Guitar
News 
April 4, 2012 / Topics: Guitar, Video
Thanks to the work of the SAA Guitar Committee and producer Laura Wong Burnett, we are able to present a new, informative introduction to Suzuki Guitar. Whether you are a parent or a classical guitarist interested in teaching, the information is now available in the video “The Sound of Success: Suzuki Method for Guitar.”
For more about Suzuki Guitar, see The Suzuki Guitar Experience, an overview of the Suzuki philosophy and a history of the development of the Suzuki Method for classical guitar.
And don’t forget to check the Suzuki Guitar page, your one-stop place for Suzuki Guitar news and upcoming events.
Read more of The Sound of Success: Suzuki Method for Guitar »
April 4, 2012 / Topics: Guitar / by Mychal Gendron, MaryLou Roberts
Reprinted from Soundboard magazine, Volume XXXVII, No. 3, 2011, pg. 42-47, with the kind permission of the Guitar Foundation of America
Angela walks confidentially to center stage, wearing her best concert clothes, carrying her prized guitar with her right hand low on the neck and close to her side. She responds to the audience’s applause with a smile and a deep bow before sitting on an adjustable stool and propping her left foot on a footrest. Almost without pause, and without a trace of anxiety or self-consciousness, Angela begins to play “A Toye,” an anonymous Renaissance lute piece with an engaging melody and a simple, but effective supporting bass line. The tone she produces is focused and beautiful, she plays with expression and mature phrasing, including a masterful ritardando at the end of the piece. The audience response is immediate and enthusiastic; Angela stands, beaming, and takes another bow before skipping off stage. Angela is seven years old—she has been playing the guitar since age three.
Angela is not so unusual—she is one of a growing number of children throughout the United States who learn to play the guitar through the Suzuki Method, the marvelous early childhood approach to teaching music that focuses on ear-training, developing good instrumental technique and producing a beautiful tone before introducing the complexities of music reading. What if young guitarists grew up with a solid technical framework from the beginning, without excess tension, using nails to produce tone, all with the support of a group of peers, parents and a network of teachers? What if those students and parents attended guitar concerts, played in masterclasses and listened to numerous recordings of guitarists. What if there were guitarists who grew up playing in ensembles, accompanied violins, flutes, cellos, and felt at ease and confident on stage? This is the idea behind the Suzuki Guitar Experience.
Read more of The Suzuki Guitar Experience »
March 19, 2012 / Topics: Guitar, Meeting Reports
Present on the Call: Andrea Cannon, Seth Himmelhoch, Andy LaFreniere, David Madsen, Joe Pecoraro, Bill Kossler, MaryLou Roberts
Not Present: Mychal Gendron
Agenda Items
1. Mychal—Video Vote
Mychal suggests that the committee to approve, by vote, the GFA article as a companion piece to the video David has been working on. This would be for distribution electronically or in hard copies to interested parties.
David and Seth concur that it contains much valuable information and once it is pared down—as more of a blurb than an article—it will be useful as a boilerplate to go…
Read more of SAA Guitar Committee Conference Call Notes, January 8, 2012 »
March 16, 2012 / Topics: Conference, Conference 2012, Guitar
Hi Guitarists!
The SAA Conference weekend is May 24-28 this year, and there are lots of informative talks, inspiring speeches, and invigorating guitar sessions that are planned.
The SAA hosts this so we all have an excuse to go to events in a nice place, talk about teaching, building studios, Bach, technique, tons of things—and you are invited to join us live.
The cost of the conference is reasonable, and if you share a room either 2, 3 or 4 ways, it can be very affordable. In addition to some really nice restaurants, there are reasonable choices like Chipotle,…
Read more of Guitar Teachers: Join Us at the SAA Conference »
December 7, 2011 / ASJ 40.1 / Topics: Bass, Cello, Conference, Conference 2012, Early Childhood Education, Flute, Guitar, Harp, Piano, Recorder, Students, Suzuki in the Schools, SYOA, Teachers, Viola, Violin
Plans are well underway for the SAA 15th Biennial Conference, May 24-28, 2012, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mark your calendar! Don’t miss our 40th anniversary!
