Summer Suzuki Institutes

(or as one clever student years ago called it, Suzuki Institutions :/ )

A few weeks ago, as we are settling down for a few weeks of relaxation and rest, the Suzuki Association of Americas (SAA) sent out a list of all the week-long Suzuki Institutes spanning North America occurring from late May through mid August. (The events in Latin America are not included but for those who may be interested, those events typically happen in January through March and the SAA also has a current list.) Just when we think we can relax for a moment, something else to start thinking about and planning pops up!

I briefly discussed Suzuki Institutes, and more specifically the Greater Austin Suzuki Association Institute, in a previous post but wanted to elaborate a little bit more on the topic as it relates to all Suzuki Institutes. 

What is it? Essentially, a Suzuki Institute is a week-long, summer Suzuki 'camp' or program for students of all ages and abilities. However, it's not just for students. Just as parents are pivotal in the success of the Suzuki Method, parents are also equally important and equally involved in a child's participation at a Suzuki Institute. Parent involvement is a must - which means accompanying your child through a day of Suzuki activities, including group class, masterclass-style lessons (more on that later), technique or repertoire classes and recitals. However, knowing that parents are part of this process, Institutes often offer parent programs, such as parent lectures, book clubs. Plus, they offer the inherent social aspect (y'all know how big I am on social interaction) - there are many other parents at the Institute, all with the commonality of Suzuki, that you have an opportunity to interact with daily and share your experiences with during the course of the week. In addition, if you are a repeat offender and return to the same institute yearly, you begin running into the same families, who are often from different cities, states or even countries, that you get to catch up with and again, share your experiences, successes and failures not only from the past week but from the past year.  

Ultimately, Institutes provides the opportunity for students and parents (and teachers!) to further their understanding of the philosophy and teachings of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. It allows parents to see the success of the Suzuki approach on a much larger scale and to enhance the skills they need to help their children learn. Suzuki Institutes began with Dr. Suzuki himself in Japan and was imported to the United States in 1971. The American Suzuki Institute at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point is the oldest Suzuki summer institute outside of Japan and continues to carry on the tradition year after year. 

Students participate (depending on their level, give or take) approximately 15 hours of instruction in one given week, instead of the minimum of half an hour that typically occurs during the school year. During those 15 hours, students and parents participate through a daily class schedule that includes a masterclass, a technique/musicianship class and a repertoire class. While your child is learning cello in all three of these, the focus is slightly different for each. In addition to these classes, most institutes offer 'electives' or enrichment classes, a class designed to give students, especially younger ones, some downtime from the intense learning environment. Plus there's always time to go run around outside and get some pent up energy out before the next class. 

A masterclass is an individual lesson (though shorter in length than your regular lesson) that is observed by other students, parents and teachers. Typically there are 3-4 students in a masterclass, each getting a daily lesson of about 15-20 minutes. Also, the lesson tends to have a theme or a point that is refined throughout the week, such a focus on the bow hold, or upgrading tone. 

The technique/musicianship class is a slightly larger group class of students with similar abilities all working on specific skills needed to play pieces. Teachers delve more deeply into specific techniques related to the bow and left hand or specific musical skills. 

Repertoire classes are group classes including all the students (big kids, too, if it's a smaller institute) intended to polish pieces and practice playing together for the final group concert. 

Why should I put myself through this? Because it's AMAZING!

Yes, it's intense. Yes, it's a long day. Yes, it's a long week. Yes, it's a lot of cello/music/Suzuki/time with your child(ren). Yes, it means you have to participate, too, which means a week off your normal schedule. But it's soooooo worth it and ends up being such a rewarding experience for both parent and child. I personally think it's such a cool thing to witness what a child can do during one intense week - a lot can happen in such a short period of time!

Different approaches
In addition, students get an opportunity to work with teachers that are not their weekly lesson/group teachers. Experiencing a new teacher, learning new insights or perhaps hearing the same thing approached a different way is another fantastic learning experience for students and parents. Maybe the way I communicate an idea doesn't resonate with a student, but the way another teacher explains it does. Great!!! The Suzuki method is great in that students all learn the same repertoire so not only can students from all across the world play the same pieces together but teachers from all across the world can instruct students on a deep and highly skillful level. Plus, I'm not even touching the subject of social learning situations where students learn a ridiculous, insane amount from watching others have a lesson in masterclasses or participate in group class. 

Protect what you've worked SO hard on!

I'll reserve the bulk of this discussion for a later post but it also helps protect students against the summer 'brain-drain' when organized and frequent learning opportunities almost suddenly come to a halt. Students who don't continue to practice, refine and use their skills will lose them. The saying 'use it or lose it' really does apply in our case, especially since cello learning is a highly physical skill combined with critical thinking and the need for cognitive engagement. 

Teacher Development

While the Institutes are seemingly focused on the student classes, there is also the teacher development side going on simultaneously. I won't elaborate too much as its not really relevant information for your child but I do want to make you aware that Suzuki Institutes are also training grounds for Suzuki teachers. While students are participating in their classes, teachers are also engaged in intense learning environments up to 15 days long, playing and dissecting the Suzuki repertoire, learning how to teach it and the Suzuki philosophy to others and observing master teachers work with younger students. The same teachers that are working with your students are also conducting the teacher training courses so not only do Institute teachers know how to teach your child, they also know how to teach professional musicians how to teach your child. These teachers are truly master teachers, training not only little cellists on how to be musicians but also teaching professional cellists how to be thoughtful, skillful and engaging teachers. It's an awesome cycle and community, these institutes. 

Specific Institutes We Austinites are very fortunate to have a Suzuki Institute in our own city, many thanks to my colleagues, tireless and eternally devoted teachers, who make it happen. It's a fantastic opportunity for students and parents of every level. Greater Austin Suzuki Association Institute (GASA), not unlike other Suzuki Institutes taking place across the continent, is a week-long, summer Suzuki 'camp' for students of all ages and ability. While this particular institute is conveniently located in Austin, there are many, many across the country and globe every summer. If you are looking to make a family vacation out of it, there are many options. The Chicago Suzuki Institute is an AWESOME institute for cello students - there are students of all ages and abilities, from pre-Twinkle past Book 10. Similarly, the National Cello Institute in Claremont, California features classes and activities for students of all ages (adults, too!) and abilities, including those waaaaay past Book 10. The ability to go to a Suzuki institute and see the wide spectrum of ability levels displayed right in front of you and your child is a powerful motivator. Others include, Hawaii, Colorado, Canada, Latin America, etc. I know many families (including myself) how've made vacations out of attending a Suzuki Institute. The first time I attended the Chicago Suzuki Institute, I had a BLAST - it's always over the Fourth of July and while there is a celebration on campus at the Institute as well as in nearby Evanston, I headed to Navy Pier and Millennium Park in downtown Chicago to watch the festivities with my relatives who live in Chicago. That's another way to do it - work it around visiting and staying with family. That also helps cut down on the hotel/institute accommodations. 

When is this happening?Why do I bring this up now, in January, when some of these programs don't start until July or even August? Registration for some of the earlier institutes has already opened and the early bird tuition is pretty reasonable. After that, it tends to jump up, especially if you are looking at an out-of-state institute and need accommodations. Just like many summer camps, now is the time to be thinking about your child's possible participation in a Suzuki Institute this summer.

For 2015, the Austin Suzuki Institute will be held on July 28 through August 1. Tuition for the programs starts at $450 (for early bird registration). Each institute is it's own independent 'business' that is approved by the SAA, so you'll need to check each individual institute for program rates and accommodations.