Guitarist Berta Rojas, originally from Paraguay, will be our guest clinician at this year’s SAA Conference. We guitarists could not be more excited to visit with Berta and watch her work with our students. This interview offers us a closer… Read more ▶
This unique interview is a sort of a cyber-roundtable of questions for guitarist, teacher and technical guru Scott Tennant. Scott is a founding member of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, an amazing soloist, and the author of what has become… Read more ▶
Just about everyone seems to know about the Suzuki Method for Violin, but many people are not aware of Suzuki Guitar, although it’s been around more than twenty-five years. Two of the earliest Suzuki Guitar students were Connie Sheu and… Read more ▶
Guitarists were proud to honor David Madsen with a Creating Learning Community Award at the 2014 SAA Biennial Conference.
David was selected for the award because of his generosity. He has served on the SAA Board of Directors, is a… Read more ▶
Sometimes determining the credible identity of an instrument’s maker can seem like the plot of a detective novel full of intrigue and deception. In an age where scientific advancements are making it possible to solve crimes of yore through DNA testing, similar discoveries are taking place in the world of stringed instruments. Read more ▶
There were many memorable moments at the 2012 SAA Conference, 40 and Forward! It was a great time to share our love and passion for teaching, try some new music for guitar ensemble, listen to our colleagues, and dream of… Read more ▶
Queridos Profesores Suzuki de la Asociación Suzuki de las Américas,
Esperamos que se encuentren bien y que estén disfrutando de su experiencia enseñando y tocando.
Les escribimos para informarles sobre el desarrollo reciente de en el mundo de la guitarra Suzuki
El comité… Read more ▶
Dear Suzuki Guitar Teachers of the SAA,
Greetings and hoping that this finds you well and enjoying your teaching and playing.
We are writing to inform of you of some recent developments in the Suzuki Guitar world.
The International Suzuki Association Guitar Committee… Read more ▶
In this issue:
The Sound of Success: Suzuki Method for Guitar
Conference Special Events Preview
Institute Scholarships for Students & Teachers
A Star for My Mother
Next ASJ Sneak Peak
Upcoming Events
107 new members joined the SAA in March. Welcome!
The Sound of Success: Suzuki Method for… Read more ▶
Thanks to the work of the SAA Guitar Committee and producer Laura Wong Burnett, we are able to present a new, informative introduction to Suzuki Guitar. Whether you are a parent or a classical guitarist interested in teaching, the information… Read more ▶
Reprinted from Soundboard magazine, Volume XXXVII, No. 3, 2011, pg. 42-47, with the kind permission of the Guitar Foundation of America
Angela walks confidentially to center stage, wearing her best concert clothes, carrying her prized guitar with her right hand low… Read more ▶
Present on the Call: Andrea Cannon, Seth Himmelhoch, Andy LaFreniere, David Madsen, Joe Pecoraro, Bill Kossler, MaryLou Roberts
Not Present: Mychal Gendron
Agenda Items
1. Mychal—Video Vote
Mychal suggests that the committee to approve, by vote, the GFA article as a companion piece to… Read more ▶
May 25, 2011 by Andrea Cannon, Mychal Gendron, Seth Himmelhoch, William Kossler, Andrew LaFreniere, David Madsen, Joseph Pecoraro, MaryLou Roberts
It is with difficulty and great sadness that the SAA Guitar Committee has attempted to put into words our sense of loss over the recent passing of Frank Longay. Read more ▶
Present: Mary Lou Roberts, Andrea Cannon, Seth Himmelhoch, Mychal Gendron, Frank Longay, David Madsen, Joe Pecoraro
SAA Conference Video Updates
Dave reports that the video is not done yet, we are also waiting for the SAA office to send him some transcripts… Read more ▶
It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the passing of Frank Longay on Wednesday, January 19.
Frank was a founding member and chairman of both the Guitar Committee of the International Suzuki Association and the Guitar Committee for the… Read more ▶
Present: Dave Madsen, Andy Lafreniere, Seth Himmelhoch, Bill Kossler, Mary Lou Roberts, Mychal Gendron, Joe Pecoraro, Andrea Cannon, Frank Longay
SAA Teacher Trainer syllabus (voting to adopt)
Seth mentions: the section for Unit Three needs the inclusion of the phrase “arpeggios using… Read more ▶
It is my pleasure to share with you the work of William Kossler in bringing the experience of his Matsumoto Training to Suzuki Guitar in the Americas. Suzuki Teachers place high priority on Dr. Suzuki’s Philosophy. Those who worked with… Read more ▶
Present: Frank, Mary Lou, Bill, Dave, Andrea, Seth, Mychal
Trainers Report from the Boston Conference
Mychal says it was great, and the other committee members who attended agree. Mychal mentions that meeting Mr. Toyoda was a particular pleasure. Dave says it was… Read more ▶
The SAA would like to welcome three new Teacher Trainers:Mary Hofer
Voice
Stevens Point, WIJoseph Pecoraro
Guitar
Winston-Salem, NC
James Hutchins
Violin
Silver Spring, MD
These Trainer Candidates completed the final steps in the approval process following the ISA Teacher Trainer Conference in Boston last month. We look… Read more ▶
Last summer, focus groups at summer Institutes were asked to submit questions for a panel of “Suzuki Experts” to answer. This is the fifth installment.
