Teacher Audition Guide

SAA Audition Requirements for Short-Term and Apprenticeship Teacher Training

General Information

The SAA considers training to be professional pedagogical study, i.e. for professional musicians, for course content, pace, and audition purposes. To qualify as a Participant in Short-Term and Apprentice courses, you must submit and pass an audition. When a course is taken and completed, it will be registered with the SAA. Training is to be taken and registered in order through Book 2 (i.e., ECC, Book 1, then Book 2). Accepted violin and viola auditions are interchangeable through Book 4 only; violin and viola courses are interchangeable through Book 3.

Training Eligibility Requirements

  1. High school graduation
  2. SAA active membership
  3. Every Child Can! course (pre-requisite for Book 1; no audition required)
  4. Video audition accepted by SAA

Video Audition

Audition Options by Training Level

Audition Deadlines

Short-Term (Institutes/Workshops)

The postmark deadline is no later than 8 weeks prior to the course start. If no audition is sent or results are not known before the course start, you may enroll in training as audition pending (see below).

Apprenticeships

The postmark deadline is no later than 8 weeks prior to the completion of the first book studied.

Late Fees

Late submission fees are due after postmark deadline date. Processing time varies from 4 to 8 weeks in most cases. Results may not be available by course start for late submissions.

Preparing and Submitting Your Audition

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

  2. Home filming is usually adequate, but ensure sound is best quality possible.

  3. Acceptable format: DVD

  4. Set camera to show player’s hands and body position, using the closest camera distance to also include as much of the entire body as possible.

  5. Make 2 copies, make sure both copies play on your TV DVD player. Keep 1 copy for your records.

  6. Label submission with name, address, phone, instrument, and pieces(s) performed.

  7. Use a trackable form of shipping. Shipping with padding is recommended.

Audition Evaluation

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, consistency with stylistic conventions.

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

Basic: For Training in Books 1-4

For training in Books 1-4 and supplementary/overview courses on those books: Submit an audition of both specified pieces below to SAA. Roman numerals indicate the movement. Edition is your choice. If this audition is accepted, you must submit the Intermediate or Comprehensive Auditions for training in Books 5 and up.

Violin: Seitz Concerto No. 5, I; Vivaldi Concerto in a minor, III
Viola: Seitz Concerto No. 5, I; Vivaldi Concerto in d minor, III
Cello: Breval Sonata in C Major, Allegro; Tchaikovsky, Chanson Triste
Bass: Marcello Sonata No. 2 in e minor, Adagio, allegro
Piano: Beethoven Sonata Op. 49 No. 2, I; Minuet I from Bach Partita in B flat
Flute: Blavet Sonata No. 2 in d minor, Sarabande and Finale
Guitar: Mozart Bourree; R. Vidali La Folia Variations
Harp: Carlos Salzedo, Chanson dans la Nuit; Haydn Theme and Variations
Recorder: Handel Hornpipe from Water Music Suite (soprano Book 4); J.S. Bach Rondeau from Suite No. 2 (alto Book 4)
Organ: Bach Preludes in C M/m: BWV 553 (8 Kleine Preludien & Fugen); BWV 549 (Peters IV)
Voice: See Comprehensive audition.

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

Intermediate: For Training in Books 1-7/9

For training in Books 1 through 7/9 and supplementary/overview courses based on those books: This audition may be used as an initial audition (as an alternate to Basic or Comprehensive), 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 a choice of movements is noted). Edition is your choice. If your Intermediate Audition is not accepted, you can submit a retry on the Basic Audition, depending on the training levels desired (see retry options for deadlines).

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)
Cello: Faure Elegie (for approval through Book 8)
Bass: NA (see Comprehensive Audition)
Piano: NA (see Comprehensive Audition)
Flute: Mozart Concerto No. 2 in D Major, K. 314, I or II (for approval through Book 9)
Guitar: both Bach Gavottes 1 & 2 (located in Suzuki Guitar Book 5) and J. Guimares Sound of Bells (for approval through Book 7)
Harp: TBA
Voice: See Comprehensive audition.

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

Comprehensive: For All Training Courses

For training in ALL books and supplementary/overview courses: This audition may be used as an initial audition (as an alternate choice to the others), or after an accepted Basic or Intermediate audition to continue training beyond the level of that 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 allowed). If your Comprehensive Audition is not accepted, you can submit a retry on the Basic or Intermediate Audition, depending on the training levels desired (see retry options for deadlines).

Violin: Mozart Concerto No. 4, I or Concerto No. 5, I
Viola: Schubert Arpeggione, I
Cello: Haydn Concerto in C Major, I or Boccherini Concerto in B flat, I
Bass: Dittersdorf Concerto No. 2 in E Major, I
Piano: Mozart Sonata K330, I or K331, I
Flute: Chaminade Concertino
Guitar: Sor Variations on a Theme by Mozart
Recorder: Corelli Sonata in F Major, Op. 5 No. 4, II
Harp: Hindemith Sonata, I
Organ: NA

Voice Comprehensive Audition

Include all of the following on your Voice audition DVD:

  1. Unaccompanied

    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 or Gial sole dal Gange by Scarlatti

  3. Accompanied and in Original Language

    1. 1 German Lied of the applicant’s choice (Schubert, Schumann or Brahms)
    2. 1 Spanish or French Art Song of the applicant’s choice
    3. 1 American or English Art Song of the applicant’s choice

Questions, please contact: SAA Suzuki Voice Teacher Trainer, Mary Hofer: [javascript protected email address]

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

Audition Pending, Retries & Auditors (Short-Term Training Only)

If an audition is not sent before the start of your course or results of your audition are not available, you may enroll in training as audition pending. The postmark deadline for audition pending is 8 weeks after course finish. If an audition pending is accepted, your status becomes Participant and your training course can be registered; if an audition pending is sent after the postmark deadline, or not accepted, your status becomes Auditor.

Depending on submission/results timing, audition pending may result in no retry options. Retries on unaccepted auditions are welcome, with a new application and fees ($45 US/CAN), if postmarked by 8 weeks after course finish.

The SAA strongly encourages Participant status. Auditor status is appropriate if unable to meet course attendance, observation, or playing requirements, but an Auditor may not have full participation in class, and will not be allowed to register the course with the SAA.

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

Last updated August 25 2010

Printable Forms

Audition Application Form