SAA Conferences are sentinel events for teachers, parents, and students. Expect enlightening sessions on Suzuki philosophy and pedagogy in general and for each instrument. Learn to run your studio and work with parents. Become adept in new technologies. Enjoy special topics of Bach and outreach. Share and learn from colleagues. Listen to master classes, performing ensembles, the 40th anniversary Kaleidoscope Concert, Suzuki Youth Orchestras, and professional artists. Connect with the Suzuki community. See old friends,…
Read more of Clinicians & Special Guests »
April 1, 2011 / Topics: Guitar, Meeting Reports
Present: Mary Lou Roberts, Andrea Cannon, Seth Himmelhoch, Mychal Gendron, Frank Longay, David Madsen, Joe Pecoraro
SAA Conference Video Updates
Dave reports that the video is not done yet, we are also waiting for the SAA office to send him some transcripts of the interviews. Dave can send us material from the video for us to screen. He has seen footage taken so far and it’s good.
Recording of Books 8-9: Progress Report
All the recording and editing is done but there are still a few details to deal with. Both William Kanengiser and Scott Tennant are involved in the project. Frank…
Read more of SAA Guitar Committee Conference Call Notes, October 17, 2010 »
March 25, 2011 / ASJ 39.2 / Topics: Guitar, Memorial, Trainers
It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the passing of Frank Longay on Wednesday, January 19.
Frank was a founding member and chairman of both the Guitar Committee of the International Suzuki Association and the Guitar Committee for the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Frank took a leadership role in developing a graded repertoire for the guitar through Suzuki methodology and, as a registered Teacher Trainer, he worked tirelessly to pass along his knowledge and experience to guitar instructors in the U.S. and around the world.
Read more of Frank Longay, 1948-2011 »
October 11, 2010 / Topics: Guitar, Meeting Reports
Present: Dave Madsen, Andy Lafreniere, Seth Himmelhoch, Bill Kossler, Mary Lou Roberts, Mychal Gendron, Joe Pecoraro, Andrea Cannon, Frank Longay
SAA Teacher Trainer syllabus (voting to adopt)
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Seth mentions: the section for Unit Three needs the inclusion of the phrase “arpeggios using A finger”.
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Also, in unit 5, clarify “chord spacing”: instead write as in the Aaron Shearer book: “two and three note chords on non sequential strings.”
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Dave mentions: vibrato is not included in any Unit. He says that violin teachers do it at different times, so he is not saying where it should go, just that the syllabus…
Read more of SAA Guitar Committee Conference Call Notes, April 25, 2010 »
September 27, 2010 / ASJ 38.4 / Topics: Awards, Conference, Conference 2010, Guitar, Video / by Andrea Cannon
It is my pleasure to share with you the work of William Kossler in bringing the experience of his Matsumoto Training to Suzuki Guitar in the Americas. Suzuki Teachers place high priority on Dr. Suzuki’s Philosophy. Those who worked with Dr. Suzuki in Japan offer us much as role models with a first-hand perspective. Among guitarists, our only member who graduated from the Talent Education Institute of Matsumoto is Bill Kossler. His experience brings us many unique viewpoints and continues to have a major impact within our Guitar community.
Bill is…
Read more of William Kossler: Bringing Suzuki’s Ideas to Guitar in the Americas »
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Staying In Touch and Keeping Informed
Database: Helping Us Stay In Touch With You
If you would like to be placed on the Guitar mailing list please print this form, fill out the pertinent information and mail it in to be added to our database. Teachers on this list are sent occasional updates concerning Suzuki Guitar training opportunities.
Current Projects, Issues, and News
Interested in the latest developments in Suzuki Guitar method? The SAA Guitar Committee meets regularly via a monthly phone conference. Check back here periodically for their latest conference call notes.
Contacting Other Teachers Through the Suzuki Guitar Listserve
One of the best ways to communicate with other Suzuki Guitar teachers is through the Suzuki Guitar Listserve. The Listserve is an informal and unofficial meeting place for Suzuki Guitar teachers worldwide. It is maintained through the kind efforts of Seth Himmelhoch.
To join the Listserv, teachers can email Seth at [javascript protected email address] . Please provide the name of your teacher trainer, the unit studied, and the Institute name where you took their training.
The International Suzuki Guitar Committee
The International Suzuki Guitar Committee (ISGC) is the official Instrument Committee of the International Suzuki Association (ISA) designated to represent the guitar community of the various regions. Currently the European Suzuki Association (ESA), Pan-Pacific Suzuki Association (PPSA) and the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) are represented by Harald Söderberg of Sweden, Zeah Riorden of Australia and MaryLou Roberts of the United States respectively. For more information on the work of the committee see the ISA website at www.internationalsuzuki.org/guitar.htm
