Conference

Now is your last chance register for the May SAA Conference!

You must register online or by mail by Thursday, May 10 to pay the regular price. Walk-in registration will be available Thursday evening, May 24, but prices will be $30 higher.

Basic full conference fee for members staying at the Minneapolis Hilton Hotel is $225, plus $25 tickets to the SAA 40th Anniversary Concert featuring Time for Three.

Register online for a 3% discount in addition to the usual Hilton and college student discounts.

Register Now!

The conference is at the **Hilton Minneapolis, Thursday, May 24…

Read more of Conference Registration Ends May 10! »

If you haven’t already made your hotel reservations:

Make your Hilton reservations by tomorrow
— these special rates end on May 3.

Children 18 and under may stay with parent/chaperone at no additional charge.

To book a room at the Hilton at the special SAA Conference rates, see the hotel and travel page.

See you in Minneapolis!

Now is your last chance to get early bird pricing for the May SAA Conference!

You must register online or by mail by Saturday, March 31 to receive the early bird prices.

To make food and hospitality plans we need a good idea of how many people will be attending. Please make your conference and
hotel reservations early, if you can, so we can plan appropriately.

The conference is at the
Hilton Minneapolis, Thursday, May 24 through Monday, May 28. You should arrive by 5pm on Thursday evening, May 24 for check-in.

Read more of Conference Early Bird Rates End March 31 »

As teachers, we are constantly looking for ways to tend to the excellent musical and character development of our students. But do we put as much care into nurturing ourselves?

The conference serves the same function for us as group class does for our students. Think about it: The conference motivates us, it makes us think about things in new ways, it gives us new tools, and it connects us with other like-minded people.

Don’t miss out on the special opportunities for personal growth that our conference group class provides! If you haven’t already done so, make plans to attend the [url=/conference/]SAA…

Read more of Violin Teachers: Join Us at the SAA Conference »

Calling all Pianists!

The 2012 Suzuki Conference, “40 and Forward,” is promising to be a true celebration of all the Suzuki method has accomplished in the US in the last 40 years.

The piano events we’ve planned for you are spectacular.

You will be able to watch the legendary teacher and pianist Ann Schein in 2 hours of piano masterclasses. During those hours you will hear Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin and Bach!

Our very own Suzuki teachers, Fay Adams, Marina Obukovsky, Christopher Liccardo and Mary Craig Powell will be teaching masterclasses on New Repertoire in Suzuki Piano books, as well…

Read more of Piano Teachers: Join Us at the SAA Conference »

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 »

Dear harp colleagues, teachers, parents and students,

I’m very pleased to announce a varied, practical, and highly instructive set of workshops for the harp at the SAA conference this year—from sessions focusing on “details” such as music ornamentation to confidence in keeping a well-cared for harp, from comprehending music theory with enjoyment to the new Suzuki harp repertoire on the horizon.

Our harp clinician is Karen Gottlieb, who will be presenting a few sessions in addition to teaching the harp master class.

There is much to be gleaned and shared over this exciting weekend. If you aren’t yet…

Read more of Harp Teachers: Join Us at the SAA Conference »

Dear Colleagues, Parents and Friends,

Please join us for the 40th Anniversary Conference in May!

We are looking forward to an exciting program of events at the upcoming 2012 conference! Among our esteemed speakers will be William Starr who will be presenting, along with Dorothy Jones, never before seen video of Dr. Suzuki reflecting on his views on Early Childhood Education.

Dr. Laurel Trainor, along with SAA member David Gerry, will be presenting their research on the Suzuki Early Childhood Education (SECE) classes.

Leena Crothers (Piano teacher trainer), Edmund Sprunger (Violin teacher trainer), and Sharon Jones (SECE teacher trainer) will be among some of…

Read more of Suzuki Early Childhood Teachers: Join Us at the SAA Conference »

Hello friends,

What are your plans for Memorial Day Weekend? You won’t want to miss the SAA Conference in Minneapolis, May 24-28, “40 and FORWARD.”

Hear William Starr on Visiting the Past, Revitalizing the Future.

Enjoy Julie Albers playing the Bach Cello Suite No. 3.

Watch Julie Albers as she works with 6 Master Class students, four of whom will be playing Bach and two of whom will be playing a Book 9 & 10 concerto movement.

There are 9 great cello sessions:

• All Thumbs: Left and Right Thumb Challenges with Pamela Devenport

• Bach to the Future with David…

Read more of Cello Teachers: Join Us at the SAA Conference »

Greetings Suzuki Flutists!

