Books

The newly re-released book Math Fun for Suzuki Families by Andy J. Felt and George Kung is now available in the SAA Online Store. Using principles of Dr. Suzuki’s approach to education applied to mathematics, Math Fun features more than 50 games for children and parents to play together to build a solid foundation in math.

After adopting Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy into his own teaching methods, Felt, an associate professor of mathematical sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and Suzuki parent of two, developed Math Fun with his colleague George Kung,…

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Group Lessons for Suzuki Violin and Viola

By Carolyn McCall
Book, 84 pages, $12.95

Group lesson ideas for violin and viola, organized by book level and technique/skill.

Focus on Suzuki Piano: Creative and Effective Ideas for Teachers and Parents

By Mary Craig Powell
Book, 76 pages, $12.95

During the past few years it has been exciting to watch the area of Suzuki piano develop. Through workshops, institutes, and teacher development courses, parents and teachers have been able to grow and improve their skills in an unprecedented way. I…

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Four-part series on Chopin by Malgosia Lis, which features original translations of Chopin’s letters by the author and was originally published in the American Suzuki Journal. Now conveniently bound together in a single volume. The 41-page book is spiral bound and includes photos.

You can purchase The Life and Letters of Frédéric Chopin for $12 from the SAA online store.

Recollections of a Peripatetic Pedagogue, John D. Kendall. SHAR Publications, Inc. Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2010.

Reviewed by Susan Kempter

This much anticipated book is a candid and honest account of the life of John Kendall. It is written in simple language, almost understated, and photographs are informative and plentiful. From the beginning, the reader is drawn into a personal story that spans almost a century. The book is also a powerful account of the complicated and intertwined relationships that exist between culture, personal belief, national and international affairs, and one man’s indefatigable pursuit of…

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First impressions of the New International Editions of the Suzuki piano repertoire are all positive. It is obvious that the ISA Piano Committee, chaired by Mary Craig Powell, set Suzuki Piano on a new path. Twelve new pieces have been added to Volumes 4 to 7.

The choice of repertoire is one of the most outstanding aspects of the new editions. Volume 5 now includes new dimensions for the young pianist with the addition of the Chopin a minor Waltz and the Schumann From Foreign Lands and People.

Volume 6 is my favourite! Within this…

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4 Mini Poster Collection of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki

Four 8.5″ x 11″ posters of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki featuring his quotes. Photography by Art Montzka. $14

“If love is deep, much can be accomplished.”
“Beautiful tone, beautiful heart.”
“Tone has a living soul.”
“The words ‘Music will save the world’ are held deep in my heart.”

The Stolen Goldin Violin

By Elizabeth Caulfield Felt, Andy Felt, Craig Felt, and Tom Felt. 131 pages. $7

This is the mystery that everyone will be talking about! A novel for young people that takes place at the American Suzuki Institute on the campus of…

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The Suzuki International Piano Committee is currently completing its work on the newly revised and edited International Editions of Suzuki Piano Books 4-7. These books are projected to be released at the SAA Conference in May, 2010. The accompanying CDs, performed by Seizo Azuma, will be released approximately mid-summer 2010.

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The following report consists of three sections:

1. A history of the book revision process,

2. A description of the procedure for the compilation, editing, and publication of the revised editions for Books 1-5 and,

3. A look forward at the upper books in the Suzuki Violin School.

Read more of ISA Violin Committee Report on the Revised International Editions of the Suzuki Violin School »

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

Does SAA have any written materials free for members that outline all business aspects of starting and administering a studio or music school? How do you start a studio? What resources are available to beginning Suzuki teachers?

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Last summer, focus groups at summer Institutes were asked to submit questions for a panel of “Suzuki Experts” to answer. Here are the first two:

How do we help our students learn to read music without deterioration of their technique?

First of all, teachers need to be sure that a student’s posture and technique are well set and secure before introducing a music reading method book. There are a lot of pre-reading exercises and activities that can prepare a student for reading, in much the same way that language reading is prepared before language reading is formally taught.…

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The International Suzuki Piano Committee, working with Mr. E.L. Lancaster of Alfred Publishing Company, met in Boulder, CO, in November 2008 to begin work on revisions to Suzuki Piano Method Books 4-7. History was made for Suzuki Piano as a result of our decisions for the revisions of these books. All five regions of the ISA (SAA, ESA, PPSA, TERI and ASA) voted in favor of changes and additions to the repertoire to provide greater stylistic variety to the Suzuki Piano Repertoire. SAA Teacher Trainers are very excited about the changes and look forward to the publication of these new books.

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The book Talent Is Overrated by Geoff Colvin will be discussed during the Virtual Leadership Retreat. There is a review of the book in the latest issue of the ASJ on page 31. Read the book in preparation for the VLR, or at the very least this article by Colvin on CNN: Why Talent Is Overrated.

Guitarist William Kanengiser, Alfred Publishing, and the Guitar Committee of the International Suzuki Association have come to agreement on his recording of Books 8 and 9 of the Suzuki Guitar Schoo.

Recognized as one of America’s most brilliant guitarists, William Kanengiser has developed a unique repertoire for his instrument, ranging from dazzling arrangements of Mozart, Handel, and Bartók to his innovative excursions into the music of Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. Praised by the Los Angeles Times for his “dizzying execution” and “exceeding vitality and warmth,” Mr. Kanengiser has performed in recital and as guest soloist with orchestras in virtually every…

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Alfred Publishing has just released Book 9 of the Suzuki Guitar School and the edition should be on music store shelves by next week. The volume represents a 25 year collaborative project in the development of an effective application of Dr. Suzuki’s approach as applied to the guitar. Representatives from across the United States, Australia, and Europe worked carefully to select, test, and edit the edition. The pieces in the volume include:

1. Recuerdos de la Alhambra Tárrega, F.
2. Capricio Arabe Tárrega, F.
3. Fantasia Mudarra
4. Theme & Variations Sor, F.
5. Asturias Albéniz, M.

We are sure that…

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Mary Craig Powell and E.L. Lancaster discuss the improvements and changes made by the international piano committee. Four teachers demonstrate and discuss the four new pieces added to these books. From the 2008 SAA Conference session.

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Mary Craig Powell and E.L. Lancaster discuss the improvements and changes made by the international piano committee. Four teachers demonstrate and discuss the four new pieces added to these books. From the 2008 SAA Conference session, “Energize Your Teaching with the New Suzuki Piano Books 1-3.”

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Mary Craig Powell and E.L. Lancaster discuss the improvements and changes made by the international piano committee. Four teachers demonstrate and discuss the four new pieces added to these books. From the 2008 SAA Conference session, “Energize Your Teaching with the New Suzuki Piano Books 1-3”.

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View a video of the SAA Violin Committee’s presentation on the revised Suzuki violin books from the 2008 Conference. The presentation includes a comprehensive overview of the newly published Suzuki Violin School Volumes 1, 2 and 3 and their recordings. The committee outlines the history and mechanics of the revision process, and the procedure for the compilation, editing and publication of future volumes.

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The SAA Violin Committee presents a comprehensive overview of the newly published Suzuki Violin School Volumes 1, 2 and 3 and their recordings. The committee outlines the history and mechanics of the revision process, and the procedure for the compilation, editing and publication of future volumes. From the 2008 Conference session “New Violin Books and Recordings”.

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The SAA Violin Committee presents a comprehensive overview of the newly published Suzuki Violin School Volumes 1, 2 and 3 and their recordings. The committee outlines the history and mechanics of the revision process, and the procedure for the compilation, editing and publication of future volumes. From the 2008 Conference session “New Violin Books and Recordings”.

Read more of New Violin Books and Recordings »