Suzuki Teacher Training

Welcome to the Suzuki Teacher Training program at the University of Louisville School of Music!

 

We are thrilled to announce that Kirsten Marshall will continue as our Suzuki Teacher Trainer at the University of Louisville for the 2024-2025 academic year. Ms. Marshall is a highly distinguished teacher trainer offering courses throughout the country. Each class will meet together on either Monday or Wednesday, from 9 am-Noon EST.  Observations are watched asynchronously and discussed in class.  Class participants will be expected to perform for each other, demonstrate teaching points and engage in highly interactive discussions.

 

This academic year, UofL is offering Every Child Can! and Books 1-10.

All classes will be offered in an online format. Below are the dates for each of the courses:

 

Every Child Can, pre-requisite to begin Suzuki pedagogy

August 16  9am-1pm EST Friday

August 18 1pm-5pm EST Sunday

Deadline to register and pay:  Monday, August 12, 5 pm EST

 

Book 1:  MONDAYs, online 9am-12noon EST

August 19, Augus 26, September 9, September 16, September 23, October 7, October 14, October 21, October 28, November 4, November 11, November 18

 (September 2 No Class-Labor Day)

 (September 30, 2024 No Class- Fall Break)

November 18-19, 2024 Individual Consultations TBD

Deadline to register and pay: Thursday, August 15, 5 pm EST


The University of Louisville with SAA trainer Kirsten Marshall is offering Unit 1 in an expanded format that will allow for more exploration, interactive discussion and demonstration of teaching points. Classes will meet online on Mondays from 9am-Noon EST for twelve sessions. Individual consultations will be scheduled on November 18-19, 2024. Every Child Can is a pre-requisite for beginning Suzuki pedagogy.

Observations will be completed asynchronously and discussed in each class. A deep exploration into teaching a child to learn by ear will be a focus throughout the course. What does the daily practice of ear training look like in lessons and home practice? How can we enable our students and families to continue their practice at home? Grounded in the Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy of talent education, this course introduces the basics of Suzuki training while learning with love. 

 

Book 2:  MONDAYs, online 9am-12noon EST


November 25, December 2, January 13, January 27, February 3

(January 20, 2025 No Class- MLK Day)

February 3-4, 2025 Individual Consultations TBD

Deadline to register and pay: Thursday, November 21, 5 pm EST


Building on the foundation skills of Unit 1, Kirsten Marshall continues the exploration of Dr. Suzuki’s Talent Education. Unit 2 focuses on developing tone, continuing to build a balanced posture and teaching the complete person. Participants will be offered opportunities to lead pieces in preparation for group class teaching. Role-playing as student, teacher or parent allows for a rich discussion of the Suzuki triangle.

 

 

Book 3:  MONDAYs, online 9am-12noon EST


February 10, February 17, February 24, March 3, March 17

 (March 10, 2025 No Class-Spring Break)

March 17-18, 2025 Individual Consultations TBD

 Deadline to register and pay: Thursday, February 6, 5 pm EST

 

The University of Louisville and teacher trainer Kirsten Marshall offer Suzuki Violin Unit 3. This course deepens foundation skills and focuses on the path to artistic expression in tone and timing. Vibrato and shifting are introduced. Classes meet together on five Mondays from 9am-Noon EST. Observations are completed asynchronously and discussed in class.

 

Book 4:  MONDAYs, online 9am-12noon EST

March 24, March 31, April 7, April 14, April 21

- Deadline to register and pay: Thursday, March 20, 5 PM EST

Explore Suzuki Book 4 with Kirsten Marshall. This book completes the first-year course in Suzuki pedagogy and pulls together the tapestry of many skills planted in earlier books. Classes meet together on Mondays from 9am-Noon EST. Observations are completed asynchronously and discussed in class.  Developing passionate learners & musicians is a focus of this course.

 

Book 5:  WEDNESDAYs, online 9am-12noon EST

August 21, August 28, September 4, September 11, September 18, September 25

- Deadline to register and pay: Friday, August 16, 5 PM EST


The University of Louisville offers Suzuki Unit 5 with Kirsten Marshall. Classes will meet together on Wednesday from 9am-Noon EST. Observations will be completed asynchronously and discussed during class time. In-depth discussion of integrating review for higher level playing is a focus of this class, as well as refining the bow arm.

 

Book 6:  WEDNESDAYs, online 9am-12noon EST

October 2, October 9, October 16, October 23, October 30

- Deadline to register and pay: Friday, September 27, 5 PM EST

 

The University of Louisville offers Suzuki Unit 6 with SAA trainer Kirsten Marshall. Classes will meet together on Wednesday from 9am-Noon EST. Observations will be completed asynchronously and discussed during class time. Special focus for this course is developing independent practice and confident performance in tweens and teens.

 

Book 7:  WEDNESDAYs, online 9am-12noon EST

November 6, November 13, November 20, January 8, January 15, January 22

(November 27, 2024 No Class-Thanksgiving break)

- Deadline to register and pay: Friday, November 1, 5 PM EST


The University of Louisville offers Suzuki Violin Unit 7 with Kirsten Marshall. Classes will meet together on Wednesday from 9am-Noon EST. Observations will be completed asynchronously and discussed during class time. While the crown jewel of Book 7 is surely the Bach Concerto in a minor, this course will trace the many connections among earlier books, other book 7 repertoire and related supplemental pieces.

 

Book 8:  WEDNESDAYs, online 9am-12noon EST

January 29, February 5, February 12, February 19, February 26

- Deadline to register and pay: Friday, January 24, 5 PM EST

 

SAA trainer Kirsten Marshall offers Suzuki Violin Unit 8 at the University of Louisville. Classes will meet together on Wednesday from 9am-Noon EST. Observations will be completed asynchronously and discussed during class time. Special emphasis in this course on deconstructing the bowhand and related skills. Explore the opportunities present in Book 8, both musically and technically, to prepare our students for the Mozart Concertos.


Books 9/10:  WEDNESDAYs, online 9am-12noon EST

March 5, March 19, March 26, April 2, April 9, April 16

(March 12, 2025 No Class-Spring Break)

- Deadline to register and pay: Friday, February 28, 5 PM EST


The Mozart Concertos are the capstones at the end of Dr. Suzuki’s collected works.  We will use this class to explore how the Suzuki repertoire prepares us for these beautiful pieces and our own goals in Suzuki teaching. Special emphasis in this course will be on practice techniques to allow for personal expression in stylistically appropriate ways, along with practice techniques to solve cadenzas.

 

To register for our Suzuki Courses please be sure to complete the SAA requirements found at the following link: https://suzukiassociation.org/teachers/training/

 

Course Fees are as follows.

Every Child Can!: $130

Book 1: $715

Books 2-10: $515

 

Please contact Mina Kitano at to register for the course.

 

Ed Kreitman's RealViolinLesson

Some of Dr. Suzuki's teaching videos that are on the University of Wisconsin website