Seattle Suzuki Circle Institute Courses
Early Bird Discount! $50 off each course if you register by March 31, 2027.
Registration opens January 1, 2027.
Contact Hillary Nordwell (hillary.nordwell@gmail.com) for discount codes before enrolling on the Suzuki Association website.
- Early Bird Discount code for $50 off each course enrollment, if enrolled by March 31.
- Latin America Discount code for $400 off Book courses or Practicum
- Latin America Discount for $175 off Teaching Piano Group Classes
- Student Discount for $200 off Book courses or Practicum
- Student Discount for $90 off Teaching Piano Group Classes
Every Child Can!
(July 10-11, 2027)
Taught by Hillary Nordwell, this course introduces participants to Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy, to the Suzuki Association of the Americas, and to what Suzuki teaching may mean for you as a profession and/or for your child in their development. ECC is open to all adults who are interested in Suzuki education (teachers of general music and other educational disciplines, potential teachers, college students, parents, administrators, etc.). If you are a parent taking the course, you may complete the required 6-hour course on July 10, or optionally stay for the additional hours on July 11. Teachers taking the course will need both days of the course to be able to register it with the SAA. There is no prerequisite for this course, but you must create a free account with the Suzuki Association of the Americas, and we recommend reading Nurtured by Love by Shinichi Suzuki prior to the course.
Piano Book 1
(July 11-18, 2027)
Taught by Hillary Nordwell, this course continues to build on the foundation of the Suzuki Philosophy, while focusing on the skills and repertoire taught in Suzuki Piano Book 1. Observation of masterclasses taught by Caroline Fraser and Hillary Nordwell is included in the course. Every Child Can! is a pre-requisite to this course, and participants are strongly encouraged to memorize all the music in Book 1 prior to the course, in order to reap the greatest benefit.
Book 1 Revisited
(July 11-18, 2027)
Our Book 1 Revisited course is an in-depth opportunity to delve into the full Book 1 course from a new perspective – having already taught the repertoire. Book 1 Revisited participants are invited to bring a video of their own Book 1 teaching and/or teach an in-person student during the course, so that they may receive individualized feedback to help them further develop their practical teaching skills. Every Child Can! and a previous Piano Book 1 course are pre-requisites to this course, and participants are strongly encouraged to memorize all the music in Book 1 prior to the course, in order to reap the greatest benefit.
Piano Book 3 PLUS Teaching Strategies (July 19-23, 2027)
Taught by Caroline Fraser, this course focuses on the skills and repertoire taught in Suzuki Piano Book 3, as well as a continued focus on the Suzuki Philosophy. Book 3 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. Observation of masterclasses taught by Caroline Fraser and Hillary Nordwell is included in the course. Piano Units 1, 2, and Teaching Strategies, are Pre-Requisites for this course, and participants are strongly encouraged to memorize the music of Book 3 prior to the course, in order to reap the greatest benefit.
Piano Practicum (July 12-16, 2027)
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 17-18, 2027)
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.