Guitar

Our 2010 SAA Conference includes a full palette of Guitar opportunities—varied and informational activities for our instrument. As a bonus we will enjoy keynote sessions, concerts and camaraderie with the wider community of Suzuki Teachers. In keeping with the theme of “Teamwork,” our invited clinicians for the Master Classes are William and Adam Kossler. Bill is a Co-Founder of Suzuki Guitar and one of two original Teacher Trainers. His son, Adam, began his music lessons at the age of two as a violin student in Matsumoto, Japan. Adam is now a doctoral student of renowned Guitar Professor Bruce Holzman at Florida State University.

Other Guitar sessions include:

• Alexander Technique for Suzuki Guitar Teachers (Chris Mincer)
• Making the Most of Suzuki Guitar Accompaniments (Seth Himmelhoch)
• How to Structure a Reading Development Curriculum (William Kossler)
• Great Ideas for Guitar Group Class (Brent Weaver, Daniel Srugo, and Kevin Hart)
• Teaching Rest Stroke and Relaxation (MaryLou Roberts)
• Rasgeados and Alzapuas and Golpes, Olé! (Eric Schroeder)
• Developing Reading Skills for the Young Suzuki Student (David Madsen)
• A general session with Guitar participation: Family Affair: Teaching your Own Child (Concert & Round Table Discussion) Moderated by Andrea Cannon

We hope you will join us in Minneapolis and partake in what promises to be a most exciting Gathering of Guitarists!

–Andrea Cannon, Guitar Coordinator

Teachers of violin, viola, guitar, flute, and recorder are encouraged to bring instruments. If possible, bring cellos and basses too. (We’ll try to borrow extras cellos.) Some informal chamber music playing opportunities are possible on Saturday evening.

Present: Frank, Mary Lou, Bill, Dave, Andrea, Seth, Mychal

Trainers Report from the Boston Conference

Mychal says it was great, and the other committee members who attended agree. Mychal mentions that meeting Mr. Toyoda was a particular pleasure. Dave says it was great and inspiring. Mary Lou mentions that the sense of Japanese philosophy and culture coming from the Japanese teachers was very affecting. Just the bow itself had deep meaning, and the respect it engendered spread through the rest of the things going on there.

The guitar trainers at the conference got a lot done on the new Guitar Teacher Trainer Syllabus, with attention to each book in turn. A higher playing level will be required for trainees at each higher level of teacher training. The syllabus is now being finalized and email exchanges are being made to get this done. The syllabus in intended as an ISA syllabus, not just SAA. One suggestion being considered is to have different books to be read for each training level, for example, Nurtured by Love for Book 1, and Ability Development From Age Zero for Book 2.

Progress on the Book 8 and 9 Recordings

Frank says that he has been sending in edit requests. The committee expresses its thanks to Frank for the work he is doing on the recordings.

Argentina/South American Developments

Mary Lou reports that many more trainees in South America are now joining the SAA.

The SAA would like to welcome three new Teacher Trainers:

Mary Hofer
Voice
Stevens Point, WI

Joseph Pecoraro
Guitar
Winston-Salem, NC

James Hutchins
Violin
Silver Spring, MD

These Trainer Candidates completed the final steps in the approval process following the ISA Teacher Trainer Conference in Boston last month. We look forward to their service in this new and important capacity.

Last summer, focus groups at summer Institutes were asked to submit questions for a panel of “Suzuki Experts” to answer. This is the fifth installment.

How can we maintain the joy of playing guitar without weighing the student down with technique?

The better technique a student has, the more joy in making music she will experience. When a child has good technique, he can play expressively and musically without any restraint from the fingers, in the same way children use their voices. When technique is carefully presented and fully developed a child will not be weighed down, but will be free to develop their ability to the fullest. Creating a fun environment is important and we should remember Dr. Suzuki’s words, “Without hurry, without rest.”

Read more of Ask the Experts, part 5: Guitar Technique and Repertoire »

Student participants are still needed for the following events at the 2010 SAA Conference next May.

• Bass: SYOA 1, SYOA 2, Bass Choir
• Flute: Masterclass, Performing Ensemble
• Guitar: Masterclass, Non-Preformed Chamber
• Recorder: Masterclass, Recorder Consort, Non-Preformed Chamber
• Piano: Concerto performance (due December 15)

Applications are being accepted until November 30.

See the student participation criteria and online student application.