Teacher Development Document

This page needs to be updated. For now, please see the latest version as a PDF.

Effective September, 1992, (Revised 09/03, 1/04, 4/04, 09/04, and 05/06)

  1. Prerequisites for all Courses
  2. Entrance Requirements
  3. Tracks Available for Core Course Teacher Training
  4. Additional Course Formats
  5. General Course Requirements
  6. SAA Registration
  7. Consultation and Auditing Courses
  8. Violin and Viola Teacher Trainer Guidelines

Philosophy of Suzuki Teacher Development

The SAA is committed to Dr. Suzuki’s belief that every child can learn. Likewise, SAA Teacher Trainers believe in the potential of adults—that teachers can develop and improve their teaching skills. Potential Suzuki teachers begin their training with good playing skills and accept a commitment to life-long learning. The Suzuki teacher’s training and learning is never complete.

SAA Teacher Trainers promote respect and sharing among teachers and students and value Suzuki teaching as a profession. They also communicate to those in their teacher development classes the concept that all Suzuki teachers recognize their influence on the families of their students, and accept their responsibility to nurture the development of each child.

Explanation of the SAA Approved Teacher Training Program

The SAA has formulated requirements to ensure high standards for teacher training, and to make possible the recognition of such training. The course offerings regulated by the SAA fall into three categories:

  • Core Courses, including the SAA Practicum Units™
  • Supplementary Courses
  • Enrichment Study

These courses must meet the requirements outlined in this document to be eligible for SAA registration. Approved training is available with registered Teacher Trainers in violin, viola, cello, piano, bass, flute, guitar, recorder, harp, organ (ESA Trainer), and early childhood education. This training is done primarily through the Core courses which are in the instrument and area specific Unit Courses and the SAA Practicum Units™.

I. Prerequisites for all Courses

  1. ### Every Child Can!©

    All Suzuki Teacher Development begins with the course Every Child Can! © An Introduction to Suzuki Education. Because the Every Child Can!© course is unique, details about its content, organization, and specific requirements are described separately from the regular Short-Term Unit Courses. You will find further information about ECC!© in section 2 of this manual. ECC!©, or its equivalent, will be included in the introductory portion of all long-term training courses.

    Note: High-School graduation (ECC!© may be taken by High-School students who are within six months of graduation.) or equivalent and age 17 are required to take ECC!©, and all other SAA Teacher Development Courses.

II. Entrance Requirements

  1. Video Audition

    A video audition is required of everyone wishing to pursue short-term and apprenticeship Suzuki training as a Participant. The SAA expects the course audition to be completed and accepted before the beginning of training. Under some circumstances, the Trainer may accept students in a “Tape Pending” status when audition results are not yet available. See video application form for further “Tape Pending” guidelines. This form also gives audition repertoire for the various instruments. (Video App. Form section 1 of this manual.) The SAA video audition is not required for long-term courses. (See a. Entrance Requirements under Long-Term Course Format.)

    For multi-instrumentalists, separate auditions are required for each instrument, each on its own tape/DVD and with multiple audition fees. Applicants for training on both violin and viola may audition on their preferred instrument. If accepted, they may train through the book unit approved by that audition; and train on the second instrument through Book 2 only. Another audition on the second instrument is required for training beyond the Book 2 level.

  2. SAA Membership

    Since ECC!© is the entry course for teacher development, it may be taken without membership to the Suzuki Association of the Americas. However, those who wish to pursue the SAA Teacher Development program will need to join the SAA as active members before enrolling in the first course of their chosen track beyond the ECC!©.

III. Tracks Available for Core Course Teacher Training

  1. Instrument Specific, Core Courses

    The instruments for which Suzuki Teacher Development courses are available include violin, viola, cello, piano, bass, flute, guitar, recorder, and harp. The various ways of obtaining this training are described below.

