Belize Suzuki Summer Institute

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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. Belize is English speaking. We are excited to be hosting our fifth Suzuki Institute in July 2025. 

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 and some rooms have AC.

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. Parents/Guardians are invited to sign up for this exciting class as well!

*Belizean citizens residing in Belize receive a discounted tuition.

Kindly consider donating to help lower tuition costs for Belizean students.

FOR STUDENTS: Violin, Viola, Cello

June 30th-July 4th, 2025

8:30 am - 4pm (Monday-Thursday)

*Special schedule on Friday ending at 2pm after our lunch concert

FOR TEACHERS:

Teachers are welcome to observe a day or two in the life of a suzuki student. $30/day or $100 for the week. take advantage of this opportunity to keep your teaching skills fresh!

NEW! STEEL PAN CLASS FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF STUDENT PARTICIPANTS:

Early Bird $80/ Regular $100

* Belize is Mountain Time and does not observe daylight savings*

Registration for summer 2025 is open for student participants. Early bird pricing ends March 1st, 2025

DATES: June 30th - July 4th  

FEES: $50 Registration per student 

Cello Rental Fee: $30 (limited to 4 full size cellos)

Suzuki Pre-Twinkle: Early Bird $300/ Regular $325

Suzuki Books 1-3: Early Bird $475/ Regular $500  

Suzuki Books 4+: Early Bird $525/ Regular $550

TWEEN Chamber Music Program Books 3B+ and ages 12 and up: Early Bird $565/ Regular $590

CHECK IN: June 29th at 5 p.m.  And  June 30th  at 8:00  a.m. (International visitors please plan to travel at least one day before camp begins on June 30th)

• 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.

• A day at the institute will consist of four to five hours of instruction with breaks for snack, lunch, practicing and downtime.
• Pre Twinkle/Twinkle Students will receive one suzuki group class and one enrichment class daily.  This 1/2 day experience  is  open  to  new  families  who  have  just  begun  their  suzuki  journey  with  a  suzuki  teacher,  or families  who  are  exploring  the  possibilities  of  doing  so.
• Books 1-3 will receive Masterclasses, Suzuki Rep group class, and a musicianship or technique class
• Books 4+ will receive Masterclass, Suzuki Rep Group class, and enrichment or technique class
• Students in the TWEEN chamber program will have additional chamber ensembles and music theory and/or music composition.  
• Students ages 8 and up will enjoy cultural enrichment classes in steel pan playing. Younger students will enjoy either rhythm and movement, musicianship, music theory games or arts and crafts.
• All students books 1 and up will participate in a daily Suzuki Play-in class
• Friday schedule is an abridged schedule to allow for the final lunch concert.

The Belize Suzuki Summer Institute offers FLEX/ ONLINE Courses for teachers. 

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.
Rental Cars companies like Budget, Hertz and Dollar are available at the international airport.

The Kikiwitz has limited cabanas ($100-$300) so book early for your stay. 

Lunch Buffet during our camp week at the Kikiwitz is $10-$12 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, Belize liaison, violin (Belize City, Belize)

Gretchen Grube, violin (Chicago, IL USA)

Sara Bennett Wolfe, cello (Norwalk, CT USA)

Julietta Burrowes, steel pan, piano, theory (Belize City, Belize)

Give a young Belizean student the opportunity to experience a week of a lifetime. Your donation helps lower the cost of tuition for young Belizean musicians.