News: Books
Notice to All SAA Violin Teacher Members from the SAA Violin Committee
Please check for new information concerning the revisions to the Suzuki Violin School Books 1-4 in the members-only section. There is a detailed list of the changes in the Volumes as well as a suggested time-line for the SAA to integrate these changes into our teaching, training, festivals, workshops, and institutes. This information was discussed and distributed at the SAA Conference in a general meeting with the SAA Violin Committee and all attending violin teachers. The committee will keep you abreast of further details via the SAA website and the Journal, as the revision process moves forward!
New Revised International Editions of the Suzuki Violin School
A Message from the SAA Violin Committee
The new revised editions of the Suzuki Violin School Books 1 and 2 are now available for purchase. Book 3 should be in stores very shortly, and Book 4 is already at the publishers for formatting and proofing.
The SAA Violin Committee would like to give all members of the SAA community a report on this process. The following report consists of three sections:
- A history of the book revision process,
- A description of the procedure for the compilation, editing and publication of the revised editions for Books 1-4, and,
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A look forward at the upper volumes in the Suzuki Violin School.
Read more of New Revised International Editions of the Suzuki Violin School »
Bass Committee News
The Bass Committee has been meeting twice yearly to develop the repertoire of the Suzuki Bass School. After working for several years, the committee is beginning to see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. At the retreat in Bloomingdale, Illinois, this past January, it was determined that the Suzuki Bass School would be finalized with the publication of Koussevitzky’s Concerto in F# minor in Book 8. Books 1 through 4 are now published, Book 5 will soon be in print, and Books 6 through 8 are awaiting various degrees of finishing touches. The committee is proud to announce that Books 1, 2, and 3 have been recorded by the legendary virtuosi Gary Karr and Harmon Lewis. The collection of repertoire has been selected, researched, and edited with a spirit of loving dedication. It is the hope of the Bass Committee that the collection of eight books and the recordings will be completed by the year 2010.
Double bass teacher training is growing now that there are two teacher trainers. The committee is pleased to note that Virginia Dixon has taught Books 1, 2, and 3 during each of the last two summers. We appeal to all bass trainees to join us at the SAA Conference in Minneapolis. In addition to the sessions featuring Diana Gannett, our esteemed conference clinician, it is hoped that other bass sessions will also appeal to non-bassists. There will be a conference bass choir featuring students and teachers which will be beautiful and fun as well. In an effort to promote camaraderie, there will be a no-host evening meal for all bassists and for friends of the bass.
The members of the Bass Committee include Virginia Dixon, Michael Fanelli, Domenick Fiore, Eugene Rebeck, Paul Sharpe, and Dan Swaim, Chair.
News from the Piano Committee
The editing and translation of the new revisions of the Suzuki Piano Books 1,2, and 3 is drawing to a close. Many thanks to Mary Craig Powell, Co-Chair of the International Piano Committee, for the tremendous amount of volunteer work that she has put into the coordination of this project! The new recordings will be made by Seizo Azuma. Alfred Publishing expects to have the new books and recordings available by our May Conference.
New Suzuki Piano Books
By spring, 2008, Alfred plans to release the revised editions and recordings for the new International edition of the Suzuki Piano Method, Books 1-3. Many thanks to Mary Craig Powell who is the SAA’s representative to the International (ISA) Piano Committee and is Co-Chair of the Committee with Seizo Azuma from Japan.
Our appreciation also goes to the SAA Piano Revisions Advisory Committee for their work. That Committee, which serves as an advisory group for Mary Craig Powell, includes Fay Adams, Gail Lange and Doris Harrel.
New recordings are being made by Seizo Azuma and their release will be underway soon. Meanwhile work is continuing on Books 4 and up.
We are grateful to Mary Craig Powell and all those who are working on this important project. A session on the new editions is scheduled to be led by Mary Craig at the May 2008 Conference.
New Suzuki Violin Books and Recordings
Alfred Publishing has announced that the new Suzuki Violin Method Book 1 and the new Book 1 recordings are now available. Books 2 and 3 will follow this fall. This new International edition has been a work in progress for many years. The recording artist for the new editions is William Preucil, Jr., Concertmaster of The Cleveland Orchestra.
Since 2006 Alfred has been the exclusive publisher and distributor worldwide (except Japan, where Zen-On is the publisher) for the Summy-Birchard label. Under the guidance of the International Suzuki Association (ISA), Alfred/Summy-Birchard produces the core Suzuki instructional materials (Suzuki Method books) for all instruments.
Editing for the violin books is in the capable hands of the International Violin Committee, a committee of the ISA, composed of representatives from each of the ISA’s regions. Christophe Bossuat of France is the ISA Violin Committee Chair. Each member of that Committee represents a region and brings ideas and suggestions for revisions from their region to the International Committee.
The SAA Violin Committee members are Allen Lieb, Chair, Ronda Cole, Lorraine Fink, Karen Kimmett and Sanford Reuning. Many thanks to this committee for their ongoing, dedicated work with this project!
New Materials
Please note that there are a number of valuable new materials available on the SAA website. Several new books were recently added: SAA’s newest collection of parent articles, Winning Ways, William Starr’s I Know a Fox with Dirty Socks, Ed Sprunger’s Helping Parents Practice and other selected books and materials.
Now available from the conference: a new 2006 DVD collection of Parents as Partners, featuring highlights of Parent Day; outstanding recordings on DVD of the International Ensembles Concert, SYOA, the Flute Choir and the Piano Concerto winner. We are also excited to present the feature documentary Nurtured by Love now on DVD!
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Piano Concerto and International Ensembles Concert featuring Xinran “Ryan” Liu, Barcel Brioso, Nevada School of the Arts Violin Ensemble, and the Rocky Mountain Strings.
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Suzuki Youth Flute Choir and SYOA with conductors Wendy Stern, Marilyn Kesler, and Robert Gillespie.
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Parents as Partners 2006. Presenters include Ed Sprunger, Ann Marie Novak, Nancy Lokken, a parent panel with Lamar Blum, and keynote address by Brian Chung.