Suzuki Association of the Greater Washington Area News

2013 Flute Institute Information and Registration

SAGWA — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:54:10 GMT

2013 Flute Institute Information and Registration is here

SAGWA Newsletter

SAGWA — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 14:57:53 GMT

The SAGWA Newsletter is published quarterly in February, May, August, and November. All submissions for the newsletter are due by the 15th of the month prior to publication (January 15, April 15, July 15, October 15).

String Festival Workshop Video

SAGWA — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 22:49:01 GMT

Twinkle Pop and Musette Demo

2013 String Festival Repertoire!

SAGWA — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:58:42 GMT

The cello and violin repertoire for the 43rd Annual SAGWA String Festival are now available.

For the most up-to-date information on the festival, visit the String Festival Event page.

Year-End Membership Special

SAGWA — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 11:25:35 GMT

New SAGWA members registering for a one-year membership after September 1, 2012 will receive full membership through December 31, 2013.

Not a SAGWA member yet? Join today!

SAGWA Flute Institute Featured Suzuki Flute School Founder Mr. Toshio Takahashi

SAGWA — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:57:12 GMT

Over sixty flutists attending the annual SAGWA Flute Institute July 2-6, 2012 in Alexandria, VA had the rare opportunity to study with master teacher and founder of the Suzuki Flute School, Mr. Toshio Takahashi, during one of his two stops on his recent visit from Japan. Students received detailed instruction in a master class setting from Mr. Takahashi on tone production, musical phrasing and group performance. Mr. Takahashi also led daily group rehearsals and conducted the Institute’s final concert on Friday, July 6^th. Teacher trainees met several times with Mr. Takahashi to review key pedagogy points for the Suzuki Flute method including group exercises in dynamic contrasts, and tone production.

Mr. Takahashi presented his famous Opera Class, which featured a brief discussion on the origin of Tone Production by Interpretation by Marcel Moyse, followed by a recording of Maria Callas singing an aria from Samson and Delilah by Saint-Saëns. Flutists then heard a live performance of the aria by mezzo soprano Heather Craw accompanied by pianist Trevor Manor. Following that beautiful performance, Mr. Takahashi led flutists through his levels of learning for developing musical expression culminating in a group play through of the aria and a memorable evening.

Master teacher and highly accomplished flutist, Takaeki Miyamae, accompanied by pianist Trevor Manor, presented a recital Tuesday, July 3^rd, featuring a diverse program of standard flute repertoire that included the Fantasie by Gabriel Faure, Sonata in G by Georg Philipp Telemann, Canzone by Samuel Barber, Piece by Jacques Ibert, Andante et Scherzo by Louis Ganne, Suite by Charles-Marie Widor, and the charming composition by Louis Moyse, All About Tea. Mr. Miyamae also conducted student masterclasses during the week for Institute participants.

Visiting faculty teacher trainers Rebecca Paluzzi, Laura Larson, and Deborah Kemper taught teacher training for books two, four, and seven respectively and also had a full schedule of student masterclasses. Resident faculty Charlotte Brown Day, Joyce Bennett, Rebecca Turchi Collaros, Jeanne Crowley, Anne Smith and Betsy Trimber taught Tone and Technique classes, flute choir, and Music Mind Games. Pianist Rosalind Kerns accompanied students on daily recitals and for the final group concert.

Other Institute activities included Orff and singing and crafts. Steve Day designed and produced purple t-shirts with special embroidered graphics for each Institute participant making the final “T-shirt day” of the Institute very colorful. Special thanks to The Old Presbyterian Meeting House for use of their facilities and Clermont Elementary School for use of the Orff instruments.

SAGWA extends its appreciation to Flute Institute board members Joyce Bennett, Charlotte Brown Day, Marge Smith, Anne Smith, Rebecca Turchi Collaros and Betsy Trimber for bringing Mr. Takahashi to Alexandria, VA and for a fabulous week of flute learning and fun. It was the perfect way to beat the intense summer heat and celebrate the July 4^th holiday week!

Great Success at the 2012 Greater Washington Suzuki Institute

SAGWA — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 16:11:41 GMT

This year's GWSI was even more valuable, fun, educational and inspiring than last year's institute, with a high level of musicianship, artistry, pedagogy, charisma and simple love of children. The faculty was selected from all over the USA and several new teachers were welcomed to the faculty. It was gratifying that families and teachers who came for professional development were very aware of this.

