Certificate of Achievement Level 1 (Legacy)

The requirements below were phased out 12/15/2025 and are presented here only for reference. Please visit this page for current Certificate of Achievement information.

About the Certificate of Achievement

Teachers interested in furthering their development and accomplishments within the Suzuki Association are encouraged to apply for a Certificate of Achievement. Recognizing teachers with a commitment to life‐long learning and self‐improvement is part of SAA’s commitment to excellence.

This application is designed so that you, the applicant, can demonstrate your commitment to excellence as a teacher. The process was developed within the framework of the Suzuki philosophy and was designed to encourage self‐evaluation and professional growth. The Certificate of Achievement provides a viable measure of achievement and commitment beyond the basic registration of units. By engaging in this process you will not only grow as a teacher, but contribute to the growth and professionalism of Suzuki education in the Americas.

Prerequisites

  1. Teaching Experience: A minimum of three years of Suzuki Teaching Experience
  2. SAA Active Membership: SAA Active Membership for the past three consecutive years
  3. Required SAA-approved Teacher Development Courses
    • ECC and Unit 1, Filosofía and Unit 1, Unit 1A and Unit 1, or Units 1A and 1B
    • Unit 2
    • Unit 3
    • Unit 4
    • Suzuki Principles in Action
      • *Latin American applicants may fulfill this requirement with two Teaching Strategies courses.

Submission Requirements

The requirements below were phased out 12/15/2025 and are presented here only for reference. Please visit this page for current Certificate of Achievement information.

  1. Application form
    • *Please do not mail your submission. Email [email protected] to submit your materials online.
  2. An essay on the SAA’s Aspirational Code of Ethics (250-350 words)
  3. One Teaching Segment video and two Student Performance videos
  4. An application fee of $85 (USD)
  5. A copy of the SAA Video Release Form for each student in your videos
Documents

Instructions

Statement of Commitment to SAA’s Aspirational Code of Ethics

Read the SAA’s Aspirational Code of Ethics. Your commitment to support and incorporate the SAA Aspirational Code of Ethics in your teaching is indicated by your signature on the Application Form. Submit with your materials a short essay of 250-350 words, explaining how you have made use of the SAA Aspirational Code of Ethics in the past or how you plan to support its use in the future.

Preparation for Recording Teaching Segment and Student Performances

Step 1: Preparing to record or select pre-recorded material

  • A. Become Familiar with the SAA Descriptors
    Before recording or selecting from existing material, take time to review the SAA’s Performance and Pedagogy Descriptors. These outline the qualities typically present in strong teaching and performance examples. Evaluators will use the descriptors as the base for their assessment. Familiarity with them will help you select appropriate material for your submission.
  • B. Understand what qualifies as a Teaching Segment
    Please review the description below. Your teaching segment must meet the SAA’s criteria in order to be reviewed. Taking time to clarify this will help you prepare and select an appropriate segment to submit and will strengthen your application.

What is a Teaching Segment?

A teaching segment is a portion of the lesson in which the teacher and student work intensely on a particular aspect of a student’s playing. It starts when a specific goal is identified and concludes when the goal is accomplished and an observable change has taken place in the student’s playing.

A teaching segment usually ends with an assignment, indicating that the teacher has assessed the student’s and parent/guardian’s understanding and performance of the goal and has ensured that they can practice the assignment effectively at home.

A teaching segment is similar to Dr. Suzuki’s “one-point lesson.” A child’s weekly lesson may well consist of multiple teaching segments.

  • C: Focus on a musical or technical element
    For the purposes of this application, your Teaching Segment should focus on a technical or musical element other than learning the notes to a piece.

Step 2: Selecting material for your recordings
To be eligible for review, your recordings need to meet all of the listed criteria below.

Recording No. 1 – Teaching Segment

Provide a recorded Teaching Segment from one of your lessons that meets the following criteria:

  • It is an uninterrupted 5‐8 minutes in length.
  • It shows you working with a student who is studying anywhere in Books 2‐4.
  • The student is 18 years of age or younger.
  • The student has studied with you for at least two years, or from the beginning of study.
  • The segment includes the student playing something—such as a measure, a phrase, or the first repeat (not the entire piece)—before you identify what you want to work on.
  • The student is working on a piece they are playing from memory.
  • The student is not just “playing through” the piece.
  • The student is not working on “learning the notes” of the piece.
  • You and the student are working on a musical or technical aspect of the piece that is only possible to develop because the notes are already learned.
  • You are working step‐by‐step with the student to achieve a positive change in their performance of this aspect of the piece.
  • By the conclusion of the segment it is evident that the positive change has taken place and can be replicated in practice at home.
  • There is evidence that the parent understands how to help the student continue to achieve the positive change at home.
  • Piano lessons should take place on an acoustic piano.

Recording No. 2 – Student Performances

Provide a recording of two students giving performances of polished pieces. For this application, your performance submission must meet the following requirements:

  • The performances are by two different students.
  • Both students are age 18 or under.
  • Both students have studied with you for a minimum of two years, or from the beginning of study.
  • Each student is working no more than one book beyond the piece being performed.
  • One student is performing a piece or movement selected anywhere from mid‐Book 1 through Book 2 of the Suzuki core repertoire.
  • The other student is performing a piece or movement selected from Books 3‐4 of the Suzuki core repertoire.
  • Each student is performing from memory.
  • Each student is performing with accompaniment (if applicable).
  • While an actual recital setting isn’t required, the student should exhibit appropriate stage presence as if in an actual performance (see SAA Performance Descriptors).
  • For student piano performances an acoustic piano is required.

Recording Your Lesson and Performances

Camera Placement

When recording, a separate microphone is recommended for best sound quality. The video must clearly show the students’ hands (voice applicants should clearly show the student’s face and torso). It is recommended that you use the closest possible camera placement which includes the entire body. For the teaching segment, teacher and student should be in clear view. It should also be evident that the parent/guardian is present and involved in the lesson, even if the parent/guardian is not visible on camera.

Take Time to Review Your Videos

Once you’ve chosen what you believe are the strongest examples of your teaching and your students’ performances, please take the time to carefully review your selections. Using SAA’s Pedagogy and Performance Descriptors, try to identify specific descriptors that are clearly demonstrated in your recordings and that support your view that these are examples of excellent teaching and performance.

You may find it helpful to review your videos with another Suzuki teacher before submitting. Keep in mind that your recordings will be evaluated using these same descriptors.

If you find that several descriptors are not clearly present—or you notice that some important elements are missing—you may wish to consider submitting a different recording.

Please do not add any introductory screens or text to the videos naming yourself as teacher. We want these evaluations to be anonymous, so while evaluators see your face, your teaching, and your students, they do not see your name.

Submitting Your Application

Checklist of materials submitted:

  • Application Form
  • 250‐350 word essay on SAA Aspirational Code of Ethics
  • 2 student performance videos
  • 1 teaching segment video

Please be sure to obtain any necessary consent forms from students and their parents/guardians before submitting your videos.