The 2018 SAA Conference was a huge success. Thank you to all presenters, participants, and organizers!
Here are a few videos to give you a flavor or a reminder of the weekend.
Koen Rens’ masterful keynote speech, “Suzuki Music Education: The Power… Read more ▶
On Thursday November 30, 2017, a celebration was held in Hamilton, Ontario, in honor of David Gerry’s receipt of a Creating Learning Community award for his many contributions to the Suzuki community.
During his 25 years as a teacher trainer… Read more ▶
May 29, 2015 by Barbara Balatero, Heather Watson Hardie, Samara Humbert-Hughes, Laura Nerenberg, Alice Ann O'Neill, Kathleen Schoen, Rafael Videira, Danette Warren Schuh
For many Suzuki teachers, SAA Conferences and Leadership Retreats are the best way to kick off summer. Packed full of inspiration and camaraderie, these events are not to be missed! Read more ▶
Dr. Laurel Trainor is a professor in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour at McMaster University, a research scientist at the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest Hospital, Toronto, and the director of the McMaster Institute for Music and the… Read more ▶
September 18, 2013 by Libby Felts, Whitney Reagan Kelley
Flutist Whitney Kelley has worked for the Suzuki Association of the Americas for four years as administrator for chapters and institutes. In spring 2013, she graduated from the University of Colorado with her DMA in flute performance and pedagogy. We… Read more ▶
The 2012 SAA Conference was an amazing four days for the flute teachers. We had twenty-eight teachers from nine US states and two Canadian provinces, as well as fourteen students ages 9–19 from six states and Argentina. Our session topics… Read more ▶
Dear Suzuki Flute colleagues,
We have work to do! Many of us have longed for updated recordings… some of us for a very long time. We would like to be able to make that happen, but there is a… Read more ▶
In this issue:
Leadership Retreat: May 27-30, 2011
Flute Dreams Take Flight
Board Nominations
Upcoming SPA Courses in Ontario
Ask the Experts, part 16
The Poor Nobodys
Early Childhood Training in TX
ECC Grant: The Concession and Paying It Forward
Leadership Retreat: May 27-30, 2011
The next SAA Leadership Retreat… Read more ▶
The excellent quality and affordability of Di Zhao flutes have made dreams come true for a number of students in Latin America, and they are inspiring many others to see their own dreams as a real possibility.
In the fall of… Read more ▶
Previously, I was living in NYC and teaching at the Greenwich Suzuki Academy in Greenwich, CT. This school has an amazing community and I had some really special families and students that I had become very attached to…
Then I met… Read more ▶
The Edmonton Suzuki Flute and Recorder Society used their annual Winter Recital in January 2010 as a fundraiser for earthquake relief in Haiti.
They raised $226.50 with a silver collection at the door, but with the matching grant for donations from… Read more ▶
Dear Suzuki Flute Colleagues,
We are inquiring if you have any students who might qualify for the Flute Masterclass at the upcoming 14th biennial SAA Conference, May 28-31 in Minneapolis. We had a recent cancellation and need a student at the… Read more ▶
Me gustaría en estas pequeñas líneas poder plasmar, aunque resulte muy difícil, la experiencia vivida en el Festival Internacional de Flauta Traversa Método Suzuki de la Patagonia Argentina, realizado en octubre pasado.
Ante todo quiero dejar expresado mi agradecimiento a la… Read more ▶
Student participants are still needed for the following events at the 2010 SAA Conference next May:
Bass: SYOA 1, SYOA 2, Bass Choir
Flute: Masterclass, Performing Ensemble
Guitar: Masterclass, Non-Preformed Chamber
Recorder: Masterclass, Recorder Consort, Non-Preformed Chamber
Applications are being accepted until November 30.
See the… Read more ▶
Check out this great article about the Great Lakes Institute in Hamilton, Ontario:
Soothing Sidewalk Serenade
JEFF MAHONEY
THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR
Jul 14, 2009
For a magical hour every July, pedestrians and motorists along King Street West in Hamilton feel a breeze of flute, recorder… Read more ▶
Last February the NIOK Quartet, a flute quartet of the Suzuki studio of Sibylle Marquardt at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, won at the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto and went on to perform at the provincial… Read more ▶
I would like to publicly thank Prof. Laurel Ann Maurer for sharing—with me and my Suzuki flute students—a wonderful day of teaching and music in Argentina.
