 |
| Friday Gala Concert, student under 16 | $16 | $16 |
| Every Child Can! course | $75 | $85 |
| ECE Intro, 2 hours | $40 | $40 |
| ECE Prenatal & Baby Stage 1, first third | $150 | $150 |
| Research Symposium, adult | $45 | $45 |
| Research Symposium, college student | $25 | $25 |
Just a few of the special events
Wednesday
- Every Child Can! Wednesday, May 26, 6:30-9:30 pm and Thursday, May 27, 8:30-11:30 am
Thursday
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Short Introduction to Suzuki ECE, Thursday, May 27, 1-3pm
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Suzuki Early Childhood Stage 1: Prenatal and Baby Years, 1st third of the course at the Conference and completed either in Ottawa, Kansas at the Ottawa Suzuki Institute in June or in July in London, Ontario. Times for the first part of the course to be offered in Minneapolis: Thursday, May 27, 1-7 pm and Friday 8:30-10:30 am. (For information about completing the course and possibly taking Stage 2 as well, contact Shirley Koch (Ottawa) at [javascript protected email address] or Dorothy Jones (London, ON) at [javascript protected email address].)
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Tenth International Research Symposium, Thursday May 27, 3-9 pm and Friday, May 28, 8:30-11:30 am.
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Teacher Trainer Meeting, Thursday May 27, 8:30 am to 2:30 pm.
Friday
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Keynote, “How Children Learn…and How They Don’t” by Dr. Robert Duke, co-presentation with International Research Symposium. Friday, May 28, 8:30 AM.
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Opening Celebration & Reception: Exhibits open at noon on Friday, May 28, followed later in the afternoon by a welcome event, featuring a light dinner reception 4:30 to 7:00 pm in the adjacent ballroom area. Opening events are sponsored by Shar Products.
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Gala Benefit Concert, featuring the Claremont Trio, Friday, May 28, 8 pm.
Saturday
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Top Ten Tracks: Great topics for teachers of all instruments, Saturday afternoon, May 29.
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Young Artist Clinicians’ Recital, Saturday, May 29.
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Bad Boyz of Bass: entertainment event on Saturday evening, May 29.
Sunday
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Keynote, “The Talent Code” by Daniel Coyle, Sunday, May 30, 2:00 PM.
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Suzuki Youth Orchestras of the Americas Concerts, Flute Performing Ensemble, International Ensembles Concert, Piano Concert Performance – Sunday, May 30.
Everyday
- Lots of chamber music coachings, pedagogy sessions for all instruments, instrument master classes, Heritage event, meals together, plus time for making and renewing friendships.
News 
See the Conference news archive for more.
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 many levels will be featured throughout the weekend. SAA members and former Suzuki students who are now young artist-teacher professionals will present sessions and masterclasses. We aim to “feature our own” and celebrate the many successes of the Method!
A New Look for 2010
2010 begins a new decade…a new time…and also a new, fresh and creative look for the Conference. Collaboration among colleagues and students within instrument areas, and cross-instrumentally as well, will give a boost to the Conference and broaden our vision as an association.
Creating Community through Teamwork
Creating a community built upon TEAMWORK is timely in the world at large and vital to our association. We are a composite of our strengths. Such strengths rely on each of us contributing our potential. And as a result, as Susan Reed so rightly said about the SAA, “Our sum equals more than our parts.” The Suzuki movement truly offers a bold new approach to the concept of TEAMWORK, inherent by its emphasis on sharing of ideas, working in a Suzuki Triangle relationship, respecting colleagues and modeling for our students a culture of respect for others. What better theme than one of collaboration—as we tap into our strengths, tap into our talents, and tap into the best of our own resources!
Expanded Chamber Music Opportunities
The chamber music component of the Conference is being greatly expanded! We will be offering chamber music masterclasses for both preformed and non-preformed chamber ensembles at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. Non-preformed groups will receive their music in advance and meet during the weekend for coachings with a SAA member before performing in a chamber masterclass setting. “Side-by-side” sessions of multiple coaches working with a student group will also take place.
Chamber group sizes are being defined as duos, trios, quartets, quintets and sextets. We urge you to start planning your chamber participation now! Consider cross instrumentation beyond just the traditional string quartet. As you think “outside of the box” for possible combinations, perhaps a violin-cello-harp trio or a flute-violin-cello trio or a recorder-viola-guitar or a bass-cello duo or a piano trio, may arise among your students and colleagues. See the Student Events audition criteria for more on how to participate.
Lectures specific to the chamber arena will also be offered, such as sessions on starting a chamber music program, picking appropriate chamber repertoire, seeking funding, preparing for gigs and outreach opportunities and the logistics of scheduling, to name a few.
Masterclasses
In addition to these chamber music masterclasses, a limited number of solo masterclasses will be offered in each instrument area, featuring the Suzuki repertoire and beyond. See the Student Events audition criteria for more on how to participate.
Special Feature
This year’s guest performers will be the Claremont Trio! The trio will be featured on the 2010 SAA Benefit Concert and in other sessions and events. Watch for details in the ASJ Summer issue.
Other Featured Events
As in other years, SAA is proud to present the 2010 International Ensembles Concert (defined as groups of 8 students or more), the two Suzuki Youth Orchestras of the Americas (SYOA), the Piano Concerto event, the Flute Performing Ensemble and the Recorder Consort.
Call for Sessions
This year’s Call for Sessions includes the two options listed below. Due date for proposals is October 15, 2009. Submit you session proposal online now.
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Top Ten Tracks: A half day of sessions devoted to five topics (or tracks) will be offered. These are to be non-instrument-specific sessions. Please design your proposed session with the idea in mind that each participant will leave the session with a minimum of Ten Great Ideas! Panels are welcome. The five tracks include:
- Group Classes
- Meeting the Younger Teachers’ Needs
- New Ideas for Experienced Teachers of 20 years or more
- Healthy Lifestyle/Healthy Attitude
- Working with Parents
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Topics in Pedagogy specifically relating to technique on your instrument or to your Suzuki area of focus. This will include Suzuki Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Piano, Flute, Harp, Guitar, Recorder, Voice, Suzuki Early Childhood Education and Suzuki in the Schools
Be sure to check the SAA website and upcoming e-newsletters for future 2010 Conference updates. Our goal of creating a Conference of true TEAMWORK has already begun with the Conference Team’s collaborative brainstorming process!
We encourage you to plan now to join us in Minneapolis as we showcase our wonderful talents within the Suzuki community.
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Last updated January 15 2010