MA Suzuki Festival 2024
March 9-10
Concord Academy, Concord, MA
Teacher & Volunteer Information
Teacher Workshops & Events:
Friday, March 8 at 7-8:30pm: Pre-Festival Teacher Workshop
Saturday, March 9 at 12-6pm: Teacher Workshops
Saturday, March 9 at 6:15pm: Faculty/Teacher Dinner Social
Sunday, March 10 at 12-1pm: Faculty/Teacher Lunch Social
Saturday and Sunday Observations of Student Classes
Volunteer Opportunities!
Registration will be open through March 7
Teacher Workshops:
Teacher Workshop Tuition: $40 each
Join fellow Suzuki teachers to gain enrichment and inspiration from Festival clinicians! Live viewing of workshops will either be online or in-person as noted.
Please Note: All workshops, both online and in-person, will be recorded and made available for future viewing. Only the online workshop will be live-streamed. In-person workshops will not be live-streamed.
*All information subject to change--please check the website for up-to-date information!
"Rebalancing the Suzuki Triangle" with Miriam Bolkosky
Friday, March 8th at 7:00-8:30pm (online & recorded)
Creating stronger relationships with parents makes our jobs as teachers so much easier. Join us for a conversation about ways to connect with families to give yourself more time, energy, and creativity.
"Kodály Harmony in Motion" with Kathryn Bach
Saturday, March 9th at 12:00-1:45pm (in-person & recorded)
The Kodály method, developed by Hungarian composer and music educator Zoltán Kodály, emphasizes the importance of not only developing a sequential learning process for concept-based learning, but also integrating singing and movement into the musical experience. This workshop will guide participants through a hands-on exploration of Kodály-inspired techniques, providing practical tools for teaching group lessons that enhance musical understanding, vocal skills, and concept awareness.
Whether you're a seasoned music educator or just starting your journey, "Harmony in Motion" provides a framework that will enhance your practice, fostering a sense of community in your group classes while creating a joyful and enriching experience for your students.
Participants are encouraged to bring their voices, open minds, and a willingness to explore the transformative possibilities of Kodály-inspired singing and movement in group lessons.
"Creative Composition in the Studio"
with Wynn-Anne Rossi
Saturday, March 9th at 2:00-3:45pm (in-person & recorded)
Creative expression is a healthy choice for every student. It is fueled by life experiences, bursts of inspiration and plenty of mistakes. Wynn-Anne will offer practical exercises for promoting improvisation in the music studio. These simple challenges can eventually lead to original composition where musical language meets applied music theory. Wynn-Anne's streamlined approach to teaching composition requires only 3-5 minutes per lesson. Students of every level can explore new realms of musicality while growing in self-esteem.
"Repurposed Review" with Daniel Gee Cordova
Saturday, March 9th at 4:15-6:00pm (in-person & recorded)
While we all know that review is important, it can often get overlooked in lessons and in practice. Instead of feeling about review as a practice obligation, let's think about how we can reimagine review in order to keep our teaching efficient, creative, and musical.
Teacher Observation Passes:
Please note: All observations are in-person. No recordings of student classes for future observation will be available.
Saturday, March 9 Full-Day Observation Pass*: $25
Observe student masterclasses.
Saturday, March 9 Partial-Day Observation Pass*: $15
For those that register for Saturday Teacher Workshops, this pass allows you to observe student masterclasses for the remainder of the day.
Sunday, March 10 Observation Pass*: $35
Observe student group classes and Parent Session.
Saturday + Sunday Observation Pass*: $50
(*Teacher Workshops are not included with Observation Passes. Please purchase separately.)
Faculty/Teacher Social Events:
Saturday, March 9 at 6:15pm -Faculty/Teacher Dinner Social ($30)
Sunday, March 10 at 12-1pm -Faculty/Teacher Lunch Social ($15)
Send Students to the Festival!
Send your students to the Festival! Teachers who send 10+ students can attend the whole weekend for free; which includes observing both days, and attending any teacher workshops. Students often experience a big motivational boost from the Festival. You can encourage them to attend and help them prepare the appropriate repertoire. You will be notified when 10 of your students have registered. Please fill out the Teacher Registration form to let us know which events you will be attending.
Flyers to share and spread the word:
Volunteering:
Volunteering at the Festival is a fun and easy way to get connected with your local Suzuki community. In exchange for volunteering 2+ hours, you will receive a Saturday and Sunday Observer Pass for free and lunch on Sunday!
(Please note, Teacher Workshops and Dinner Social are not included and must be registered and paid for).
If you’d like to volunteer, please sign-up for duties here on Sign-up Genius Form. Once you have signed-up for volunteer duties, then please also fill out the Teacher Registration Form.
We would love your help with the following:
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Help with Festival Preparations with student tags, T-shirt orders and student packets.
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Assist with festival set-up and clean-up.
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Host at the Welcome Desk.
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Take pictures of the Festival: Help us document this amazing experience!
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Venue guides - help students find their classes at our new venue.
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Tuning in group classes and recitals.
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Assist with ground transportation for clinicians.
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Violin and cello musicians perform with Piano Triolets.
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Play in the Festival Orchestra.
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And more!