    1. Long-Term Course Format

      Long-Term Teacher Training is found in colleges and universities and is normally part of a degree or certificate program. In addition to the requirements of the sponsoring institution, the course includes intensive work in pedagogy and performance, observation, and practice teaching. The Suzuki Pedagogy faculty must be on the SAA Teacher Trainer Registry.

      1. Entrance Requirements
        • The ability to play competently at the level of the SAA audition required for the course level being studied.
        • Acceptance by the institution or school offering the program.
      2. Program Content
        • ECC!© or the equivalent should be offered at the beginning of the long- term training course.
        • Intensive study of Suzuki philosophy, pedagogy, and repertoire.
        • Ongoing individual study of the instrument.
        • Performance of Suzuki materials (Long-Term Course Format).
        • Exploration of other approaches to place the Suzuki ideas in perspective.
        • Observation of lessons and classes of experienced Suzuki teachers, and supervised practice teaching that meets the minimum requirements of the SAA Practicum Units™. (See SAA Practicum Units™ in section 2 of this manual.)
      3. Length of Program

        The design of the program is at the discretion of the Teacher Trainer, and is normally a minimum of two years.

      4. Graduation Requirements

        Thorough understanding of the Suzuki approach and its materials demonstrated through written papers, performances and sample teaching.

      5. Registration

        Registration of the course levels taken is to be done yearly. The registrant pays the normal registration fee for one registration each year.

        Note: Any teacher graduated from the Talent Education Institute, Matsumoto, Japan, may register a copy of the graduation certificate with the SAA as long-term training.

    2. Apprenticeship Course Format

      Apprenticeship courses accommodate persons desiring training with a SAA registered Teacher Trainer that permits flexibility for meeting their goals and needs, and who wish to study Suzuki pedagogy unit by unit in that Trainer’s home studio, school, or program over an unspecified period of time.

      1. Entrance Requirements

        ECC!© must be taken prior to the course or be included at the beginning of the apprenticeship. SAA active membership and a video audition approved by the SAA are required for apprenticeship courses. Deadline for video submission is 8 weeks prior to the completion of the first unit of apprenticeship study.

      2. Course Content

        The content will follow the syllabus for the instrument being studied and will include performance of the repertoire, observation, discussion, and completion of assignments as given by the Teacher Trainer. Time spent with the Trainer and observation requirements should meet or exceed the requirements for Short-Term Courses.

      3. Registration

        Each unit of study may be registered with the SAA upon completion of the unit.

    3. Short-Term Core Course Format

      Unit Courses: Each Short-Term Unit course focuses on one Suzuki book level (Book 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.). For Units 2 and above, pedagogy, performance and observation take place in a concentrated five-day period. The option exists for two consecutive courses to be offered over a nine-day period. Unit 1 requires a minimum of eight days. (Detailed requirements given on pgs. 9-12.)

      1. Entrance Requirements

        ECC!© must be taken prior to any unit course. SAA active membership is required for taking all unit courses. A video audition that has been approved by the SAA is required for taking all unit courses as a Participant.

      2. Course Content

        Unit courses will follow the syllabus for the instrument being studied and will include performance of the repertoire, observation, discussion, and completion of assignments as given by the Teacher Trainer.

      3. Registration

        Those who are enrolled as Participants in unit courses may register their units with the SAA upon completion of the unit.

        Note: All Short-term courses, whether, core, supplementary, or practicum, must go through the approval process in order to be eligible for SAA registration. (See Application Guide for Short-term and Apprentice Teacher Training in Section 1 of this manual.)

    4. SAA Practicum Units™

      The Practicum Unit™, which focuses on pedagogy and honing the art of teaching, is also a Core course. This short-term unit was developed to enhance the SAA’s system of short-term workshop training. These courses will be officially called SAA Practicum Units™. (SAA Practicum Unit™ in Violin, in Cello, in Piano, etc.) Classes are instrument-specific.

      1. Entrance Requirements

        Participants must have taught Suzuki students for a minimum of 1 year and must have completed and registered ECC!© and Unit 1. Beyond this required minimum level of training and experience, the SAA Practicum Units™ are appropriate and beneficial for any Suzuki teacher.

