​Many Suzuki Institutes will provide opportunities or solo performances. Some of these will be performances that anyone can sign up for while others will require an audition process. Some institutes will have an audition process before it begins or on the first day of the institute. If you plan on auditioning it is best to choose a piece that is at a high performance level. Usually it is best if it is a piece that your child has already performed before in front of an audience. That way the student is very comfortable with the piece and will enjoy the experience. If playing at an institute is new for your child then we want to make this as positive an experience as possible. Performing a piece your child knows extremely well is one way to help. Please note that at some Suzuki Institutes only a small number of students will be selected to play after the audition process. It should not be the main focus of your institute experience.

There are several important things to bring to a Suzuki institute to improve the experience. You should bring a cd player or have some way of listening to the recordings each day. Make sure to bring all the your Suzuki repertoire books to the Institute. If you are playing any non Suzuki solo piece make sure to bring the music and piano accompaniment as well. This is so your master class teacher will be able to see what you and your home teacher have worked on in your music. Also if you plan on performing in a solo recital it is a good idea to have a copy of the accompaniment part for the pianist. This is in case they do not have the music or are unable to get it in time or the recital. A music stand is the next must have item at an institute. This is so you have a way of practicing either in your room or anywhere in case a practice room or music stand is unavailable. Other important items include a pencil and eraser for orchestra/ensemble classes, metronome for more advanced students, a way of taking notes at each lesson, and a bag to carry everything in. the last and most important thing to bring is your smile and a good measure of patience!

There are a couple important things to do to prepare for a summer Suzuki Institute. The first thing to do is to practice daily if you are not already.  This will get you and your child ready to have classes everyday during the week. In your practice before the institute make sure to review all known repertoire. If the institute sends you a review list make sure to focus on those first. Make sure that your instrument is in good shape.  You can take it to your local instrument shop to see if you need a bow rehair(or new bow) and see if you need new strings. Be sure to do this about a month before the institute to have time for any repairs you need to be done. This will also allow enough time for new strings to settle. Typically it takes two weeks of daily practice for new strings to stop stretching.

Another important thing to do is to emphasize some of the fun things your child will get to do during the week. Meeting new friends, playing in large group class setting, sports, and having tons of fun! Lastly do not stress the hours of playing your child will do during the week. Your child will do that very willingly once they are there! 

Your child will have a daily group class where she will play her review Suzuki repertoire in a group of the same level in preparation for a group concert at the end of the week. You may have a technique class which is a small group class to work on specific skills throughout the week. Other possible classes could include a movement class, theory/reading class, master classes, orchestra, and chamber music. Each day your child will have 3 or 4 class hours that they will attend. Daily individual practice is also highly recommended. Other activities might include opportunities to play in solo recitals, optional classes like fiddling, attending concerts, and other activities like arts and crafts, swimming, soccer, basketball, and ultimate Frisbee.

After a busy week everyone will be exhausted but happy and filled with motivation to come back the following year! I remember enjoying my time immensely at the summer institutes I attended as a kid. I was kept very busy at these institutes spending time in my classes, personal practice, optional activities, and spending lots of time with the new friends I made at the Institute. 

A Suzuki Institute is a rich musical environment that immerses a student and family for a week. Dr. Suzuki believed that a child needs the right environment in which to strive musically. Motivation does not come by itself but is acquired through positive enriching experiences.
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I started playing the violin when I was four and did not overly enjoy practicing that much. My mother set up a practice time for me each morning so it became part of my daily routine like brushing my teeth before going to bed. As I got older it was even more difficult for me to practice with the many different activities I partook in as well as a busy school schedule. This became especially true in high school because of sports and the difficulty of school. However every summer from age 4 to the end of high school I went to a Suzuki Institute for a week and practicing was easy and fun there! One of my favorite classes was my chamber group where we got to learn a trio, quartet, or quintet and perform it at a high level by the end of the week! I was easily able to practice a lot and enjoy it because everyone was doing it there and it was a great experience to be making music with so many other Suzuki students. 

We believe that musical creativity can come in many forms.  In order to become a well-rounded musician it is important that a student be exposed to a variety of musical avenues.

We will be offering the following enrichment classes during the 2017 San Diego Suzuki Institute:

Chamber Music
Comprised of 3-4 musicians, typically a combination of violin, viola and cello.  Each chamber group will be led by a coach that will help to develop small ensemble skills.

Masterclass
Semi-private lesson with 3-4 students.  Each student will take turns having hands on instruction with a trained Suzuki teacher while being able to learn from watching the other lessons.

