Seattle Suzuki Circle Institute Courses

Please note:
Latin American Participants receive a 50% discount off our general registration prices.
College Students and Recent Graduates (within the past 3 years) receive a 25% scholarship – contact Hillary Nordwell (hillary.nordwell@gmail.com) to apply.

Piano Book 2 PLUS Teaching Strategies (July 12-17, 2026) $740 Early/$785 Late

Taught by Hillary Nordwell, this course focuses on the skills and repertoire taught in Suzuki Piano Book 2, as well as a continued focus on the Suzuki Philosophy. Book 2 PLUS features an ADDITIONAL 10 hours of Teaching Strategies, where participants will bring a video of their own teaching and/or teach an in-person student receiving feedback to help them further develop their practical teaching skills. Masterclass observation (of teachers Caroline Fraser and Hillary Nordwell) is included in the course. Piano Unit 1 is a Pre-Requisite to this course, and participants are strongly encouraged to memorize all the music of Book 2 prior to the course, in order to reap the greatest benefit.

Piano Book 4 PLUS Teaching Strategies (July 19-24, 2026) $740 Early/$785 Late

Taught by Caroline Fraser, this course focuses on the skills and repertoire taught in Suzuki Piano Book 4, as well as a continued focus on the Suzuki Philosophy. Book 4 PLUS features an ADDITIONAL 10 hours of Teaching Strategies, where participants will bring a video of their own teaching and/or teach an in-person student, receiving feedback to help them further develop their practical teaching skills. Masterclass observation (of teachers Caroline Fraser and Hillary Nordwell) is included in the course. Piano Units 1, 2, and 3, and Teaching Strategies, are Pre-Requisites for this course, and participants are strongly encouraged to memorize the music of Book 4 prior to the course, in order to reap the greatest benefit.

Piano Practicum (July 13-17, 2026) $740 Early/$785 Late

Taught by Caroline Fraser, Piano Practicum offers a smaller class size (limit 5) and is very much focused on discussing the individual strengths and areas for growth of the teachers taking the course. Each teacher should come prepared with two 30 minute lessons (or lesson segments)- most likely recorded from your home studio (unless you are local and want to bring a student in to teach in person). All participating teachers watch the videos together, and each teaching sample is followed by a discussion led by Caroline. This is a unique course that not only offers individual attention and tailored ideas for improving your own teaching, but also many opportunities to learn from the teaching and feedback for the other teacher participants (usually a mix of more and less experienced teachers). Observation of Masterclasses taught by Caroline Fraser and Hillary Nordwell is included in the course.

Teaching Piano Group Classes (July 18-19, 2026) $325 Early/$350 Late

Taught by Caroline Fraser, this course offers the rare opportunity to observe Caroline Fraser in action, teaching group classes to students in Suzuki Books 1 through 5. In addition, participants will be guided in how to introduce, reinforce, and build on musical skills including reading, ensemble playing, and music theory. Caroline’s unique approach offers a joyful learning environment inspired by both Suzuki and Kodaly, guiding children from known to unknown, using all of their senses. For more information, please feel free to read more about Caroline’s approach to Music Reading.