Belize Suzuki Summer Institute

Belize is nestled at the tip of Central America with the blue-green Caribbean Sea shorelines on the east and lush dense rainforest on the west.  We are excited to be hosting our fourth Suzuki Institute in July 2024. 

The Belize Suzuki Summer Institute is being held in association with Daniela Gongora Music Academy (Norwalk, Ct)

Our campsite is located at the Kikiwitz Wellness Resort in Belmopan City.

 Some classes will be held outdoors and/or semi-outdoors. When indoors, classrooms are well ventilated with windows and fans in every room.

We are offering Suzuki Institute program for students as well as 

Enrichment course ONLINE training for teachers. 

  In addition to the Core Suzuki Classes, Steel Pan Drumming will be added as part of our cultural enrichment program. 

*Belizean citizens residing in Belize receive a discounted tuition.

Visit our FAQs page for some more information

Registration for summer 2024 is now closed for student participants. We still have spaces for Teacher Workshop Participants. Early bird pricing is now closed. 

• To attend the institute, students must be studying the Suzuki Method.
• Students ages 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• Students  should  have  all  pieces  on  the  repertory list  memorized.
• Students should have a piece prepared and polished for their master classes and to play on the student recital.

The Belize Suzuki Summer Institute is offering a FLEX/ ONLINE Enrichment course titled The Power of Pre-Twinkle for both novice and expert teachers. 

The Power of Pre-Twinkle: $300  with Stacy Smith

Pre-requisite: none (only  registered suzuki teachers will receive enrichment credit)

Course Description:

Getting students and parents off on the right foot during the PreTwinkle stage can set the stage for solid technique, steady progress, and successful lessons in the years to come. This course will discuss setting up students and parents up for success and the PreTwinkle journey from the first lesson through the Twinkle Variations. Also included will be discussions about technique and tone for new students, parent training,  setting up beginning students of any age, and group class ideas and techniques for PreTwinklers.

Schedule as follows:

**Course is a 10 hour course with two hours a day for 5 days. 

Sunday - Thursday 2-4pm MT / 3-5pm CT/ 4-6pm ET

TEACHER OBSERVER: 

Music teachers who wish to observe any of the classes in the student program may do so. Teachers will have access to masterclasses, Group classes, and chamber/ enrichment ensembles. Teachers will not have access to the Teacher Professional Development / Training program or Enrichment courses unless they are registered for the course.

One Day Observer: $30

Week Observer: $100

Training Prerequisites and Course Order.

To take Suzuki teacher training, teachers must be active members of the SAA. Every Child Can! (ECC) is required prior to taking Unit 1. Courses must be taken in order through Unit 3: ECC, Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3. Once this sequence has been completed, taking units in order is highly recommended but not required.

Audition Requirement

To qualify as a participant in SAA Teacher Workshop unit courses, applicants must upload a video audition to the SAA, preferably well in advance of taking the course. Videos submitted at least 8 weeks prior to the course start date will receive a discounted audition fee. If they are submitted later than 8 weeks before the course, the regular audition fee will be required. Auditions for Unit 1 courses must be received no later than 10 days prior to the course start date. Auditions for all other units must be submitted and approved by the course start.

Auditions submitted early have the advantage of an optional retry (with fees) within the stated deadlines if initial audition was not accepted. If auditions are not accepted, course work will not be eligible for SAA registration. For further information, please visit the SAA website to view the teacher video audition application form and instructions, or call the SAA at 1-888-378-9854.

Required Course Preparation

All teacher training participants are asked to prepare and memorize the repertoire to be studied to the point of fluent performance. Additionally, participants should be conversant with the ideas presented in Dr. Suzuki’s book Nurtured by Love.

All participants will be performing Suzuki repertoire and other materials in class. Strings and woodwinds are expected to provide their own instruments. One-hundred percent attendance is required for registering the course, along with any other course requirements set by the teacher trainer.

Each participant enrolled in a Unit 1 course will receive a letter from the SAA stating the preparation expectations and basic course components. Letters are emailed directly to each participant as they are added to the institute’s online roster. Each letter is instrument-specific and covers information such as reading material, Suzuki books and CDs, piece preparation, and items to bring to the course.

Air Travel: With non-stop flights from most major cities in North America, it’s quite easy and affordable than ever to get to Belize. All international flights land at the Phillip Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City.

The Kikiwitz has limited cabanas ($85-$175) so book early for your stay. 

Lunch Buffet during our camp week at the Kikiwitz is $8-$10 per person

Nearby hotels and guest houses within a 20 minute drive are: 

• Dream Valley Belize
• Banana Bank Lodge and Jungle Horseback adventures

Hotel prices are much higher during peak tourist season (December-May)

Visit our FAQs page for other information.

Daniela Gongora, director, violin and viola (Norwalk, CT USA)

Edwin A.J. Gongora, assistant director, violin (Belize City, Belize)

Stacy Smith, Teacher Trainer, violin (  Hurst, TX USA)

Gretchen Grube, violin (Chicago, IL USA)

Sara Bennett Wolfe, cello (Norwalk, CT USA)

Julietta Burrowes, steel pan (Belize City, Belize)