Every Child Can! Guidelines

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Upcoming Courses

Events

Every Child Can!© (ECC) is an introduction to Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy and its application to Suzuki education. For parents, teachers, prospective teachers and others, this course provides an inspiring, in-depth look at the Suzuki approach to teaching and learning.

In addition to exploring the elements of the Suzuki approach and its far-reaching goals, it includes an introduction to learning styles, history of the development of Suzuki education, the role of parents, the importance of Suzuki pedagogical training, and an overview of the SAA’s role in supporting teachers and parents. A fast-paced, engaging and inspiring program, ECC includes video materials and SAA-developed courseware, and provides each participant with useful reference materials (manuals) for later study. For teachers, ECC serves as the first course in the Suzuki Association of the Americas’ Teacher Development Program.

ECC Sponsorship Application Form

See the upcoming ECC courses across the Americas.

Basic Set-Up

Course Presentation

Every Child Can!© is a 6 hour course. The 6-hour may be offered in one day (with added time for a meal break), or may be presented in two or more shorter segments over several days’ time.

Audience

It is required for all new Suzuki teachers, but open to non-teachers, prospective teachers, parents, administrators and all others interested in learning about Suzuki approach to education. It is not instrument-specific. Experienced Suzuki teachers are also encouraged to participate for renewed inspiration or review.

Venues

It may be offered at an institute, at a workshop or other event; or offered as a free-standing course. It may be presented at any time during the year. It may be sponsored by an institute, workshop, school, university, program, chapter affiliate or by the SAA. It is to be given as a ‘live’ course (not on internet).

Course Facilitator

Only SAA-registered Teacher Trainers may teach the course. The Trainer must also have a current ECC license in order to qualify to teach the course and use the ECC trainer’s kit materials. (All SAA-registered Teacher Trainers who wish to teach the course may be licensed to use the materials.)

Class Size

Maximum number of participants per class is 30.

Qualifications to Participate

High school graduation completed or within 6 months of graduation, plus age 17 or older. There are no instrument proficiency requirements. (No audition is required.) There will be no auditor status for this course.

Fees

Average fees for the course range from $95-125 US. Fees will vary, depending upon the sponsor’s specific costs—trainer’s fees and expenses, A-V or venue rental, other overhead costs, anticipated enrollment, etc., less any subsidies available to the sponsoring organization/event. SAA’s fee of $30 US/CAN per participant for materials, participation and registration must be included.

Course Approval

Any organization sponsoring Every Child Can!© during the September-May months must complete the ECC course sponsorship application, and send it to the SAA office at least 6 weeks before the course date. SAA will post the course, when requested, on its website within 2 weeks of application approval. When information is available well in advance of the ECC course date, the course information will also be listed in the American Suzuki Journal.

Exceptions

  1. Institutes are required to schedule the course in the fall using the ECC sponsorship application, along with their other application materials, due October 15.

  2. Trainers offering the course in a private studio situation must apply to sponsor the course no less than 3 weeks in advance.

Additional Details on Offering the Course

Sponsor/Host

The organization, school, program, workshop or institute offering the course is normally the “sponsor.” The agency providing space/venue for the course may be considered the “host.” A Trainer licensed to teach ECC may offer the course in his/her home program or studio; in such situations, the Trainer is considered the sponsor and the host. The SAA itself may also choose to sponsor the course.

Budgeting for the Course

In budgeting for the course, the sponsor should consider the following factors:

  • SAA’s per participant fee of $30 US/CAN
  • Teacher Trainer’s fee (set individually by Trainers)
  • Any travel/lodging/meal costs for Trainer (as arranged)
  • Any room or A-V rental
  • Publicity/mailing costs
  • Any additional personnel costs
  • Scholarship needs
  • And other factors specific to the situation

While SAA’s per participant fees cannot be discounted, the sponsor is welcome to offer discounts on the sponsor’s regular fee rate to parents or other non-teachers, teachers who have previously taken 1A and wish to review the material, and in other situations deemed appropriate.

Marketing the Course

The sponsor must use the course name (Every Child Can!© An Introduction to Suzuki Education) on promotional and registration materials. The Association’s name (Suzuki Association of the Americas) must also appear on such materials. The use of the copyrighted ECC logo is permissible and recommended on promotional and registration materials, and is available in electronic formats. Color postcards announcing the course are available for a minimal cost. (You fill in specifics of the course.) The purchase of postcards can be elected on the ECC sponsorship application form.

ECC Course Roster

This required roster must be returned to the SAA by the sponsor after the course (see below). The roster must be signed by the Trainer, and the names initialed for participants who have completed all 6 hours of the course. It is recommended that an assistant be designated to handle sign-in, and keep roll to finalize and verify the course roster.

Obtaining Materials and Payment

US Locations: No less than 10 working days prior to the course, the sponsor must provide to the SAA office a count of course registrants so that participants’ materials may be shipped.

Canada Locations: The deadline is 14 working days prior to the course, to allow for longer transit times and possible customs delays. If materials require expedited shipping, these fees will be added to the invoice. The sponsor will receive a Materials Return Form, payable by 10 working days after the course.

This payment deadline includes summer institutes who are offering ECC, and would be making a payment for the ECC course separately from their institute payment. If the sponsor is affiliated with a college or university, please coordinate in advance with the accounting department, so that the SAA payment deadline noted above can be met.

Unused, unopened materials in perfect condition may be returned within 10 working days after the course (at sponsor’s shipping expense) for credit against the Return Form. Materials must be received by 10 working days after the course. The sponsor of this course bears full financial responsibility for the safe return of these materials. Please pack returns adequately to prevent damage during transit, and return by a traceable and insured delivery method.

Course Wrap-Up

Within 10 working days after the course, the SAA office must receive the following:

  • Final ECC course roster listing all participants who attended and completed the class.
  • Any memberships received.
  • Invoice payment (one check per invoice, please)
  • Any unused, unopened ECC participants’ manuals in perfect condition

Additional Notes on Teacher Participation

As with SAA book unit courses, no teacher should participate in overlapping courses or in more than one course simultaneously. Institute participants may begin Book 1 immediately following participation in ECC. However, the ECC Committee hopes that many trainees will take the ECC course further in advance of Book 1, to allow for time to read the ECC Appendix material, thoughtfully consider the ideas presented in the course, complete the video audition process for Book 1, and enroll in Book 1 courses on time.

SAA Subsidy Fund

In situations in which the enrollment is quite high and expenses have been met, it is recommended that excess revenue be set aside for the sponsoring organization’s scholarship fund, when such a fund is available. To fulfill anticipated needs, SAA has set up a special ECC Scholarship Fund which will also welcome voluntary donations from sponsoring organizations. As this fund grows, subsidies will become available to assist with setting up ECC courses in remote or isolated locations.