Conference

Location and Times

The conference will be at the Hilton Minneapolis, 1001 Marquette Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, with some events at the adjacent Minneapolis Convention Center.

It all starts 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.

Teamwork

Teamwork and Collaboration have been bywords for the 14th biennial SAA Conference throughout the planning stages. More than just slogans or themes, Teamwork and Collaboration are the energetic forces converging on a common goal—the creation of a multi-faceted celebration, intent upon fulfilling Dr. Suzuki’s vision of a community engaged in lifelong learning and sharing.

Teachers, student participants, parents, exhibitors, sponsors, visitors and other friends, Conference Team members, staff—YOU are all part of the “Suzuki Team.” Your time given and your presence will make May 27-31, 2010, a success and unforgettable weekend!

The power of “working together for the good of the whole” is evident in the choices of sessions and clinicians and in the formatting of sessions, master classes, and other special events. Take a sneak peek at what you will be privileged to see, hear, and do as students, student ensembles, coaches and teams of coaches, presenters and teams of presenters collaborate in Suzuki style!

Featured clinicians specially selected from among our growing numbers of former Suzuki young artist professionals, and distinguished, long-time Suzuki master teachers and associates.
Master classes with students at intermediate and advanced levels—several featuring team-teaching.
Chamber music classes, both solo and collaborative coachings. Chamber ensembles include violin-cello duo, piano trios, strings-guitar quintet, harp-flute-guitar trio, harp-strings quintet, harp-flute-viola trio, piano quintet, recorder-strings sonata for ten, piano quartet and more!
Instrument specific pedagogy and technique sessions in each instrument area.
Engaging and fast-paced Track sessions: Group Classes, Parents, Practicing, Business and Studio Development, Healthy Lifestyles, Alternative Styles, and Suzuki Philosophy.
The Suzuki Youth Orchestra of the Americas (SYOA) experience with top rate conductors in action.
Other large ensembles: Flute Performing Ensemble, Bass Choir, Recorder Consort and the International Ensembles.
A new chamber composition by Daniel Sturm, Trio homage to H. Villa-Lobos, written for student performers and coached in the chamber music master classes.
The Claremont Trio, our Young Artist clinicians and the Bad Boyz Bass Quartet—all in concerts.

It is said that by working together the impossible becomes possible. The Conference Team’s creative brainstorming, networking, promoting and tireless evaluation of a record 375 student applications and 175 proposals lends support to that idea. Our heart-felt thanks go out to all involved in the mammoth efforts undertaken thus far and the tasks yet to be accomplished.

As we showcase the talents both of those young people now growing up in Suzuki communities throughout our region and of those “grown up” Suzuki friends and colleagues who are collaborating to make the weekend a huge success, the weekend will offer resounding proof that, YES, ABSOLUTELY—Suzuki Method is an overwhelmingly successful approach to music and early childhood education! Our strengths, talents and resources will be evident as we share music and ideas and learn from one other.

Don’t miss this opportunity! You will be inspired by the weekend’s events and return home feeling renewed, valued and proud to be member of the Suzuki community!