      2. Course Content

        Topics to be explored will include communication skills, teaching strategies, diagnostics and observation. Activities will consist of a combination of:

        • Discussion of participants’ videoed lessons
        • Teaching exercises
        • On-site teaching (SAA Practicum Units™): On-site teaching is to include volunteer students who will receive extra lessons beyond those scheduled in the regular Institute curriculum. Volunteer students may or may not be students from the participant’s own studio.
      3. Registration

        Registration of the SAA Practicum Units™ follows the guidelines of the unit courses.

  2. Early Childhood Education, Core Courses

    The Suzuki Association of the Americas encourages the implementation of Dr. Suzuki’s educational philosophy in the general education of children, not just in the area of music education. Early Childhood Education courses will deal with the broad issues of childhood education; prenatal through the elementary school years. For guidelines see section 2 of this manual, and for syllabi section 8.

    1. Long Term Course Format

      Since the Teacher Development Program for ECE is fairly young, there are no official long-term training programs at this time.

    2. Apprenticeship Course Format

      Apprenticeship courses accommodate persons desiring training with a SAA registered Teacher Trainer that permits flexibility for meeting their goals. An ECE apprenticeship will include the content of the following courses: ECC!©, ECE Introduction, Prenatal and Baby Years, Preschool Years, Elementary School Years, and Overview.

    3. Short Term Core Course Format

      Short term ECE courses are: ECE Introduction, Prenatal and Baby Years, Preschool Year, Elementary School Year, and Overview. Each course is a 5 day (25 hours) study period including observation in Suzuki Early Childhood classes and pedagogy sessions with an ECE Teacher Trainer.

      1. Entrance Requirements

        ECC!© must be taken prior to any ECE course. SAA active membership is required for taking all courses.

      2. Course Content

        Each course will follow the syllabus in section 8 and will include lecture, observation, discussion, and completion of assignments as given by the Teacher Trainer.

      3. Registration

        Those who are enrolled as Participants in courses may register the course with the SAA upon completion.

    4. SAA Practicum Units™

      To be developed.

      Note: ECC!© and the Introduction course must precede any of the other courses.

  3. Suzuki in the Schools, Core Courses

    The Suzuki Association of the Americas recommends and encourages the utilization of the Suzuki method and philosophy for any elementary or secondary, public or private school. Guidelines may be found in section 2 and a syllabus in section 8 of this manual.

    1. Long Term Course Format

      Since the Teacher Development Program for Suzuki in the Schools is fairly young, there are no official long-term training programs at this time.

    2. Apprenticeship Course Format

      1. Entrance Requirements

        Student must have completed and registered one of the following in order to receive SAA unit credit or college credit.

        • SAA Course Every Child Can!© and SAA approved Unit 1 course on primary string instrument.
        • SAA approved Units 1A and 1B prior to 09/03 or the equivalent in long-term teacher training.
      2. Program Content

        The course will follow the syllabus for Suzuki in the Schools short-term unit courses, and will include performance of the repertoire, observation, discussion and completion of assignments as given by the teacher.

      3. Registration

        Those who are enrolled as Participants in the course may register it with the SAA upon completion.

    3. Short Term Core Course Format

      1. Entrance Requirements

        Student must have completed and registered one of the following in order to receive SAA unit credit or college credit.

        • SAA Course Every Child Can!© and SAA approved Unit 1 course on primary string instrument.
        • SAA approved Units 1A and 1B prior to 09/03 or the equivalent in long-term teacher training.
      2. Program Content

        The course will follow the syllabus for Suzuki in the Schools and will include performance of the repertoire, observation, discussion and completion of assignments as given by the teacher.

      3. Registration

        Those who are enrolled as Participants in the course may register it with the SAA upon completion.

    4. SAA Practicum Units™

      To be developed.