I would like to encourage each of you to join the SAA in celebrating 40 years of service to the Suzuki Community. Our bi-annual Conference is May 24-28 in Minneapolis, MN and is a weekend you definitely do not want to miss. These conferences are for all of us, not just the Teacher Trainers.

We will be having wonderful and informative sessions on everything from note reading to teaching via Skype, 10 minute mini-lessons, a flute ensemble reading session, group lesson ideas, Suzuki flute in Latin America and much, much more.

In addition, there are general sessions that cover subjects…

Read more of Flute Teachers: Join Us at the SAA Conference »

Hello Fellow Violists,

I hope you are are already making plans to attend the SAA 2012 Conference in Minneapolis this May. If not, please consider the reunions with old friend, new friendships to be made, and the many enlivening sessions the weekend promises. A visit to the SAA Conference website is a great place to start for more information on sessions offered, registration and even things like room sharing to help defray the cost.

Kirsten Docter will be the clinician for two viola master classes: one on Bach and one of other repertoire.

Please see below for sessions…

Read more of Viola Teachers: Join Us at the SAA Conference »

Hello recorder players and teachers!

Have you registered for the SAA Conference yet?

If you haven’t been before, this is the year to do it!

Not only do we have some excellent recorder events planned, featuring our guest clinician from Brazil, Renata Pereira, but with the focus on Bach at this year’s conference there will be more early music content than ever before.

Come and be part of our International Suzuki Community!

Learn more about the conference

Register now

Hotel reservations

Kathleen Schoen
Conference Recorder Coordinator

Unpublished scholarly research papers, posters, and/or graduate student research projects, at any stage of development, on topics relevant to Talent Education are invited for submission to the 11th International Research Symposium or the IRSTE Graduate Student Seminar and “research master class” with Dr. Laurel Trainor (Director, Institute for Music and the Mind, McMaster University).

Appropriate topic areas could include early childhood development, any related areas of music education, instrumental education, historical research regarding the Suzuki method, teacher-student interaction, and parental involvement in music education.

Papers and graduate project ideas must be no…

Read more of Deadline Extended on Research Papers for IRSTE »

Registration for the 2012 Conference is now open online. Prices for members start at $225. Register by March 31 for the early bird discount!

I’m a sucker for a good old American dream story. That’s the kind where somebody starts with nothing, and through determination and hard work, creates something fabulous. It makes me happy to be part of a society that values that sort of thing. The story I’m going to tell is particularly intriguing because it’s about two entities, once unknown to each other, and how they became entwined based on their common values—and dreams.

The first character in this story is the Suzuki Association of the Americas. This year will mark the fortieth anniversary of the organization.…

Read more of A Star for Don »

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 »

Airport to Hotel Transportation

SuperShuttle

SuperShuttle is offering discounted rates for our conference with the code B2N5K.

• SuperShuttle Shared-Ride: $16 one way, $26 round trip per person. Savings of $1 or $8 round trip.

• Exclusive Van Save on Service, up to 10 passengers: $85 plus 18% gratuity.

• ExecuCar Sedan Service: $43 plus 18% gratuity per direction for up to 4 passengers.

Reservations from the airport are not required for SuperShuttle service, but are recommended. ExecuCar must be reserved and pre-paid in advance.

Make SuperShuttle Reservations

At Terminal #1: Upon arrival to MSP International airport: Claim your luggage at Baggage Claim. From “Baggage”…

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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 »

NOTE: DEADLINE FOR REGULAR SESSION PROPOSALS HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL NOVEMBER 6 DUE TO EMERGENCY CONDITIONS ON EAST COAST.

Dear Colleagues,

The deadlines for 2012 SAA Conference session proposals are fast approaching!

The title of this conference is Forty and Forward. 2012 is the 40th anniversary of the SAA, so we will be celebrating the accomplishments and key figures that have contributed to our current success, as well as looking forward to our continuing pursuit of excellent music education in the future.

The featured themes of the conference will be communication, outreach, and the music of Bach. However, sessions in instrument areas can be…

Read more of Conference Session Proposals Due Sunday (Nano & Mini Due Nov 15) »

Applications for most student events at our next conference are due tomorrow, October 15. This includes Chamber Music, Master Classes, Flute Performing Ensemble, Recorder Consort, Bass Choir, Guitar Ensemble, and SYOA 1 and 2.

Complete the online application by midnight on October 15. You can upload your video with the online application, or postmark your DVDs on the 15th.

Requirements for Student Participation Opportunities

Student Event Application

Due later:

• November 30: Kaleidoscope Concert
• December 15: Piano Concerto