About

The Suzuki Association of Washington State promotes excellence in music performance and teaching, guided by the learning philosophy of violin teacher and educator Dr. Shinichi Suzuki.

The Association is committed to the exploration, research, and development of new teaching strategies and to the continued refinement of the music teaching process.

By spreading the awareness of Suzuki’s learning philosophy to the larger population, the Association seeks to promote an environment conducive to effective learning and to create a positive image of this living and evolving teaching method.

A Brief History of SAWS

By Carol Cross

In the 1970s, violinist Jeffrey Cox was hired to teach violin at Central Washington University. Jeff, a graduate of the Yale School of Music, was also a Suzuki Teacher Trainer and also served as chair/President of the SAA during his long career. During his years at CWU, he founded a Suzuki pedagogy program, which included a two-year certificate program. CWU violin students learned the Suzuki repertoire, observed him teaching area students in individual and group lessons, and got practicum experience with them teaching young students under his supervision.

During this time, Jeff started the statewide organization we now know as the Suzuki Association of Washington State (SAWS). He organized an annual fall festival on the CWU campus, which included Suzuki workshops for teachers and a day of classes and recitals for students. The first SAWS festivals happened in the early 1980s. When Jeff left in 1984, he handed the festival organization over to Suzuki piano teacher Carol Cross, who directed it until her retirement in 2018—at first Carol directed for all instruments, and gradually, as our organization grew, other volunteers planned for the strings and she continued for the piano. The festival and workshops drew teachers and students from all over Washington State and beyond. Recently, the festival format adjusted due to changes at the university – first rental prices increased, and then Hertz Hall, the old music building, was torn down. Then, the pandemic paused in-person gatherings. After the pandemic, the festival re-emerged west of the mountains in the Seattle area, where the current planners reside. It is still wonderful to see many familiar faces and re-connect for a weekend of teaching and learning!