Suzuki Principles in Action (SPA) Overview

What is SPA?

Suzuki Principles in Action (SPA) is a course designed to help teachers incorporate Suzuki’s principles effectively in their teaching. The course focuses on how to teach, not what to teach. It allows for the sharing of ideas among all instrument areas. SPA is based on Dr. Suzuki’s belief that knowledge is an important first step, but “knowledge plus 10,000 times” is what produces ability. This important principle, which teachers frequently explain to their students, applies equally to the art of teaching. SPA courses can happen in person or online.

What are the principles that SPA reinforces?

The inspiration for SPA came from a need, identified by both Trainers and Teacher Workshop Participants, to deal with the challenges of implementing the knowledge gained from Unit courses into the reality of day-to-day studio teaching.

Topics include:

  • Setting standards of excellence for students at all levels
  • Identifying the appropriate time to move ahead in the repertoire
  • Incorporating regular, productive review work in daily teaching and practicing
  • Incorporating ear training and learning by ear in daily teaching
  • Focusing attention on tone development
  • Giving productive, balanced, frequent feedback to students
  • Communicating effectively and working productively with parents
  • Structuring lessons to facilitate successful progress

These are all issues that surface repeatedly in Teacher Workshop courses and in communications among colleagues. The course offers thoughtful exploration of these topics—topics that spring from the Suzuki principles that have been articulated in the Every Child Can! course and other Teacher Workshop courses—to help us to move towards a realization of the potential that Suzuki education offers.

Who should attend?

Any teacher—from the very experienced to the novice—who has completed training through Book 1, is an SAA member and has taught for a minimum of one year. Participants must have a current studio due to pre- and post-course work. Teachers of all Suzuki instruments are welcome!

What special values result from taking the course?

SPA is required for those applying for the SAA’s Certificate of Achievement and is highly recommended to those working toward becoming Teacher Trainers. SPA provides tools for assessing and evaluating one’s own teaching. Course materials include guides, articles, and activities to reinforce and expand on the ideas presented in the class.

The SAA hosts the course, or administers the course in cooperation with a hosting organization or individual—local programs, state or provincial chapters, Suzuki schools, and other groups are among those who may be the hosts for the course. By holding the in-person course in local programs and specific geographic areas, SPA helps develop and support valuable, supportive Suzuki communities at grassroots levels. By holding the online course, colleagues can connect near and far. See how to host a SPA course.

Who arranges for and hosts the course?

The SAA hosts the course, or administers the course in cooperation with a hosting organization or individual—local programs, state or provincial chapters, Suzuki schools and other groups are among those who may be the hosts for the course. By holding the course in local programs and specific geographic areas, SPA helps develop and support valuable, supportive Suzuki communities at grassroots levels. See how to host a SPA course below. The hosts will work with the SAA to make each course happen.

Online Assignments

The course includes required pre-course and post-course assignments, which are submitted online and reviewed by the Teacher Trainer. Both assignments require you to video record yourself teaching a lesson and then self-evaluate it.

Who teaches this course?

The course is taught by Teacher Trainers specifically trained as SPA facilitators. The SAA assigns and contracts the facilitator.

How will I know where the course is being offered?

Check out our events page! Links to course offerings will also appear in the SAA Newsletter. Register early. Course registrations will always close no later than two weeks before the class is to take place. This allows for pre-course assignments to be completed by registrants. SPA tuition is $210. Registrations are online on the SAA website.

Please note that the tuition for this course has increased from $190 to $210. This increase in cost is the first since 2018. We recognize this increase may create a barrier to accessing the course. If this is the case, please email us at [email protected] and our team will work to see if scholarships are available.

Testimonials: I loved participating in the Suzuki Principles in Action course. I learned so much, and I have taught for 40 years!

SPA affirms our beliefs in the Suzuki Philosophy and empowers us to continue to grow and be even more productive in our teaching and outreach. I appreciated the focus on tone – a welcome review of one of our strengths, and the reminder to keep it foremost in our teaching. The utilization of the descriptors and the emphasis on communication skills were also extremely important reminders. Especially valuable was the visualization of the teaching segment. I have since used it repeatedly with parents in helping with home practice. Such a succinct, clear explanation – wonderful! The course curriculum is well thought out and carefully crafted. Our colleagues who put this project together did an amazing job, focusing on the core our teaching. I highly recommend it—we are “life-long learners”!

Betsy Stuen-Walker

Interested in hosting a SPA course?

When to begin planning

Thank you for considering becoming a host! We suggest you begin early. For this event, you will want to get a head start on marketing the course, determining who will be the host or hosting organization, and making arrangements with the SAA. Four months (no less than 3 months) is needed for good planning and to allow time for high enrollment. Enrollment of 8 teachers is the minimum to hold the course online and 10 for an in-person course; 15 is the maximum for an in-person course but can go up to 20 with permission from the facilitator. 12 is the maximum for an online course. If you think enrollment will exceed these numbers, and you have a waitlist, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Determine who will host the course

The hosting organization may be a local Suzuki program or school, a chapter, workshop or an individual. The host will need to name a liaison or contact to work with the SAA to make arrangements. If you are hosting the course in-person, there will likely be several more arrangements needed—including meals, and gatherings. If you are hosting the course online, the requirements will be slightly different.

