Suzuki Teacher Training

CMS offers Suzuki Method Violin Teacher Training courses, taught by Kristin Jutras, CMS Director, SOM Faculty member, and Suzuki Association of the Americas Suzuki Violin Teacher Trainer.

How Do I Become a Suzuki Teacher?

Your first step towards becoming a Suzuki Teacher is to take the Every Child Can! course.  No audition or SAA membership is required to take this course.  It serves as a perfect introduction to the important points of the Suzuki Method and Philosophy.  Please visit the Suzuki Association of the Americas website for specific requirements for further Suzuki training. 

 

COURSES OFFERED AT CMS:
 

At the heart of the Suzuki Method is the belief that Every Child Can Learn. Every Child Can! is a 6 hour required introductory course needed prior to any further Suzuki training on any instrument.  It is required for all new Suzuki teachers, but open to non-teachers, prospective teachers, parents, administrators and all others interested in learning about the Suzuki approach to education. It is non-instrument-specific. Experienced Suzuki teachers are also encouraged to participate for renewed inspiration or review. Please see the Suzuki Association of the Americas website for complete information regarding the Every Child Can! course prerequisites. 100% attendance is required for registration of any SAA courses.

Tuition: $130 (includes course booklet and registration with SAA)
Date: TBD

Course schedule:  TBD
Attendance must be in person.

Register for ECC! here.

 

VIOLIN UNIT 1: 
Fall 2024, Tuesdays and Thursdays mornings TBD
Tuition: $650
(can also be taken as UGA credited course, MUSI 4600/6600)

For violinists and violists who have completed Every Child Can! or who have previously taken Book 1 and would like to revisit the material from a fresh perspective. Be sure to consult the Suzuki Association of the Americas website for training pre-requisites, including membership, audition requirements and other necessities. Topics for study include the development of the ear, parent education and it's role in a Suzuki studio, pre-reading skills, beginning set-up and posture, musicianship at the beginning level, learning styles, how to set up a Suzuki studio, tone development, how to include elements such as group classes, review, and listening, as well as discussion of the Suzuki Philosophy and the teaching points for each piece in the Suzuki Violin Book 1 and Suzuki Viola Book 1.

This course requires a minimum of 28 hours of class time and 15 hours of teaching observations to be completed outside of class, as well as written and playing assignments. It is strongly recommended that participants memorize the pieces in the Suzuki Violin Book 1 repertoire book, and purchase or download reference recordings of the pieces prior to the beginning of the course. 100% attendance is required for registration of any SAA courses.

Attendance must be in person.

Register for Suzuki Book 1 here.

 

VIOLIN UNIT 2
Spring 2025, Tuesday and Thursday mornings TBD
Tuition: $450

(can also be taken as UGA credited course, MUSI 4610/6610, which also includes Book 3 training)

For violinists and violists who have completed Every Child Can! and Unit 1, as well as those who have previously taken Unit 2 and would like to revisit the material from a fresh perspective. Be sure to consult the Suzuki Association of the Americas website for training pre-requisites, including membership, audition requirements and other necessities. This book class includes the new Book 2 requirement of the Teaching Strategies course - a mini practicum where each participate will provide two 6-10 minute teaching videos to be examined during the course. Book 2 topics for study include further development of the ear, parent education and it's role in a Suzuki studio, reading skills, development of the full use of the bow, musicianship, learning styles, tone development, articulation, as well as group classes, review, and listening, as well as the teaching points for each piece in the Suzuki Violin Book 2 and Suzuki Viola Book 2.

This course, with the required Teaching Strategies component requires a minimum of 25 hours of class time which will include some practical teaching experience, observation and feedback. 8 hours of observations are required as well as written and playing assignments. It is strongly recommended that participants memorize the pieces in the Suzuki Violin (or Viola) Book 2 repertoire book, and purchase or download reference recordings of the pieces prior to the beginning of the course. 100% attendance is required for registration of any SAA courses.

Register for Suzuki Violin Unit 2 here.

 

VIOLIN UNIT 3:
Spring 2025.  Tues/Thurs mornings TBD
Tuition: $450

(can also be taken as UGA credited course, MUSI 4610/6610, which also includes Book 2 training)

For violinists and violists who have completed Every Child Can! and Unit 1 and 2, as well as those who have previously taken Unit 3 and would like to revisit the material from a fresh perspective. Be sure to consult the Suzuki Association of the Americas website for training pre-requisites, including membership, audition requirements and other necessities. Topics for study include further development of the ear, parent education and it's role in a Suzuki studio, reading skills, development of the full use of the bow, musicianship, learning styles, tone development, articulation, as well as group classes, review, and listening, and the teaching points for each piece in the Suzuki Violin Book 3 and Suzuki Viola Book 3.

This course requires a minimum of 15 hours of class time which will include some practical teaching experience, observation and feedback. 8 hours of observations are required as well as written and playing assignments. It is strongly recommended that participants memorize the pieces in the Suzuki Violin (or Viola) Book 3 repertoire book, and purchase or download reference recordings of the pieces prior to the beginning of the course. 100% attendance is required for registration of any SAA courses.

Register for Suzuki Violin Unit 3 here.

 

 

VIOLIN UNIT 4:
Fall 2025.  Class time Tuesday and Thursday mornings, TBD
Tuition: $450

(can also be taken as UGA credited course, MUSI 4620/6620, which also includes Book 5 training)

For violinists only who have completed Every Child Can! and Units 1 - 3, as well as those who have previously taken Unit 4 or above and would like to revisit the material from a fresh perspective. Be sure to consult the Suzuki Association of the Americas website for training pre-requisites, including membership, audition requirements and other necessities. Topics for study include further development of the ear, parent education and it's role in a Suzuki studio, reading skills, development of the full use of the bow, vibrato, scales, musicianship, learning styles, tone development, articulation, as well as group classes, review, and listening, and the teaching points for each piece in the Suzuki Violin Book 4.

This course requires a minimum of 15 hours of class time which will include some practical teaching experience, observation and feedback. 10 hours of observations are required as well as written and playing assignments. It is strongly recommended that participants memorize the pieces in the Suzuki Violin Book 4 repertoire book, and purchase or download reference recordings of the pieces prior to the beginning of the course. 100% attendance is required for registration of any SAA courses.

Register for Suzuki Violin Unit 4 here.

 

 

VIOLIN UNIT 5:
Fall 2025.  Class time Tuesday and Thursday mornings, TBD
Tuition: $450

(can also be taken as UGA credited course, MUSI 4620/6620, which also includes Book 4 training)

For violinists only who have completed Every Child Can! and Units 1 - 3, as well as those who have previously taken Unit 4 or above and would like to revisit the material from a fresh perspective. Be sure to consult the Suzuki Association of the Americas website for training pre-requisites, including membership, audition requirements and other necessities. Topics for study include further development of the ear, parent education and it's role in a Suzuki studio, reading skills, development of the full use of the bow, vibrato, scales, musicianship, learning styles, tone development, articulation, as well as group classes, review, and listening, and the teaching points for each piece in the Suzuki Violin Book 5.

This course requires a minimum of 15 hours of class time which will include some practical teaching experience, observation and feedback. 10 hours of observations are required as well as written and playing assignments. It is strongly recommended that participants memorize the pieces in the Suzuki Violin Book 5 repertoire book, and purchase or download reference recordings of the pieces prior to the beginning of the course. 100% attendance is required for registration of any SAA courses.

Register for Suzuki Violin Unit 5 here.