Online Teacher Training
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, Suzuki in the Schools and and Suzuki Early Childhood Education. Both prospective 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 credits.
The San Diego Suzuki Institute believes in making teacher education as accessible as possible. We realize that many music instructors use their time and own money to expand their knowledge. Take a course with us and earn discounts on future courses!
The San Diego Suzuki Institute believes in making teacher education as accessible as possible. We realize that many music instructors use their time and own money to expand their knowledge. Take a course with us and earn discounts on future courses!
2020 Fall Online Course Offerings
Viola Unit 7 (Seminar 1) $450 - CLASS FULL
October 19 - November 16
Taught by Elizabeth Stuen-Walker
This course is 15 hours with 8 hours of observation time. Course hours will be Mondays from 9am-12pm Pacific Time on 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, and 11/16. Observation hours are a required part of this course and will take place outside of the scheduled course time.
Pre-requisites:
This course is 15 hours with 8 hours of observation time. Course hours will be Mondays from 9am-12pm Pacific Time on 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, and 11/16. Observation hours are a required part of this course and will take place outside of the scheduled course time.
Pre-requisites:
- Violin or Viola Unit 3
Viola Unit 7 (Seminar 2) $450
November 30 - December 18
Taught by Elizabeth Stuen-Walker
This course is 15 hours with 8 hours of observation time. Course hours will be 11/30, 12/4, 12/7, 12/11, 12/14, 12/18. Mondays 9am-12pm Pacific Time, Fridays 8:30-10:30am Pacific Time. Observation hours are a required part of this course and will take place outside of the scheduled course time.
Pre-requisites:
This course is 15 hours with 8 hours of observation time. Course hours will be 11/30, 12/4, 12/7, 12/11, 12/14, 12/18. Mondays 9am-12pm Pacific Time, Fridays 8:30-10:30am Pacific Time. Observation hours are a required part of this course and will take place outside of the scheduled course time.
Pre-requisites:
- Violin or Viola Unit 3
Overview of Cello Units 5-7 $450
November 2 - December 7
Taught by Alice Ann O'Neill
This course is 15 hours with 8 hours of observation time. Course hours will be Mondays from 8-11am Pacific Time. Observation hours are a required part of this course and will take place outside of the scheduled course time.
Pre-requisites:
This course is 15 hours with 8 hours of observation time. Course hours will be Mondays from 8-11am Pacific Time. Observation hours are a required part of this course and will take place outside of the scheduled course time.
Pre-requisites:
- Cello Units 5, 6, and 7
Teaching Beginning Improvisation Using Fiddle and Gospel Tunes $195
October 23 - November 20
Taught by Dr. Renata Bratt
This course is for violin, viola, or cello teachers.
With mainly American songs that fit on the cello, viola and violin, teach your students improvisation skills step by step through rhythmic variations, scales, arpeggios, chords, conversational fiddling and gospel phrases and melodic quotation. Starting from the first lesson, students can learn to create music on their own. Students first learn easy chords and rhythmic variations for their tunes. Then they can learn to create musical phrases (“riffs” or “licks”) that can be adapted into many other tunes. As students progress, they add their own double stops to fiddle tunes. Through gospel songs, students can add their own scalar passages and arpeggios.
This course is 10 hours. No observation time required. Course hours will be Fridays from 8-10am Pacific Time on 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, and 11/20.
Pre-requisites:
This course is for violin, viola, or cello teachers.
With mainly American songs that fit on the cello, viola and violin, teach your students improvisation skills step by step through rhythmic variations, scales, arpeggios, chords, conversational fiddling and gospel phrases and melodic quotation. Starting from the first lesson, students can learn to create music on their own. Students first learn easy chords and rhythmic variations for their tunes. Then they can learn to create musical phrases (“riffs” or “licks”) that can be adapted into many other tunes. As students progress, they add their own double stops to fiddle tunes. Through gospel songs, students can add their own scalar passages and arpeggios.