IV. Additional Course Formats

  1. Supplementary Short-Term Courses

    The SAA encourages a variety of course offerings related to the Suzuki method which stimulate teacher participation and interaction and bring a broad spectrum of ideas to the teaching process. These courses are to offer further opportunities to emphasize particular pedagogical aspects directly related to Suzuki teaching.

    1. Entrance Requirements

      Supplementary courses are for teachers who have registered core courses through Unit 4. The Teacher Trainer will determine any additional qualifications for participants. These will be included in the announcement of the course.

    2. Course Content

      Possible areas for supplementary courses:

      • Study with Japanese Master Teachers: these courses offer unique perspectives on the Suzuki method. They do not replace core courses.
      • Overviews: these are surveys of at least 3 books of Suzuki repertoire with special emphasis on a certain area of learning (such as right or left hand technique, musicality, etc.)
      • Group class teaching.
      • Supplementary literature and materials.

    3. Registration

      Supplementary courses may registered in the same manner as unit courses.

  2. Enrichment Study

    Enrichment Study includes any continuing education class/lecture of at least 10 hours, dealing with material other than Suzuki core materials/units. Instructor need not be affiliated with the SAA.

    1. Entrance Requirement

      Since these courses are not overseen by the SAA, there are no entrance requirements from the SAA.

    2. Course Content

      Options for courses might include Kodaly, Dalcroze, or Orff classes; master classes, parent education seminars, conducting classes, and many other educational events. These may be offered at Institutes or any other venue.

    3. Registration

      Registration of such study allows the SAA member to build a more complete transcript of his/her study. A $10.00 registration fee is required to register any enrichment course. A registration form for enrichment classes can be found near the end of the SAA Membership Directory.

V. General Course Requirements

  1. Requirements of all Short-Term Courses

    (Variants and exceptions for Unit 1, Practicum, and Supplementary courses are given under specific headings B. C. and D.)

    1. A minimum of 15 class hours for each course of study.

    2. Attendance at 100% of the class.

    3. A minimum of 8 hours of supervised observation is required. Most observation should be at the level of the course of study. The Trainer may suggest specific types of lessons to observe. A record of the observations should be kept by the participant using the format prescribed by the Trainer. The Trainer should provide an opportunity to question or discuss what has been observed.

    4. The Trainer must keep track of attendance, observations and assignments completed.

    5. Course offered over a minimum of 5 days.

    6. Trainer is expected to check with the Director or course sponsor that students at appropriate levels will be available for demonstration lessons.

    7. The same Trainer must conduct the whole course.

    8. Director must inform registrants of SAA requirements and check each registrant’s course prerequisites and audition status.

    9. Every course must include performance of the relevant repertoire by the trainee.

    10. A short (10 minute) consultation period for each Unit Course Participant is now a required part of all Unit Courses. This time with the Teacher Trainer provides the students with a time to ask questions or receive information over topics they may not wish to discuss in the group situation. It also gives the Teacher Trainer an opportunity to give the Trainee advise on their continued development and express any concerns they might have. Institute Directors will reimburse the Teacher Trainer for their time according to the class size—up to a maximum of 2.5 hours.

    11. All trainees except pianists and organists must provide their own instruments.

    12. The Institute Director must provide two well-tuned and functional pianos in each piano teacher training studio.

    13. Faculty must be on the current SAA Registry of Teacher Trainers and active SAA members, or recognized Teacher Trainers from other ISA approved regional Suzuki associations.

    14. Faculty contracts: Trainers should discuss employment and course arrangements with the registered Teacher Trainer on either a tentative or confirmed (non-cancelable) basis. Contracts must specify Teacher Training (General Course Requirements) course, salary, room and board, transportation, and all inclusions or exclusions in the remuneration package. Time spent reading observations should be included in the class load or be compensated as overtime. In addition, a maximum of 2.5 hours of additional compensation is required for consultations with trainees.