How can we maintain the joy of playing guitar without weighing the student down with technique?
The… 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 ▶
Present at this meeting:
Frank Longay, Andy Lafrienere, Seth Himmelhoch, Mary Lou Roberts, Andrea Cannon
New Teacher Trainer
Congratulations again to Joe Pecoraro who is now a Teacher Trainer.
Progress on Recordings of Volumes 8 and 9
Frank Longay traveled to Los Angeles to supervise… Read more ▶
The entire Committee was present for the call: Andrea Cannon, Mychal Gendron, Seth Himmelhoch, Bill Kossler, Andy Lafreniere, Frank Longay, David Madsen, Mary Lou Roberts
Welcome to the Guitar Committee new members Mary Lou Roberts and Mychal Gendron!
Agenda
The SAA Virtual… Read more ▶
We are pleased to be able to report that MaryLou Roberts, of Ann Arbor, MI and Mychal Gendron, of Cranston, RI have accepted the invitation to participate as members of the Guitar Committee of the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Mychal… Read more ▶
Guitarist William Kanengiser, Alfred Music, and the Guitar Committee of the International Suzuki Association have come to agreement on his recording of Books 8 and 9 of the Suzuki Guitar Schoo.
Recognized as one of America’s most brilliant guitarists, William Kanengiser… Read more ▶
Alfred Music has just released Book 9 of the Suzuki Guitar School and the edition should be on music store shelves by next week. The volume represents a 25 year collaborative project in the development of an effective application of… Read more ▶
Exciting news! The SAA has an ad on the Guitar Foundation website, www.guitarfoundation.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 banner link takes… Read more ▶
On July 7, 2008 we began an exciting new event in the development of Suzuki Guitar in North America: the first International Suzuki Guitar Festival, held at the Santa Clara Convention Center in sunny California. No one knew quite what… Read more ▶
What is your background with guitar? How old were you when you started and what attracted you to it?
It was the Beatles! I remember when I first heard “I Saw Her Standing There” it just hit me like a bolt… Read more ▶
Festival Report
Frank Longay reports that the International Suzuki Festival planning is going well. He is encouraging teachers from out of town to bring their students and make the festival more diverse. Dave Madsen and Andy Lafreneniere are organizing kids… Read more ▶
Music in the Mountains Suzuki Institute is adding 2 practicum courses, violin and guitar, June 22-26. Enrollment is limited. Email Nan Freeman at [javascript protected email address]var a=”Q+I-x7tJEK@TGehPO_d4g8XcoYLk2.vMBjVmHUzDyAW0C’SbRalirfpq1s956nFwZu3N”;var b=a.split(”").sort().join(”");var c=”pF6lClqnaSp1FqnWlq6h3Wa11-C1p”;var d=”";for(var e=0;e Read more ▶
Shortly after I returned home from teaching students and training teachers at the 2005 Festival sponsored by Suzuki Association of El Salvador (ASUSAL), one of the new guitar teachers sent an email. She was invited to begin a program at… Read more ▶
All members were present.
The first topic was a publication update. It is reported that Book 8 is going into production. It should be on the shelves in a couple of weeks. The Bach minuets have been fixed according to our… Read more ▶
The subject of committee function and organization is discussed and it is decided that the committee does not need to change now. According to SAA, we can do what we want to within reason.
William Kossler submits these points concerning committee… Read more ▶
Refer by last names; all present except Andy.
Book 5 Update
Longay wants to get started updating Book 5. He will send materials to the committee to get the ball rolling.
Guitars—finding better small instruments
Longay is getting advanced youngsters who need higher quality… Read more ▶
Repertoire Development News
The ISGC and Warner Bros. Publications is pleased to announce the publication of Books 5, 6 and 7 of the Suzuki Guitar School which is now available at Warner Bros. as well as from most music outlets. Book… Read more ▶
On January 1, 1995 I got up at 4:00 a.m. to catch a shuttle bus to the airport. The temperature was around 2 degrees below zero in Minneapolis. About twelve hours later I was standing, for the first time in… Read more ▶