Teacher Development offerings were well attended, offering Violin, books 1, 2, and 3, Cello book 3, and a very popular, after hours Teacher Enrichment Course attended by teachers and faculty alike.

Daily activities included 5 orchestras, 7 quartets, Play-Ins, very popular Royal Scottish Fiddling classes every hour as well as 50 masterclasses and 16 repertory classes. During the week there were 10 recitals/concerts and 6 lectures. For everyone Potter’s Violins and Fox’es Music Stores offered participants the convenience of goods and services right in the building in the midst of all of our activities.

A Few Comments from Students & Parent Participants

“My teacher was great. I hope I will get him again next year.”
“I especially liked the session for teens on ‘Music in Your Life’.”
“Wow!, What a great experience!”
“We are inspired.”
“Orchestra was fun.”
“This week has set us up for great practices. I hope this can last all year.”
“The faculty is world class, more than we’d even hoped for. We will return next year and bring our friends with us."

Mark Your Calendars!

Please plan to attend GWSI 2013 , George Mason High School, Falls Church, VA.

All students and families: Monday, June 24 - Friday, June 28, 2013

Every Child Can, June 22, 2013
Book 1 Violin and Cello Teacher Development Courses: June 23-30, 2013
Other Teacher Development Courses: June 24-28, 2013

Topics for afternoon parent/teacher lectures will be implemented in 2013 GWSI.

We will keep much of the faculty we enjoyed so much this year and we are looking forward to expanding the cello program next year.

We would like to encourage pre-formed quartets to apply for chamber music coaching. We certainly have the faculty capability to handle quartets on every level.

Teacher Development courses will be offered for Book 1 Violin and Book 1 Cello teachers. “Every Child can” course will be offered for parents and teachers. We are considering which book unit courses should be offered for teachers as well as another after hours Enrichment Course for teachers.

Please email Ronda Cole with your suggestions for teacher courses for GWSI 2013 at ronda.cole@gmail.com

Potter's Violins Extends Special Discount to SAGWA Members

SAGWA — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:16:38 GMT

SAGWA members receive the following discounts for on-line orders:

10% off all sheet music
10% off all teaching tools
10% off all non-outfit instruments and bows
10% off all non-outfit instrument or bow cases

SAGWA members can log in to access the special discount code.

If you are not yet a member, join today!

June 3 String Teachers' Meeting Update

SAGWA — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 22:17:14 GMT

Hello everyone,

It was such a pleasure to see those of you who were able to come to the meeting last night, and I appreciate hearing from many old and new friends who were unable to attend.

We will be sending information and proposed programs from the meeting, and the agenda and topics discussed are below. We are so pleased to welcome Marissa Murphy as the new String Committee chair--thank you, Marissa!

We have confirmed the 43rd annual String Festival dates with Bullis School and University of Maryland for April 13 and 14, 2013, so please mark your calendars now!

Thanks again!

All best,

Stephanie

AGENDA--STRING COMMITTEE MEETING

Home of Stephanie Flack, 6 pm, Sunday, June 3, 2012

I. Welcome and Introductions

II. Festival and SAGWA Events--Past, Present and Future (Elisabeth Taylor, SAGWA String Festival Director)

A. Presentation from Suzuki Association of the Americas Conference Attendee (Stephanie Flack, SAGWA Chair and SAGWA String Festival Assistant Director)--Ideas from other Chapter Affiliates and Suzuki Associations Worldwide

Graduation concerts

Australia
Utah

Technique Workshop
Music Festival
Master Class Only
Non-Instrumental Workshop
Improvisation Workshop
Parent Workshop
Showcase Concert
1/2 Festival-Type, 1/2 Showcase and/or Professional--Benefit concept

III. Outreach and Other Ideas for Creating Community Wide Inclusive Events

A. Performance/Touring Groups

i. Buffalo Suzuki Strings
ii. Rocky Mountain Strings

B. Suzuki in the Schools--partnership/outreach?
C. Scholarship Offerings

IV. Discussion/Ideas

V. Follow Up/Implementation

Pianists to Present Chamber Concert

SAGWA — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:27:17 GMT

Piano students of Naomi Kusano will present a chamber concert recital on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 2:30 PM. Students, ages 4 to adult, perform with a professional string quartet (Julianna Chitwood and Kate Whitesides, violins, Sarah Scanlon, viola, and Marie Cole, cello). The literature is standard piano repertoire with accompaniments that have been commissioned over the years. Naomi would be most honored for members and their students and families to attend.