Find out who is interested in your area

Assess the possibility that there are at least 8 Suzuki teachers in the area who would qualify and be interested in SPA. Please note the requirements for enrollment:

  • Teachers should be Active level SAA members with at least a year’s teaching experience.
  • Teachers may teach any Suzuki Method instrument area or ECE (especially relevant if the teacher teaches an instrument as well).
  • Teachers must have Book 1 (or 1A and 1B) registered with the SAA.
  • Teachers must be available to attend the full course and do pre-course and post-course work. There are no auditors.
  • Teachers must have a current studio due to pre- and post-course assignments.

Determine when and where SPA will be hosted

  • For online courses: Identify three days within a ten-day period that can consist of 3 four-hour blocks of time. The online course is a full 12 hours of class time, including breaks.
  • For in-person courses: Find a weekend (at least 3 months out), two consecutive days, or perhaps two consecutive weekends when the course could be held in your area. The course is a full 11 hours of class time, so schedule the time exclusive of lunch or dinner breaks. A group dinner or lunch break, preferably on the first day (potluck or possibly provided by the hosting organization), is highly recommended for building community.
  • Be prepared with an alternate choice of dates.
  • Make tentative arrangements for the meeting space with setup as described above. Look for inexpensive or free space that meets the specifications given below.

Arrange with the SAA

  • Contact the SAA office ([email protected]) to arrange for SAA to offer the course. The SAA will arrange for a SPA facilitator to present the course on your preferred or alternate dates.
  • SAA responsibilities:
    • Hiring and compensating the Facilitator and arranging for and funding his/her travel and hotel costs.
    • Managing all registrations online
    • Providing course manuals, name tags, and other materials required for the course
    • Arranging for Facilitator to bring DVD videos to be shown.
  • SAA website will launch the registration page for the course ($210) as soon as possible (or as mutually agreeable).
  • All registrations and fee collection for the course will be managed through the SAA website, along with communications with the sponsor and the Trainer and the pre- and post-course work and subsequent course registrations.
  • In-person courses: SAA will expect the host or hosting organization to provide the required meeting space, the A-V equipment, snacks and to help with other needed arrangements. See below.

Make arrangements for location and schedule (in-person courses)

  • Finalize meeting room arrangements. Room should be no smaller than 500 – 600 square feet. Participants should be able to sit at tables arranged in a horseshoe pattern. Convey final location details to the SAA .
  • Arrange for the A-V equipment: Projector, screen, DVD player with remote and external speakers.
  • Set exact starting and ending times. Convey that information to the SAA.
  • Promote and advertise the course. The SAA will help with this too!

Other responsibilities of the host (in-person courses)

Host responsibilities:

For in-person courses:

  • Arrange for a social event—light dinner, lunch or other—usually for the end of the first day’s presentation.
  • Arrange for a coffee/tea break for participants.
  • SAA asks that you advise about possible hotel reservation for the Facilitator. SAA will finalize arrangements with the hotel and cover costs.
  • Arrange for ground transportation to and from the airport for the Facilitator, if s/he is arriving by air.
  • Make arrangements for transportation from hotel to meeting place each day.
  • Provide for at least one additional meal for the Facilitator, as the schedule allows.

For online courses:

  • Manage the Zoom Room; be prepared for break out rooms, screen sharing, etc.
  • Arrange for a Zoom gathering for participants to connect
  • Connect with the facilitator prior to the course start to understand any Zoom and/or tech needs
  • Ensure students are active and engaged
  • Assist the facilitator as needed

Host Sponsorships

If the sponsoring group wishes to underwrite the course for its participants, the website program can adjust fees to allow for discounted registration fees for the group or those qualifying for the discount.

In some cases, registration for the course can remain private for an agreed-upon period of time after launching to give a registration advantage to members of the sponsoring group. Remaining spaces can be advertised afterwards. However, registrations must be closed at least 2 weeks prior to the first day of the course to allow for pre-course work to be completed by participants. No late registrations will be allowed.

Courses which do not attain the 8 (online) or 10 (in-person) registration minimum with a reasonable number of weeks may be cancelled at the SAA’s discretion. All fees will be returned to registrants in such cases.

Other Sponsorships

  • If your organization doesn’t have easy access to free meeting space, ask around. Perhaps the local luthier, piano store, music store or other organization might like to “sponsor” your group for the SPA course.
  • Local restaurants or food outlets might like to sponsor your SPA dinner or lunch.
  • Your meeting location may have the A-V equipment you need. Perhaps a local electronics, video or camera store will give you a break on rentals. Arrange for A-V equipment in advance!
  • Please send us your ideas to add to this list!

Questions?

Please contact [email protected].