Movie Soundtrack Composition
Using musical skills and materials participants already have, soundtracks will be created for one or more videos.  Materials can include singing, playing, Suzuki literature, smart phones or tablets.  Each group will work together to learn how to compose new soundtracks for videos.

The San Diego Suzuki Institute is very motivated to become a community resource for not only students but teachers as well.  We are very pleased to be offering the following workshops at our 2017 institute:

July 31 - August 2
1:00 - 3:00pm

Every Child Can!
Cost: $125

Every Child Can! is an introductory course on the Suzuki philosophy and its application to education. For parents, teachers, prospective teachers and others, this course provides an inspiring, in-depth look at the Suzuki approach to teaching and learning. For teachers, ECC serves as the first course in the Suzuki Association of the Americas Teacher Development Program. 


August 3
1:00 - 3:00pm

Nurturing Suzuki Parents to Grow a Thriving Community
Cost: $25

with Dr. Alice Ann M O'Neill

This teacher workshop will offer various ideas for helping Suzuki Parents to become well-trained and confident home teachers for their children. We will discuss how confident and dedicated Suzuki Parents can help Suzuki studios and programs to grow and become thriving communities. This will be a non-instrument specific workshop and is open to both Suzuki teachers and parents.

We are very pleased to be able to announce that 2017 registration is now open.

It was a long road transitioning SDSI from its predecessor, Strings by the Sea, into its current form.  Everything from class offerings to finances had to be reassessed.  We are very grateful for all the hard work the Strings by the Sea directors put into making their camp run successfully for twenty years.  Glen Campbell and Karla Holland-Moritz paved the way for a lot of young musicians' careers with their vision. 

We are excited to be able to continue their legacy with this new Suzuki institute.  Having a registered Suzuki institute will allow for new opportunities for the local community.  We are hoping to not only provide a quality experience for the students attending the institute but to also provide teacher training avenues for the teachers in the area.

So here's hoping for a smooth first year and we look forward to meeting everyone! 

At its most basic definition, a Suzuki Institute is an event lasting four full consecutive days or longer where the program’s emphasis centers on the Suzuki repertoire.  All Suzuki Institutes must follow the class and teacher guidelines provided by their regional association.  The goal of a summer institute is to provide a positive and inspiring experience for young musicians.  Being able to interact with other young musicians and learn from new teachers is a vital part of any aspiring artists' career.

Class schedules will vary between  institutes but students may generally expect to have several different types of repertoire and technique classes, orchestra or ensemble class and concert performance or attendance.  Many institutes also offer a "masterclass" style of lesson.  These classes usually have three to four children in them, each receiving a ten to fifteen minute mini private lesson.  In the Suzuki Method, observation is seen as something just as important as participation.

Since the class structures are sanctioned by the regional association, many institutes here in the USA use the events as a means of offering short-term teacher training.  Teacher participants attend separate classes hosted by a Suzuki teacher trainer and use the institute classes as a means of observing other teachers at work.  

If you are a skilled professional musician that has an interest in helping children develop through the study of music.  You may be interested in the learning more about the Suzuki approach to music education.  The Suzuki Method provides a unique approach for musicians to help children and families.  It also provides many opportunities for musicians to promote their own growth as musicians, teachers, and human beings.  

The Suzuki is one of the main teaching methods used in music education in North America.  The Suzuki Method has been successfully used in many diverse situations and is widely recognized by many national music organizations.  As more teachers, students, and parents have experienced the results of the method, interest in it has increased.  This has resulted in a rising need for certified Suzuki teachers here in the States and all over the world.  

How to become a Certified Suzuki Teacher?

There are several steps that one must take in the process of becoming a certified Suzuki teacher.  The first step is to take ECC or and Every Child Can course.  This course is an introduction to the Suzuki philosophy and Method.  This course not only benefits potential music teachers but also parents, non music teachers, and anyone else who is planning on working with children.  

The next step is to join the Suzuki Association of Americas as an active teacher member which requires paying yearly dues for your active membership and creating a profile on the SAA website.  Once you complete this you will need to submit a teacher training video audition to be accepted for basic, intermediate, or comprehensive training.  Each one has different requirements that can be found on the SAA website.  

If you are accepted into one of these programs then you are now eligible to take the Unit training courses.  Units 1,2, and 3 must be taken in order and can be found at the institutes and workshops that take place during the summer.  Once you finish and pass your Unit course it will be officially registered with the SAA by the Institute or trainer teaching your course.  It will also show up on your online profile as certified in this unit.