About

Suzuki Summer Institutes & Festivals are camps that provide an intensive musical experience for families with children who currently study an instrument through the Suzuki Method. Institutes are located in all regions of the U.S. and Canada, and Festivals occur throughout Latin America. Each offers activities for students, parents, and teachers in one-week sessions throughout the summer. Families enjoy attending the institute together and participating in various musical and enrichment activities. For teachers, institutes offer Suzuki training for both prospective teachers who desire an introduction to the method and experienced teachers who wish to expand their knowledge and receive fresh inspiration.

SAA-approved summer Suzuki institutes follow specific SAA guidelines in providing training for teachers and activities for students and parents. Institutes are sponsored by independent organizations, schools, and programs throughout the U.S. and Canada, and Festivals in Latin America offer similar opportunities.

Benefits for Students & Parents

Each year new and experienced families enjoy the exciting musical experiences available at Suzuki Institutes across the region and go home inspired to continue their work during the year. Institutes provide a unique opportunity for families to focus on music outside the usual constraints of daily life.

Institute offerings include masterclasses, group classes, and recitals as well as enrichment courses that range from theory, improvisation, and chamber music to choir, drama, and fiddling. Parents attend classes with their children. Many institutes also offer lectures and discussion groups for parents, special activities for siblings, and social events such as picnics and family fun nights.

Teacher Development Opportunities

The Suzuki Association of the Americas has established a Teacher Development Program that provides systematic, comprehensive training to help teachers grow in their understanding of the Suzuki philosophy and approach. Approved training is available from registered Teacher Trainers in violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, flute, guitar, harp, recorder, voice, accordion, brass, organ, Suzuki in the Schools and early childhood education. One of the most popular formats in which this training can be obtained is through intensive five-day courses offered at summer institutes.

The first course in the series is Every Child can, a cross-instrumental introduction to the Suzuki Method. Subsequent training is structured according to the Suzuki repertoire books for each instrument. This training is invaluable to all teachers, and is applicable to any teaching situation. Special overview and advanced repertoire classes are also available, and many institutes offer courses such as theory/reading, orchestral and chamber music repertoire, and improvisation, as well as sessions on Dalcroze, Orff, Kodaly, Alexander technique, and Kindermusik.