Bass

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, and…

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Attention teachers and parents!

Student opportunities are still open for recorder and bass at the 2012 SAA Conference next May.

• Bass: Masterclass, Bass Choir, SYOA 1 & 2, Kaleidoscope Concert
• Recorder: Masterclass, Recorder Consort, Kaleidoscope Concert

Auditions will be accepted until November 30.

See the student participation criteria for more details on how to apply.

The 2012 Conference Team is excited to announce very special guest performers for the 15th Biennial Conference, 40 and Forward. Time for Three (Nicolas Kendall, Ranaan Meyer, Zachary DePue) will be the featured performers at the SAA conference on Sunday night, May 27, 2012.

Time for Three has roots in classical music, but explores myriad styles in a unique fusion of sounds. Their first music video, “Stronger,” debuted online in October 2011, bringing a positive anti-bullying message to thousands of viewers:

Read more of Time for Three to Perform at Conference 2012 »

Sponsored by Robertson & Sons Violins

In celebration of its 40th anniversary and over 50 years of Suzuki education in the Americas, the SAA proudly announces a very special event, the Kaleidoscope Concert. A unique feature of the 15th SAA Conference in Minneapolis, the concert will take place on Friday evening, May 25, 2012.

The Kaleidoscope Concert will showcase student performers from all Suzuki instrument areas who have achieved a high level of development at a young age. In addition to outstanding musical performances, the program will feature a special guest host and interviews with the students. The event will be presented to conference attendees, aired through various media and recorded for future use by the SAA.

The SAA is setting up a library of excellent student performances in all instruments/levels. Audition materials submitted for the Kaleidoscope Concert may also be considered as additions to the archival library.

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Photo by Michiko Yurko

2008 Conference attendees. Front row: Dee Martz, and Joanne Martin. Back row: Delaine Fedson, Mary Kay Waddington, and Michiko Yurko.

Plan now to attend the 2012 SAA 15th Biennial Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota!

The conference will be held May 25-28, 2012, and will feature valuable sessions for teachers, teacher trainers, and parents—not to mention Suzuki Youth Orchestras of the Americas (SYOA) and other exciting events for your students!

Read on for many more reasons to save the dates in 2012.

Read more of 2012 Plans »

The class offerings and activities reflect the growth of Suzuki double bass programs across the nation in recent years. Many of the presenters are new to the conference this year. Teachers of young bassists will benefi t from Tracy Rowell’s “Starting a Bass Program from Scratch,” Nicole Castleberry’s “Book One Bass-ics” and Kathryn Jones’ “From the Bottom Up.” Dennis Whittaker’s “Teaching Points of the Bach Cello Suites,” will be fascinating for teachers of all levels, as the cello suites represent an important milestone in any bassist’s development. Michael Fanelli will discuss the pedagogical merits of teaching young students to stand…

Read more of Suzuki Bass is Growing! »

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.

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

Applications are being accepted until November 30.

See the student participation criteria and online student application.

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.

The 14th biennial SAA Conference will “feature our own” distinguished SAA members, friends, and former Suzuki students who are now young artist-teacher professionals as our special clinicians for the instrument master classes. True to the theme of the Conference, the format of these master classes will include both team teaching and solo instruction. The young artist clinicians will also be involved in side-by-side chamber music coachings and perform a selection on the Young Artist Recital. Read further about the impressive list being showcased for 2010!

Bass: Paul Sharpe, Nicole Castleberry
Cello: Gilda Barston, Amy Barston
Flute: Bart Feller, Sara Traficante
Guitar: William Kossler,…

Read more of Conference Master Class Clinicians »

There will be a student Bass Choir at the SAA Conference next year. For full details on how to apply, see the student participation criteria.

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…

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Exciting double bass sessions and activities are being planned by the bass coordinators for 13th biennial the SAA 2008 conference. The master clinician for the “Expanding the Vision” conference is Dianna Gannett, the Distinguished Professor of Double Bass at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Professor Gannett is internationally recognized as one of the foremost teachers and performers of the double bass. She served as the master clinician for the SAA conference in 2002 in which all those students, parents, and teachers in attendance were delighted by her engaging manner, as well as her…

Read more of Bass at Conference 2008 »