The concert will be at the Steinway Piano Gallery at Tysons Corner (near Lord & Taylor’s), 1961 Chain Bridge Road, McLean VA 22102. For questions or to RSVP, please contact Naomi at suzukipianoinncc@gmail.com.

Ticket Specials

SAGWA — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:12:26 GMT

New Concert Ticket Specials for SAGWA Members

Washington Performing Arts Society: $10 Student Tickets
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra performance with special "Student Passport" reception before the concert
Loudoun Symphony Mothers' Day Concert
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra

SAGWA Members: log in to view these Specials.

Scholarship Applications Due!

SAGWA — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:45:45 GMT

The deadline for scholarship applications to attend the Greater Washington Suzuki Institute (GWSI), the Greater Washington Suzuki Piano Institute (GWSPI), or the SAGWA Flute Institute is April 15th.

See the Scholarship Page for full details. Don't delay, get your applications in today!

Important String Festival Updates & Instructions

SAGWA — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:10:32 GMT

The 2012 String Festival is this coming weekend!

FOR FAMILIES: check out the String Festival event page for newly UPDATED workshop schedules, directions and other instructions.

FOR ALL STRING TEACHERS: please log-in for general teacher information* about the festival

FOR CELLO TEACHERS: please log-in for important instructions* regarding your students performances.

*posted in Members Only>Teachers Only discussion boards.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Beth Taylor at festival@sagwa.org.

Now Available: String Festival Workshop Schedule

SAGWA — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:25:33 GMT

The workshop schedule for the 2012 Strings Festival has been released.

Visit the String Festival event page or download it here.

Additional Violin Teacher Training Courses

SAGWA — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:35:30 GMT

Ronda Cole is offering a Book 2 Teacher Development Course, April 9-13/14, 2012. The course will begin on Monday, April 9 in her McLean studio. Many of the 15 seminar hours will be on Monday. The 8 required observation hours are flexible within the week. Fifteen seminar hours will be chosen (the whole class must agree on these times) from the following hours Ronda has available to schedule the Seminars.

Dear Teachers,

I will offer a Book 2 Teacher Development Course, April 9-13/14, 2012.

The course will begin on Monday, April 9 in my McLean studio. Many of the 15 seminar hours will be on Monday. The 8 required observation hours are flexible since I can offer 30 hours of observation opportunities from 6:15 AM -REALLY!!! to 6PM, Tuesday-Friday plus 3.5 hours of groups at all levels on Saturday morning. Fifteen seminar hours will be chosen (the whole class must agree on these times) from the following hours Ronda has available to schedule the Seminars:

Monday 4/9: 7AM-6PM
Tuesday 4/10 10:15-11:15 and 12-3PM
Wednesday 4/11 12-2PM
Thursday 4/12 9-11AM and 12-6PM
Friday 4/13 9:45-10:45AM

Of these 26 possible seminar hours, 15 must be agreed upon for the course by the Participants.

Observation time (8 hours) is adjacent to the possible seminar hours. This will save driving time for local teachers. On Saturday 4/14 morning group class includes Pre-Twinkle at 8:30AM thru advanced levels ending at noon. There are thirty possible observation hours available from Tuesday thru Friday, including mornings. Saturday morning observation is not necessary for those who can get 8 hours in out of the 30 available during the week. Local teachers may also elect to complete their observation the following week thus allowing them to teach their own students during the week.

Eligibility for this SAA course is:

Registered completion of the "Every Child Can" course
Registered completion of Book 1
And current membership in the Suzuki Association of the Americas. www.SuzukiAssociation.org

Please respond with your interest before March 1 to ronda.cole@gmail.com

If you cannot arrange to come to any of the possible seminar hours listed above, please indicate the hours that you cannot attend. Hopefully, all interested teachers will be able to arrange 15 hours in common!

