Harp

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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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.

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Suzuki Harp students and teachers will gather at the Conference for a weekend of learning, sharing and inspiration. Harp sessions include Master classes and a harp session by Angela Willis; Supplemental Materials for Suzuki Harp Students, Books 1-5+ by Elinor Niemisto; “Five Different Animals”—Aria in a Classic Style by Grandjany, presented by Shru De Li Ownby; reading sessions by Mary Kay Waddington and Phala Tracy; 20 great teaching ideas by Mary Kay Waddington and a session by Delaine Fedson.

–Janell Lemire, Harp Coordinator

For lots of great information about Suzuki Harp, see the new Suzuki Harp Info website created by Mary Kay Waddington and the Suzuki Harp Committee.

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,…

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Preview of the Piano / Flute / Harp DVD from the 2008 SAA Conference

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We are thrilled to announce that María Luisa Rayan-Forero will be our guest clinician! The masterclasses will be a great opportunity for advanced students to work with a world renowned instructor. Ms. Rayan-Forero is also planning to teach a workshop on Latin Rhythms for teachers of all instruments. What a fantastic way to “Expand the Vision” in rhythm! Our Suzuki clinician will be Jill Whitman from
Washington State, an extremely experienced and inspiring teacher. Students of all ages and abilities will benefit from these masterclasses and we teachers will benefit from observing them!

We are also…

Read more of Harp at Suzuki Conference 2008 »

One of the benefits of being a teacher of young children is having a good reason to indulge in a weakness for attractive children’s books. The waiting students need books to look at and/or read, right? Of course being a Suzuki teacher means that children’s books dealing with music are particularly attractive. The Adventures of a Harp Mouse by Diane E. Dunn certainly falls into this category. The book came to the Suzuki Association’s attention by a chance internet exchange. This is particularly appropriate because harp mouse’s…

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