Teachers & Parents

Start your new year off on the right foot by registering for Parents as Partners Online!

The 2012 event will begin Monday, January 30
and run through the end of June.

During February and March, new talks on parent education and Suzuki-related topics will be posted weekly, as well as selected presentations from PPO 2011. What better way to nurture yourself and your own studio parents along the Suzuki journey than watching a short video at your convenience?

Read more of Register Now for Parents as Partners Online! Starts January 30 »

The Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) is celebrating its fortieth anniversary, a time to recognize the remarkable accomplishments of Suzuki education in the Americas. Hundreds of thousands of students and families have been touched by the teachings of Shinichi Suzuki. Moreover, instrumental music education has seen a radical shift in philosophy.

Forty years ago, music educators had low expectations for most children, with special attention reserved for the so-called gifted or talented students. Today, largely because of the influence of Suzuki teachers, it is widely recognized that with excellent teaching and support, all children can play in tune, make…

Read more of Chair’s Column »

Summer Institutes are just around the corner—time to get ready!

Here are a few articles to help you make the most of your time at an Institute this summer:

• Summer Suzuki Institutes: Planning for a Positive Experience

• Be Prepared for Summer Institutes

• Lead with a Smile! Making the Most of a Suzuki Institute

• Thoughts on the Institute Experience

Patience. Generosity. Empathy. Determination. Joyfulness. Problem-solving skills. Kindness. Dependability. Creativity. Attentiveness. Flexibility. Resourcefulness. A lifelong love of learning…

These are just some of the character qualities that can be shaped through study of a musical instrument. Dr. Suzuki emphasized developing “good citizens” and encouraging “a noble heart through music”—and that’s what inspired me to become a teacher. To this day I believe that music can change the world.

Which is why I want to tear my hair out when I hear a parent sigh “So, exactly when will we be done with this piece?”

Read more of Ask the Experts #23: Redefining Parent Goals »