The cost will be set when I know how many participate in the course. Tell me off your interest and hours that you cannot be available for the seminar and I will return a schedule to you and have a cost determined. Then you may register if it works well for you.

Thank you,

Ronda Cole

Violin Teacher Training Courses

SAGWA — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:22:28 GMT

James Hutchins, a registered teacher trainer with the SAA, plans to offer one or two Violin teacher training workshops this spring. The books/units offered will be whatever has the most guaranteed participants.

If you are interested, or wish to find out more about possible dates and times, please email James directly at hutchjth@yahoo.com. Cost will depend on the number of participants-the more registered the cheaper it will be!

Hi Gang,

I've received several requests asking if I would offer some teacher training workshops. I would be happy to do so and details of how it would have to work are below.

The SAA requires that the course is offered over the following minimum time periods:

8 days for Unit 1

5 days for Unit 2 and beyond

Unit 1 is a 28 hours course with an additional 15 hours of observation.

Unit 2 and beyond are 15 hour courses with 8 hours of observation.

Some of the observation I require be of my students (which can be done in person or via a private YouTube link) and some can be of other teachers.

Book 1 or 2 as back-to-back courses (or 2-3, 3-4 etc.) would have to take place over two consecutive weekends at my house.

One course, Book 2 or beyond could be done in one weekend with the final hour and consultations done via skype the following weekend to meet the SAA time requirements. If you could be at my house to do the last hour in person, it would be preferred.

Participating in that last hour a week after you go home and are back in your "real studio life" I feel is really valuable.

All classes would have to start with 3 hours Friday night and finish by 6pm on Sunday.

The course will be offered in Silver Spring, MD unless a group of you decide you want to bring me to you, which I would be happy to do.

Finally, to register the course, the audition requirements must be met in advance, otherwise you can only audit the course! The requirements can be found here:

http://suzukiassociation.org/teachers/guides/audition/

If you have not already been approved through this audition process for previous courses, by the time you are able to register for my courses it will be within the two-month deadline and there will be a $30 late fee. In order to ensure that you will be able to register the course, your audition tapes will need to be postmarked to the SAA one month before the course starts.

I am available the weekends of:

April 13-15

April 20-27

April 28-30

Please email me with what you would like and dates. I will offer the course(s) for whatever level (and wherever) has the most guaranteed interest.

Cost will be decided by the number of participants. The more people who sign up, the cheaper it will be which is always a good thing!

Please feel free to forward this to anyone else you think may be interested.

If there's enough interest, I will do this again in the fall and next spring.

Talk to you all soon,

James

String Festival Registration Now Open!

SAGWA — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:16:56 GMT

GWSI Dates Announced for 2012

SAGWA — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 01:04:50 GMT

The 2012 Greater Washington Suzuki Institute will be held from June 25th through June 29th with additonal teacher training beginning June 23rd and ending July 1st.

Visit the GWSI event page for the most up-to-date information on repertoire, clinicians, and registration.

GWSPI Dates Announced for 2012 and 2013

SAGWA — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:43:19 GMT

Dates have been set for the 2012 and 2013 Greater Washington Suzuki Piano Institutes.

In 2012, the GWSPI will run from June 25-28 with an extra teacher day TBD.

In 2013, the GWSPI will run from June 24-27 with an extra teacher day TBD.

Visit the GWSPI event page for the most up-to-date information on repertoire, clinicians, and registration.

Suzuki Flutes Perform for Festival of Lights

SAGWA — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:16:32 GMT

Over 100 Suzuki flutists, ages 4-18, presented two holiday concerts at the annual Festival of Lights, held at the Visitors’ Center of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints, on December 19th, 2011. Pianist Melinda Baird performed holiday prelude music and accompanied the flute choir.

Students from the studios of Joyce Bennett, Charlotte Day, Rebecca Collaros, Martha Ethington, Anne Smith and Heidi Schuller, performed selections of Christmas carols and arrangements of traditional holiday works for a full house of visitors who came to enjoy the music and the Center's 450,000 Christmas lights, live outdoor nativity scene, and decorative Christmas trees.

Charlotte Day led the group in a set of traditional Christmas carols performed from memory, and Joyce Bennett conducted selections featuring the massed flutes in multi-part choir arrangements.