This course is 10 hours. No observation time required. Course hours will be Fridays from 8-10am Pacific Time on 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, and 11/20.
Pre-requisites:
- Violin, Viola, or Cello Unit 1
2021 Winter Online Course Offerings
Viola Unit 8 $450
January 11 - February 8
Taught by Elizabeth Stuen-Walker
This course is 15 hours with 8 hours of observation time. Course hours will be Mondays from 9am-12pm Pacific Time on 1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1, and 2/8. Observation hours are a required part of this course and will take place outside of the scheduled course time.
Pre-requisites:
This course is 15 hours with 8 hours of observation time. Course hours will be Mondays from 9am-12pm Pacific Time on 1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1, and 2/8. Observation hours are a required part of this course and will take place outside of the scheduled course time.
Pre-requisites:
- Violin or Viola Unit 3
Overview of Cello Units 2-4 $450
January 11 - February 15
Taught by Alice Ann O'Neill
This course is 15 hours with 8 hours of observation time. Course hours will be Mondays from 8-10am Pacific Time. Observation hours are a required part of this course and will take place outside of the scheduled course time.
Pre-requisites:
This course is 15 hours with 8 hours of observation time. Course hours will be Mondays from 8-10am Pacific Time. Observation hours are a required part of this course and will take place outside of the scheduled course time.
Pre-requisites:
- Cello Units 2, 3, and 4
Teaching Beginning Improvisation Using Gospel and Early Blues Tunes $195
January 15 - February 12
Taught by Dr. Renata Bratt
This course is for violin, viola, or cello teachers.
Using mainly African American Blues tunes from the beginning of the twentieth century, teach your students improvisation skills step by step through rhythmic variations, scales, arpeggios, chords, conversational blues and jazz phrases and melodic quotation.
Through simple but powerful Blues tunes, students can start playing the blues starting as early as book 2 and from any time after that. Then they can learn to create musical phrases (“riffs” or “licks”) that can be adapted to many other blues, gospel and jazz tunes.
This course is 10 hours. No observation time required. Course hours will be Fridays from 8-10am Pacific Time on 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, and 2/12.
Pre-requisites:
This course is for violin, viola, or cello teachers.
Using mainly African American Blues tunes from the beginning of the twentieth century, teach your students improvisation skills step by step through rhythmic variations, scales, arpeggios, chords, conversational blues and jazz phrases and melodic quotation.
Through simple but powerful Blues tunes, students can start playing the blues starting as early as book 2 and from any time after that. Then they can learn to create musical phrases (“riffs” or “licks”) that can be adapted to many other blues, gospel and jazz tunes.
This course is 10 hours. No observation time required. Course hours will be Fridays from 8-10am Pacific Time on 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, and 2/12.
Pre-requisites:
- Violin, Viola, or Cello Unit 1
Setting Families Up for Success: Designing & Implementing New Student Orientation & Ongoing Support $195
January 14 - February 11
Taught by Christine Goodner
This enrichment course is for teachers who want to think deeply about how they approach parent education in their studios, especially during our current reality of many lessons and group events happening online. As teachers, we know the integral part parents and caregivers have to play in supporting each student’s learning process. We will explore best practices, new ideas, current research, and apply what we know and understand the support we give to the families we work with each week.
This 10-hour enrichment course will cover topics including onboarding new parents (including online), a framework for ongoing parent education in your program. It will help teachers create a plan to help each family feel supported and be successful in their studio. Teachers of all instruments are welcome.
This course is 10 hours. No observation time required. Course hours will be Thursdays from 8-10am Pacific Time on 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, and 2/11.
This enrichment course is for teachers who want to think deeply about how they approach parent education in their studios, especially during our current reality of many lessons and group events happening online. As teachers, we know the integral part parents and caregivers have to play in supporting each student’s learning process. We will explore best practices, new ideas, current research, and apply what we know and understand the support we give to the families we work with each week.
This 10-hour enrichment course will cover topics including onboarding new parents (including online), a framework for ongoing parent education in your program. It will help teachers create a plan to help each family feel supported and be successful in their studio. Teachers of all instruments are welcome.