    15. Course changes: Institute guidelines state that the SAA-approved Teacher Training course may not be changed without agreement between the SAA Executive Director, Institute Director, Teacher Trainer, and all registered trainees.

    16. Syllabus: Each instrument has a syllabus for the unit courses and SAA Practicum Units™ that trainers should follow. Syllabi are located in section 8 of this manual.

    17. Sequence of Study:

      • The SAA requires that that courses be taken in sequence ECC!© followed by Book Unit 1 and Book Unit 2.
      • Units taken out of sequence prior to 2003 may be registered when the sequence has been corrected. As of January 2003, trainees are expected to take units in sequence through Unit 2.
      • The SAA Practicum Units™, not being repertoire specific, may be taken at any time after Unit 1.
      • Supplementary Courses may be taken after Unit 4.

    18. Student Categories and Class Size:

      • The maximum number of participants for Unit courses will be 15. It is recommended that auditors be included in the maximum course number of 15. The maximum number of participants for SAA Practicum Units™ is 5.
      • Applicants will be accepted either as Participants or Auditors. Participants have completed the audition process and are expected to fulfill all class requirements. They may register the course upon completion. The SAA strongly encourages the Participant status. Auditor status is appropriate when a trainee is unable to meet course attendance, observation, and playing requirements. The Auditor may not have full participation in the class and will not be able to register the course.
      • Institute Directors may list both Participant and Auditor categories in their brochures and may limit the number of auditors.

    19. Admission requirements:

      • Participants and Auditors must show proof of current SAA active membership when enrolling for the course. (Admission requirements.)
      • All Participants are required to submit documentation of SAA approval of their video audition, or, where applicable for the course, an approved audio tape (see Video Audition Application Form, section 1). Neither a video nor audio tape is required for Auditor status.

  2. Requirements specific to Unit 1

    (in addition to those above for Unit Courses 2-10)

    1. Course must be offered over a minimum of 8 days.
    2. 28 hours of class/lecture time, including a suggested 2 hours of observation and discussion of the Trainer’s own home studio students, either live or by video.
    3. A maximum of 6 hours of class time per day.
    4. A minimum of 2 hours of class time per day.
    5. 15 hours of observation of student lessons.
    6. The Institute provides the opportunity to observe the Trainer teaching live student lessons on each of a minimum of 6 days.

  3. Requirements specific to SAA Practicum Units™

    1. The Practicum, not being repertoire specific, may be taken at any time after Unit 1..
    2. Class Size: a maximum of 5.

    3. Participants must bring videoed lesson segments of their home teaching. Criteria for videos:

      • A complete 30-minute lesson.
      • One 30-minute segment containing materials of their choice. (Possibilities are consecutive lessons of the same student, a group lesson, a reading lesson, a challenging student, lessons at different book levels, etc.)
      • More footage can be included on the video, but video viewing will depend on time constraints, class size and other factors.
      • Angle of the camera must show the student’s hands.
      • The closest possible camera placement should be used which includes the student’s entire body.
      • The teacher should be visible during much of the lesson.
      • Whenever possible, include the parent as well.
      • Video must be VHS format.
      • For best quality sound, an external microphone is recommended. (Requirements specific to SAA Practicum Units™)

    4. Institute Directors’ Responsibilities for SAA Practicum Units™

      It is expected that, in addition to the usual responsibilities associated with offering Teacher Training Units, Institute Directors will:

      • Provide on-site students with attending parent. The lessons with the Practicum course participant will be extra (not part of the regular Institute curriculum.) The students should be informed that they should play a different piece from the one they are studying with their Institute teacher.
      • Arrange with the Teacher Trainer to accommodate his/her preferences for participants’ on-site teaching opportunities. (different students each day or the same students for the week, length of each lesson, etc.)
      • Check that participants have the correct prerequisites for the course.
      • Consider charging higher tuition fees for the Practicum than for other Units, since classes are significantly smaller.
      • Schedule the Practicum during the student portion of the Institute (the portion where student classes are taking place.) At Institutes offering 9-day sequences of training, 4 of the 5 days of the SAA Practicum Unit must be taught on days in which student classes are taking place.
      • Not permit participants to take other units simultaneously.
      • Provide an appropriate classroom with good video playing equipment and appropriate-sized monitor for viewing tapes/DVDs.

