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· Are you a skilled, well-trained professional musician who would like to teach your instrument and work with young children?

 

· Do you have a genuine affection for young people and an interest in helping them develop as human beings through the study of music?

 

· Are you interested in working in a cooperative atmosphere with children, parents and colleagues?

 

If so, you may be interested in investigating the Suzuki approach to music education. Many musicians who use the Suzuki Method have found that it provides a unique avenue for helping children and families as well as providing opportunities for their own growth as musicians, teachers, and human beings.

 

Increasing Need for Teachers

 

Since its introduction in North America nearly fifty years ago, the Suzuki Method has become a major force in music education. It has been successfully implemented in many different situations and is recognized by national music organizations. Interest in the method has grown as teachers, parents and students experience its results. This has led to an increasing need for qualified Suzuki teachers in the Americas and abroad.

 

Features of the Suzuki Method

 

More than seventy years ago, Shinichi Suzuki—educator, violinist, philosopher and humanitarian—realized the implications of the fact that children all over the world learn to speak their native language with ease. He began to apply the basic principles of language acquisition to the learning of music and called his method the mother-tongue approach. The following special features distinguish the Suzuki method:

 

                           ◦Parental Involvement                                            ◦Encouragement

                           ◦Learning with Other Children                                ◦Early Beginning

                           ◦Graded Repertoire                                                  ◦Delayed Reading

                           ◦Listening                                                                               ◦Repetition

 

While Suzuki students begin as young children playing elementary material, they develop over the years into sophisticated young artists playing the highest level concert literature.  This allows for teaching a varied-level studio with endless possibilities for highly-satisfying music making. 

 

Training Opportunities

 

To meet the need for trained teachers, the SAA has established a Teacher Development Program, with systematic, comprehensive professional training available from registered Teacher Trainers in violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, flute, harp, guitar, recorder and early childhood education. Both emerging and experienced teachers can benefit from the training offered through SAA’s Teacher Development Program. Recognition of training is provided by the SAA registration program for completed training units.

 

If you are interested in learning more about Suzuki’s philosophy and approach and/or becoming a Suzuki teacher, you may take training courses specifically designed for your instrument.  The core courses or units of study correspond in name to the numbered Suzuki repertoire books for each instrument, with the first two courses (Every Child Can! and Book 1) providing an introduction to the Suzuki philosophy and beginning approach to the instrument. Courses are designed to stimulate participation and interaction. They include opportunities for work with a master teacher as well as extensive observation of experienced teachers working with children. A video audition is required for short-term or apprenticeship training-but not to take the Introductory ‘Every Child Can’ course.

 

 

Joseph Pecoraro            pecorj@earthlink.net           www.josephpecoraro.com