This course is 10 hours. No observation time required. Course hours will be Thursdays from 8-10am Pacific Time on 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, and 2/11.
A User-Guide to Your Brain: Your Most Important Practice Tool in the Room $195
January 9 - February 6
Taught by Dr. Molly Gebrian
This five-part course will investigate what neuroscientists have uncovered about how the brain learns and how to use this information in the most effective, efficient way in the practice room. We will discuss how to break old habits and get new habits to stick, which practice methods allow us to learn new music and skills in the least amount of time, what causes the “I promise I could play it perfectly at home yesterday!” phenomenon (and how to fix it), how to help students (and ourselves) memorize music better, how to use the metronome (it’s not what you think!), the critical role of sleep in learning, and how to practice to create more confidence and consistency on stage. The final two classes in this course will be interactive and hands-on, trying out the ideas we discuss in the first three classes, and troubleshooting actual practicing issues in real time.
This course is 10 hours. No observation time required. Class will be Saturdays 11am-1pm Pacific Time. No observation hours required for this class. Class will be on 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, and 2/6.
This five-part course will investigate what neuroscientists have uncovered about how the brain learns and how to use this information in the most effective, efficient way in the practice room. We will discuss how to break old habits and get new habits to stick, which practice methods allow us to learn new music and skills in the least amount of time, what causes the “I promise I could play it perfectly at home yesterday!” phenomenon (and how to fix it), how to help students (and ourselves) memorize music better, how to use the metronome (it’s not what you think!), the critical role of sleep in learning, and how to practice to create more confidence and consistency on stage. The final two classes in this course will be interactive and hands-on, trying out the ideas we discuss in the first three classes, and troubleshooting actual practicing issues in real time.
This course is 10 hours. No observation time required. Class will be Saturdays 11am-1pm Pacific Time. No observation hours required for this class. Class will be on 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, and 2/6.
2021 Spring Online Course Offerings
Viola Unit 9 $450
April 12 - May 10
Taught by Elizabeth Stuen-Walker
This course is 15 hours with 8 hours of observation time. Course hours will be Mondays from 9am-12pm Pacific Time on 4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10. Observation hours are a required part of this course and will take place outside of the scheduled course time.
Pre-requisites:
This course is 15 hours with 8 hours of observation time. Course hours will be Mondays from 9am-12pm Pacific Time on 4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10. Observation hours are a required part of this course and will take place outside of the scheduled course time.
Pre-requisites:
- Violin or Viola Unit 3
Teaching Beginning Improvisation Using Early Blues and Jazz Tunes $195
March 5 - April 2
Taught by Dr. Renata Bratt
This course is for violin, viola, or cello teachers.
Using mainly African American Blues and Jazz tunes from 1915-1924, teach your students improvisation skills step by step through rhythmic variations, scales, arpeggios, chords, conversational blues and jazz phrases and melodic quotation.
Through these early jazz tunes, students can start playing jazz and blues starting as early as book 2 and from any time after that. Then they can learn to create musical phrases (“riffs” or “licks”) that can be adapted to many other blues and jazz tunes.
This course is 10 hours. No observation time required. Course hours will be Fridays from 8-10am Pacific Time on 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, and 4/2.
Pre-requisites:
This course is for violin, viola, or cello teachers.
Using mainly African American Blues and Jazz tunes from 1915-1924, teach your students improvisation skills step by step through rhythmic variations, scales, arpeggios, chords, conversational blues and jazz phrases and melodic quotation.
Through these early jazz tunes, students can start playing jazz and blues starting as early as book 2 and from any time after that. Then they can learn to create musical phrases (“riffs” or “licks”) that can be adapted to many other blues and jazz tunes.
This course is 10 hours. No observation time required. Course hours will be Fridays from 8-10am Pacific Time on 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, and 4/2.
