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Teacher Audition Guide

The SAA considers its Teacher Development Program to be in-depth pedagogical study for professional musicians. To qualify as a Participant in the courses, you must submit and pass an audition. When a course is taken and completed, it will be registered with the SAA. Registered courses count towards earning a Certificate of Achievement.

Training Eligibility Requirements

  1. Minimum age of 17 and a high school diploma
  2. SAA active membership
  3. Every Child Can! course (pre-requisite for Book 1; no audition required)
  4. Video audition accepted by SAA
  5. Books 1 and 2 must be taken in order

Audition Requirements

Audition Levels

Audition Deadlines

Audition deadline is 2 months before course start date. Late submission fees are due after this date.

Processing time varies from 4-8 weeks in most cases. Results from late submissions may not be available by start of course.

Preparing and Submitting Your Audition

  • Prepare a well-polished performance. Memorization and accompaniment are not required.

  • No written or oral comments, performance only.

  • Home filming is usually adequate. Please review your recording for video and audio quality before submitting.

  • Camera position must focus on player’s hand position and show entire body if possible.

  • Audition must be submitted in DVD format; make sure it plays on your DVD player (not just on your computer). Keep a copy for yourself.

  • Label DVD with your name, address, phone, instrument and piece(s) performed.

  • Include application form and payment.

  • It is recommended that you use a trackable form of shipping.

Evaluation Criteria

Areas that will be evaluated in your audition include: physical balance, ease of movement, tone production, note accuracy, rhythmic accuracy, intonation, maintaining steady pulse, playing with appropriate tempo, dynamic variation, appropriate and consistent articulation, creation of motion in melodic line and phrase shaping and consistency with stylistic conventions.

Basic: For Training in Books 1-4

For training in Books 1-4: Submit an audition of both specified pieces below to SAA. Roman numerals indicate the movement. Edition is your choice. An accepted basic audition qualifies the applicant to register as a participant in Books 1-4.

Bass: Marcello Sonata No. 2 in e minor, Adagio and Allegro

Cello: Breval Sonata in C Major, Allegro and Tchaikovsky, Chanson Triste

Flute: Blavet Sonata No. 2 in d minor, Sarabande and Finale

Guitar (Classical): Mozart Bourree and R. Vidali La Folia Variations. For Book 1 training, guitar teachers need to demonstrate fluent use of rest stroke with the fingers, freestroke with the thumb, nail tone, and alternation.

Harp: Carlos Salzedo, Chanson dans la Nuit and Haydn Theme and Variations

Organ: Bach Preludes in C M/m, BWV 553 (from 8 Kleine Preludien & Fugen) and BWV 549 (Peters IV)

Piano: Beethoven Sonata Op. 49 No. 2, I and Minuet I from Bach Partita in B-Flat

Recorder: Handel Hornpipe from Water Music Suite (Soprano Book 4) and J.S. Bach Rondeau from Suite No. 2 (Alto Book 4)

Violin: Seitz Concerto No. 5, I and Vivaldi Concerto in a minor, III *

Viola: Seitz Concerto No. 5, I and Vivaldi Concerto in d minor, III *

Voice: See special voice requirements below.

* Violin and viola auditions are interchangeable through Book 4. Violin and viola courses are interchangeable through Book 3. Book 4 viola is the prerequisite for Book 5 viola.

Voice Requirements & Basic Audition

For Voice Books 1-3.

  1. Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Music Education degree with significant private voice study, or the equivalent.

  2. SAA introductory course “Every Child Can”.

    The Suzuki Voice Teacher Development courses are closed to auditors. Only approved candidates may participate in the teacher training classes.

  3. Audition:

    Submit all of the following performances on DVD to Suzuki Association of Americas for approval prior to May 24 for summer training. Because the review committee consists of teachers from different countries, it is suggested that materials be sent in as early as possible.

    1. Unaccompanied (both):
      1. Wiegenlied by Bernard Fliess (in German) (can be found in Pathways of Song, Vol. 1 or Mozart Lieder, Peters Edition)
      2. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in the applicant’s native language
    2. Accompanied and in original language (choose one):
      1. Le Violette
      2. Gial sole dal Gange by Scarlatti
    3. Accompanied and in original language (one of each, four pieces total):
      1. A German Lied of the applicant’s choice (Schubert, Schumann, or Brahms)
      2. A Spanish or French Art Song of the applicant’s choice
      3. An American or English Art Song of the applicant’s choice
      4. An Aria of the applicant’s choice
    4. Piano Proficiency Skills:
      1. Performance of Mozart Lullaby (the accompaniment)

    Questions? Please contact SAA Suzuki Voice Teacher Trainer Mary Hofer at

Download the audition application form (required with your submission).

Intermediate: For Training in Books 1-7/9

For training in the middle books: This audition may be used as an initial audition (as an alternate choice to the others), or after an accepted Basic Audition to continue training beyond Book 4. Submit an audition of the specified pieces below to SAA. Roman numerals indicate the movement. Where two pieces are specified, both must be performed (except flute, where it is a choice of movements noted). Edition is your choice.

Bass: See Comprehensive Audition

Cello: Faure Elegie (for approval through Book 8)

Flute: Mozart Concerto No. 2 in D Major, K. 314, I or II (for approval through Book 9)

Guitar (Classical): both Bach Gavottes 1 & 2 (located in Suzuki Guitar Book 5) and J. Guimares Sound of Bells (for approval through Book 7)

Harp: See Comprehensive Audition

Piano: See Comprehensive Audition

Violin: Bach Concerto in a minor, I, BWV 1041 (for approval through Book 8)

Viola: J.C.Bach Concerto in c minor, I (Bach/Casadesus) (for approval through Book 8)

Download the audition application form (required with your submission).

Comprehensive: For All Training Courses

For training in All Books: This audition may be used as an initial audition (as an alternate choice to the others), or after an accepted Basic or Intermediate Audition for training beyond the level of the previous audition. Submit an audition of the specified pieces below to SAA. Roman numerals indicate the movement. Where two pieces are indicated, choose one. Edition is your choice. Play all cadenza sections (alternate cadenzas are allowed).

Bass: Dittersdorf Concerto No. 2 in E Major, I

Cello: Haydn Concerto in C Major, I or Boccherini Concerto in B-Flat, I

Flute: Chaminade Concertino

Harp: Hindemith Sonata, I

Guitar (Classical): Sor Variations on a Theme by Mozart

Piano: Mozart Sonata K. 330, I or K. 331, I

Recorder: Corelli Sonata in F Major, Op. 5 No. 4, II

Violin: Mozart Concerto No. 4, I or Concerto No. 5, I

Viola: Schubert Arpeggione, I

Download the audition application form (required with your submission).

Provisional Participants & Auditors

The SAA strongly encourages Participant status. If an audition is not sent before the start of the course or the results of your audition are not yet available when you begin the course, your status will be Audition Pending (Provisional Participant).

The postmark deadline for Audition Pending (Provisional Participant) is 1 month from the course start date. If the audition is accepted, your status becomes Participant and your course participation will be registered, provided that all other requirements are met. If the audition is not accepted, your status becomes Auditor and the course will not be registered.

Download the audition application form (required with your submission).