Teacher Audition Guide
The SAA Teacher Development Program is 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
- Minimum age of 17 and a high school diploma
- SAA Active membership
- Every Child Can! course (pre-requisite for Unit 1; no audition required)
- Video audition accepted by SAA
- Units 1 and 2 must be taken in order
Audition Requirements
Audition Levels
- Basic: For training in Units 1-4
- Intermediate: For training in Units 1 through 7/9
- Comprehensive: For all training courses
Audition Deadlines
Audition deadline is 1 month before course start date. Late submission fees are due after this date.
Processing time varies from 2-4 weeks in most cases—auditions submitted online have a much quicker turn around time. Results from late submissions may not be available by start of course.
Preparing and Submitting Your Audition
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Prepare a well-polished performance. Any edition of the required piece(s) is acceptable. Memorization and accompaniment are not required.
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No written or oral comments—performance only.
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Home filming is usually adequate.
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Use a tripod or set your camera on a stead surface.
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Camera must focus on player’s hand position and show entire body if possible.
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Each piece must be one continuous take—no video splicing.
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Please review your recording for good video and audio quality before submitting.
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Audition must be submitted online (any video format will work) or by mail on DVD.
Online submissions are strongly recommended for faster results.
DVD Requirements
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Make sure your DVD plays on your TV’s DVD player, not just on your computer. Keep a copy for yourself.
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Label DVD with your name, instrument, and audition level.
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Include application form and payment.
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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 Units 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 Units 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 Unit 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, movement 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, movement I and Vivaldi Concerto in a minor, movement III *
Viola: Seitz Concerto No. 5, movement I and Vivaldi Concerto in d minor, movement III *
Voice: See special voice requirements below.
* Violin and viola auditions are interchangeable through Unit 4. Violin and viola courses are interchangeable through Unit 3. For Viola after Unit 3, take Viola Unit 4 (not Violin Unit 4).
Voice Requirements & Basic Audition
For Voice Units 1-3.
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Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Music Education degree with significant private voice study, or the equivalent.
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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.
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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.
- Unaccompanied (both):
- Wiegenlied by Bernard Fliess (in German) (can be found in Pathways of Song, Vol. 1 or Mozart Lieder, Peters Edition)
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in the applicant’s native language
- Accompanied and in original language (choose one):
- Le Violette
- Gial sole dal Gange by Scarlatti
- Accompanied and in original language (one of each, four pieces total):
- A German Lied of the applicant’s choice (Schubert, Schumann, or Brahms)
- A Spanish or French Art Song of the applicant’s choice
- An American or English Art Song of the applicant’s choice
- An Aria of the applicant’s choice
- Piano Proficiency Skills:
- Performance of Mozart Lullaby (the accompaniment)
Questions? Please contact SAA Suzuki Voice Teacher Trainer Mary Hofer at [javascript protected email address]
- Unaccompanied (both):
Intermediate: For Training in Units 1-7/9
For training in the middle units: 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 Unit 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 Unit 8)
Flute: Mozart Concerto No. 2 in D Major, K. 314, movement I or II (for approval through Unit 9)
Guitar (Classical): both Bach Gavottes 1 & 2 (located in Suzuki Guitar Book 5) and J. Guimares Sound of Bells (for approval through Unit 7)
Harp: See Comprehensive Audition
Piano: See Comprehensive Audition
Violin: Bach Concerto in a minor, movement I, BWV 1041 (for approval through Unit 8)
Viola: J.C. Bach Concerto in c minor, movement I (Bach/Casadesus) (for approval through Unit 8)
Comprehensive: For All Training Courses
For training in All Units: 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, movement I
Cello: Haydn Concerto in C Major, movement I or Boccherini Concerto in B-Flat, movement I
Flute: Chaminade Concertino
Harp: Hindemith Sonata, movement I
Guitar (Classical): Sor Variations on a Theme by Mozart
Piano: Mozart Sonata K. 330, movement I or Sonata K. 331, movement I
Recorder: Telemann “Rejouissance” from the Suite in a minor
Violin: Mozart Concerto No. 4, movement I or Concerto No. 5, movement I—must include cadenza
Viola: Schubert Arpeggione, movement I
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 after 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.