Pre-requisites:
- Violin, Viola, or Cello Unit 1
Setting up Home Practice for Success: Fostering Positive Practice between Students & Parents/Caregivers $195
March 4 - April 1
Taught by Christine Goodner
This enrichment course is for teachers who want to help foster positive practice routines between their students and the adults who practice with them. This course will cover research & strategies on topics, including developmentally appropriate approaches to practice based on age and fostering cooperative relationships during home practice. We'll also cover what parents need to know about practice to navigate the ups and downs that inevitably come up during their musical journey.
This 10-hour enrichment course will cover resources you can use in parent ed sessions in your program and give you a foundation of knowledge and principles that help foster positive practice at home that will help you in weekly lessons as you communicate with families you work with.
This course is 10 hours. No observation time required. Course hours will be Thursdays from 8-10am Pacific Time on 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, and 4/1.
This enrichment course is for teachers who want to help foster positive practice routines between their students and the adults who practice with them. This course will cover research & strategies on topics, including developmentally appropriate approaches to practice based on age and fostering cooperative relationships during home practice. We'll also cover what parents need to know about practice to navigate the ups and downs that inevitably come up during their musical journey.
This 10-hour enrichment course will cover resources you can use in parent ed sessions in your program and give you a foundation of knowledge and principles that help foster positive practice at home that will help you in weekly lessons as you communicate with families you work with.
This course is 10 hours. No observation time required. Course hours will be Thursdays from 8-10am Pacific Time on 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, and 4/1.
The Secret to Learning Music Faster and Performing with More Confidence $195
March 13 - April 17
Taught by Dr. Molly Gebrain
Musicians are always looking for a magic bullet that will help them learn music faster, retain more between practice sessions, and help them feel confident in their performing abilities. Paradoxically, if any magic bullet exists, it is that taking time off from practicing a particular passage (hours, days, and even weeks) can actually speed up the learning process! Similarly, we tend to think that focusing on one passage or issue for a long block of time and doing many repetitions will increase the likelihood of it going well in performance, but this is the opposite of what the research shows. This presentation will look at the science behind these surprising phenomena and give practical suggestions for how to use this information most effectively. The second half of this course will be interactive and hands-on, trying out the various practicing techniques discussed in the first part of the course. We will also discuss concrete ways to use this information in structuring and pacing lessons.
This course is 10 hours. No observation time required. Class will be Saturdays 12pm-2pm Pacific Time. Class will be on 3/13, 3/20, 3/27, NO CLASS EASTER WEEKEND, 4/10, and 4/17
Musicians are always looking for a magic bullet that will help them learn music faster, retain more between practice sessions, and help them feel confident in their performing abilities. Paradoxically, if any magic bullet exists, it is that taking time off from practicing a particular passage (hours, days, and even weeks) can actually speed up the learning process! Similarly, we tend to think that focusing on one passage or issue for a long block of time and doing many repetitions will increase the likelihood of it going well in performance, but this is the opposite of what the research shows. This presentation will look at the science behind these surprising phenomena and give practical suggestions for how to use this information most effectively. The second half of this course will be interactive and hands-on, trying out the various practicing techniques discussed in the first part of the course. We will also discuss concrete ways to use this information in structuring and pacing lessons.
This course is 10 hours. No observation time required. Class will be Saturdays 12pm-2pm Pacific Time. Class will be on 3/13, 3/20, 3/27, NO CLASS EASTER WEEKEND, 4/10, and 4/17
Refund Policy
In the event that you decide to cancel your registration, notify the San Diego Suzuki Institute in writing. There is a $100 non-refundable cancellation fee per participant. The payment of all other fees will be returned if email or postal notice of cancellation is received 14 days before the first day of class.
Due to commitments we must make with faculty, applicants who withdraw 13 or fewer days before the first day of class forfeit all fees.
If enrollment is full or a teacher-training course is canceled, all registration and course fees will be refunded.
Due to commitments we must make with faculty, applicants who withdraw 13 or fewer days before the first day of class forfeit all fees.
If enrollment is full or a teacher-training course is canceled, all registration and course fees will be refunded.