    It is recommended that participants record many lessons over time and select from them the portions to include on the video brought to the Practicum Unit™.

  4. Requirements specific to Supplementary Short-Term Courses

  1. Supplementary Short-Term Courses will follow the requirements of all Short-Term courses.
  2. The Teacher Trainer will determine any additional qualifications for participants. These will be included in the announcement of the course. Any trainee who does not meet the requirements of the course may be changed to auditor status.
  3. Supplementary Courses may be taken after Unit 4.

VI. SAA Registration

SAA strongly urges teachers to enroll as full participants in training courses and to complete the registration process. Since approved courses are often taken in different locations, the SAA offers centralized record keeping services. Trainees who register can request verification of completed courses by contacting only one source. In addition, registration will be a requirement for the SAA’s Certificate Program, available soon. All registrants must be active members of the SAA, have met high school graduation, age and audition requirements and have fulfilled class assignments for the relevant course. Teachers studying in a long-term training course should register the units completed at the end of each academic year with one fee.

  1. ### Registration Fees
    • Short-Term Core Course: $10 US / $14 CAN
    • Supplementary: $10 US / $14 CAN
    • Apprenticeship Unit Course: $10 US / $14 CAN
    • Long-Term Course: $10 US / $14 CAN—yearly, for units completed that academic year.
      1. The SAA strongly encourages participant status over auditor status.
      2. Courses that are audited are not recorder or registered by the SAA.
      3. Registration of courses is not to be regarded as certification.

      Note: Units taken out of sequence prior to 2003 may be registered when the sequence has been corrected. As of January 2003, trainees are expected to take units in sequence through Unit 2.

VII. Consultation and Auditing Courses

  1. Consultation

    This is a short (10 minute) consultation period for Course Participants taking Units 1-3 and the Practicum. For Books 4 and beyond, it is recommended that consultation be incorporated, if needed, into the course time. For Practicum participants, consultation will also be included in the scheduled time of the course. Time with the Teacher Trainer is to be made available for the students to ask questions or receive information over topics they may not wish to discuss in the group situation. Auditors do not receive this consultation time. It is recommended that the Teacher Trainer give some direction to the students for consultation. Institute Directors will reimburse the Teacher Trainer for their time according to the class size—up to a maximum of 2.5 hours, and should facilitate the teacher’s and student’s schedule for consultation.

  2. Auditing Courses

    It is recommended that:

    1. Auditors pay the same fee as participants.
    2. That the degree to which auditors are included should not impinge upon the participants.
    3. Auditors are not to turn in observations.
    4. Teacher Trainers be advised to make a difference between participant and auditor, and be reminded that auditors must have taken ECC!©, and be members of SAA.

VIII. Violin and Viola Teacher Trainer Guidelines

  • Both violin and viola trainers may teach books 1-3, interchangeably.
    Trainees who complete either violin or viola 1-3 may apply it to continued study on either instrument.
  • The name of the class, i.e.Violin 1 or Viola 1, determines what instrument the students bring and the teacher plays.
  • For the course Violin/Viola Unit 3 offered at some Institutes, the students bring the first instrument listed and are encouraged to bring both. The Trainer demonstrates on both.
  • In the first three books, a violin trainer may teach viola, or a viola trainer may teach violin, if the trainer feels comfortable in that capacity.
  • For the video Basic Audition (Books 1-4), the applicant may submit on violin or viola. Intermediate and Advanced auditions must be instrument specific for the course to be taken.
  • Students wishing to continue Viola teacher training to Book 5 (Viola) and beyond, must take Unit 4 on Viola.

Last updated August 25 2010