Teacher Workshop
SAWS Teacher Development Workshop, Fall 2026
Saturday, October 3rd 8:30am-11:45 am
Connecting the Dots: Bow Plans that Build Expressive Playing from Book One through the Mendelssohn Concerto with Tracy Helming
In this class, we will use the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor to sharpen our vision as we choose our teaching points in books 1-10. We will focus on the basic bow plans introduced in books 1-3, and the variations we add in books 4-10 that create a comprehensive teaching plan for books 1 to 10 and beyond. This bow plan development helps students to sound expressive every step of the way. Using the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto as our north star, we will trace the development of bow planning through the Suzuki repertoire.
Homestays may be available for out-of-town teachers who are SAWS members. Also, a $75 travel stipend will be available for SAWS teachers traveling more than 3 hours (each way). Please email us to request a stipend or a homestay (sawsfest@gmail.com).
Click here to register
Saturday Schedule:
- 8:00-8:30 arrival/coffee
- 8:30-10:00 – workshop part 1
- 10:00-10:15 – snack break
- 10:15- 11:45 – workshop cont.
- 11:45 – 12:15 – Lunch
- 12:15 – 1:15 – SAWS Members Meeting
- 12:30 – 2:45 Graduation Rehearsals
- 3:00 All instrument Graduation Concert
Friday Teacher Workshop Tuition
- $70 non SAWS members
- $60 SAWS members
- $30 college student
- Catered lunch for $14
About our Clinician
Tracy Helming Wiggin is a Suzuki Teacher Trainer. She received a Master’s Degree in music performance from Yale University, and
completed long term training with Teri Einfeldt at the Hartt School of Music. She has been teaching violin and chamber music since 1990, both in her private studio in Seattle as well as at institutes and workshops around the Northwest and Alaska. She has two children who grew up in the Suzuki method.