Belize Suzuki Summer Institute
BSSI
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 first Suzuki Institute in July 2020.
We are offering Suzuki Institute program for students as well as book 1 violin training for teachers.
Our week long event will include one day off where visiting campers, teachers and their families may choose to sight-see our Mayan Ruins, go Cave tubing, or snorkeling at one of our off shore low-lying islands called Cayes.
In addition to the Core Suzuki Classes, Steel Drum, and Garifuna drumming will also be added as part of our cultural enrichment program.
DATES
FOR STUDENTS: Violin, Viola, Cello
July 8th-July 14th, 2020 (TOUR DAY on 12th)
FOR TEACHERS:
July 6th, 2020: Every Child Can!
July 7th-July 15th, 2020: Unit 1 VIOLIN
Events will take place on the campuses of Pallotti High School and St. Johns Junior College less than a mile apart. Classrooms at both Campuses are equipped with Air conditioning.
STUDENT PROGRAM
DATES: July 8th - 14th 9a.m. - 4p.m.
FEES: $40 Registration; $375 tuition (books 1-3) $430 (books 4+)
CHECK IN: July 7th 4p.m.-6p.m. And July 8th at 8 a.m. (International visitors please plan to travel at least one day before camp begins on July 8th at 9:00 am)
A day at the institute will consist of five hours of instruction with breaks for snack, lunch, practicing and downtime.
Students will receive three hours of Suzuki classes which include Masterclasses, suzuki Rep group class, and Suzuki play-ins.
Advanced students will have additional chamber ensembles.
Students ages 8 and up will enjoy cultural enrichment classes in steel pan playing and garifuna drumming. Younger students will enjoy arts and crafts.
REQUIREMENTS
- 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.
TEACHER DEVELOPMENT TRAINING
The Belize Suzuki Summer Institute is offering teacher development courses in Violin Unit 1 for both novice and expert teachers. Registration is $40 per person. Schedule as follows:
- July 6th 9 am teacher check-in.
- July 6th 10 am-5pm Every Child Can! With James Hutchins, $80
- July 7th-11th and 13th-15th 9am - 4pm Violin Unit 1, with James Hutchins, $475
SUZUKI ASSOCIATION OF THE AMERICAS TEACHER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR UNIT TRAINING AND PRACTICUM COURSES
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.
TRAVEL INFO AND ACCOMMODATIONS
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.
Hotels near Campuses:
Best Western: Located 2 miles from Pallotti High School and 2.4 miles from St. Johns College
Radisson Fort George: located 2.5 miles from Pallotti High School and 2 miles from St. Johns College
Ramada by Wyndham Princess Belize City: located 1.5 mile from Pallotti High School and 1 mile from St. Johns College
FACULTY
Daniela Gongora, director, violin and viola (Norwalk, CT USA)
Stephanie Coye, co-director, accompanist (Belize City, Belize)
James Hutchins, violin (Baltimore, MD USA)
Sara Bennett-Wolfe, cello (Norwalk, CT USA)
Julietta Burrowes, steel pan (Belize City,Belize)