Prof. Laurel Ann Maurer has shared generously with us her broad experience as a flutist… Read more ▶
Thirty-one flute students from five studios in the Denver area performed on the February 7, 2009 program with Denver Pops Orchestra. Accompanied by the orchestra, the students performed two J.S. Bach Minuets, #15 G major from Suzuki Flute Book 1… Read more ▶
For the first time, flute training courses were offered at the Bogota Suzuki Festival this past June. Ten participants, all from Bogota, attended the Book 1 class. For the Book 2 class, three of these participants continued into the second… Read more ▶
Exciting news! The SAA has an ad on The National Flute Association website, www.nfaonline.org for the months of January, February, and March. It is a revolving ad on the pages of their website. Our Summer Institute Logo ad button link… Read more ▶
The Board of the SAA is pleased to announce that Jeanne Baxtresser, flutist, has accepted to serve on its Honorary Board. Principal flutist of three major orchestras including the Montreal Symphony and Toronto Symphony, Ms. Baxtresser’s orchestral career culminated with… Read more ▶
Flute Books 2 and 3 were offered for returning teachers, including participants from Peru, Colombia, and Chile, and Book 1 was offered for new Suzuki flute teachers from Peru and Colombia. A new course, Introduction to Flute, was also offered… Read more ▶
Over 75 flute students, teachers and parents gathered at Brookline Music School in Brookine, MA for the 4th Annual Suzuki Flute Workshop. Events began on January 13th with an Every Child Can class taught by teacher trainer, Kim Lorimier of… Read more ▶
Amy Zhang, student of Noelle Perrin, won 1st prize in the New Jersey Music Teachers Association Young Artist Competition in November, 2007.
Allison Hawkins, student of Wendy Stern, won 2nd prize in the MTNA Senior Performance Competition in November, 2007. Allison… Read more ▶
Work continuing re: flutist on Honorary Board
Committee name: Flute Community Council
Purpose:
to foster community
to be a sounding board for flute issues and take on projects as appropriate
Conference: exploring possibility of a Council panel/session and updates from flute teachers throughout… Read more ▶
The 5th Suzuki Music Festival of Buenos Aires took place from September 14th to 23rd, 2007. For the first time at the Buenos Aires festival, there were teacher workshops in flute, thanks in great part to the efforts of Fernando… Read more ▶
The Flute Committee met by conference call on Sunday, Sept. 9 regarding our commitment to increase the visibility of Suzuki flute. We discussed the following needs:
We discussed the use of the current Suzuki Flute CD recordings and want to hear… Read more ▶
Karibu means “welcome” in Kiswahili, the official language of Tanzania.
Suzuki music in Arusha
Kimbra Dixon is the woman behind the Suzuki violin program in Arusha, Tanzania, which now numbers 65 students in the international program, and 15 in the outreach program.… Read more ▶
On June 26 listeners to Radio Canada International (RCI) in Canada and around the world heard some news about Suzuki teaching and the upcoming Montréal Institute. Suzuki mom Lynn Desjardins is a reporter with a program called “The Link.” Every… Read more ▶
The new flute section of the website is now live. Come read the latest flute news and community highlights, with lots of pictures! Current SAA members can register for the members only area, with a discussion group and flute article… Read more ▶
The very first Suzuki flute workshop was held in Arusha, Tanzania this March. The workshop was held over two weeks and included a flute care clinic and a final celebration concert. Eleven flutists of varying ages participated, four of whom… Read more ▶
Two flutes went to Fernando Formigo’s Suzuki flute program in Patagonia, Argentina. Fernando has 40 students, 10 of whom do not own an instrument. Fernando has studied books 1-3 with David Gerry in Lima, Peru. He has also created a… Read more ▶
Shannon Bouchard, a student of Kelly Williamson, performed the Hue Fantaisie with the Westmount Youth Orchestra (Montréal) this May, having won their concerto competition in February 2006. She will be playing it again on their tour to Germany this summer.… Read more ▶
After many years in Montreal, Kelly Williamson recently moved to London, Ontario where she has begun teaching for Thames Valley Suzuki School.
Kim Lorimier recently moved to Needham, Massachusetts, after many years in Western Massachusetts. She is currently teaching in a… Read more ▶
In January 2007, Kelly Williamson joined a faculty of many different Suzuki instrument areas to teach at the XXII Festival Internacional de Musica Suzuki in Lima, Peru. Books 1, 3 and 4 were offered for flute teachers, as well as… Read more ▶
Shannon Bouchard won the WYO’s concerto competition in February (competing against thirteen other performers on violin, cello, piano, flute, and clarinet). As preparation, Shannon and Kelly performed an evening concert at Place Kensington including works by Hue, Bolling, Doppler, Ravel,… Read more ▶
Congratulations! Two Utah flute students won the National MTNA Woodwinds Competition Finals in Austin: Helen McGarr, student of Laurel Ann Maurer, won the Junior Division; Gabriella Roderer, student of Cindy Henderson, won the Senior Division. Read more ▶
Frecuentemente en nuestras vidas plantamos una semilla sin saber si o cómo va crecer, esperando ver en ella prosperidad y belleza. Hacemos lo que sabemos para nutrirla atentamente y con paciencia, pero también hay cosas que debemos dejar libradas a… Read more ▶
Frequently in our lives, we plant a seed not knowing if or how it will grow, hoping for bounty and beauty. We do what we know to nurture its growth, but must leave much to chance and contingency, and wait… Read more ▶
Seven current students, two alumni, and two parents participated in the Voices for Hospices world-wide concert event on October 8th. Kelly Williamson’s studio contributed the Doppler Andante for two flutes and piano, a movement from a concerto for five flutes… Read more ▶
Shannon Bouchard and Arielle Lewis Weigens performed Gary Schocker’s Tapestry Sonata, which was likely a Montreal premiere—the piece was written in 2004 and has not yet been recorded (except by the Trio Electric Schockers, composed of Shannon and Arielle, and… Read more ▶