PPSI 2025 Teacher Programming
All Teacher Training Classes will be held at PPSI location at Stargate School.
PPSI believes in supporting teachers of all levels of experience by providing opportunities to further their own study. We offer enrollment opportunities to observe PPSI Suzuki student classes as well as course enrollment in various teacher training classes.
Sunday, July 13, 2025
IN PERSON 5 hour Violin Workshop:
"Building Mastery and Motivation through the Three Ts-in Tune, in Tone, and in Time"
Instructor: Ann Montzka-Smelser
This 5 hour workshop for violin teachers will take place in-person on Sunday, July 13. This workshop is intended for both new and seasoned violin teachers.
Course Description:
Whether a student is a very beginner or beginning major concertos, these are the three basics where we spend so much of our time. I will share user-friendly and creative ways to build awareness and reliability in the student (and parent) so that a new level of mastery is understood without the restriction of perfectionism. We will explore issues of pacing a.k.a “when do we move on to the next piece”? I will share relevant review strategies, recital innovations and balanced lesson and practice techniques and how these can be carried through the early to middle to advanced stages. This course is violin specific, there will be lots of playing excerpts of pieces in the Suzuki repertoire as well as supplementary pieces and exercises. Specific questions and struggles are welcome to share in a pre course survey to address specific needs of course participants.
Sunday, July 13, 2025
IN-PERSON 5 hour Cello Workshop:
"Suzuki Cello overview of Books 4-7 - Suzuki for the “not really a Suzuki” student "
Instructor: Blake Brasch
This 5 hour workshop for cello teachers will take place in-person at PPSI on Sunday, July 13. This workshop is intended for cello teachers who have completed unit training in cello books 4-7.
Course Description:
This class is for teachers who have previously taken training in books 4-7 and are interested in a refresher which focuses on using the repertoire with traditional students. Perhaps these students started at 8 years old or older, without parental participation, did not learn by ear, never been in a group, or struggle with memory or all of the above. The class will focus on assessing skills, developing the ear, facilitating ease of motion and nurturing independent learners and will be half seminar and half discussion. Sharing of specific concerns, examples or case studies by attendees will be encouraged!
Sunday, July 13, 2025
IN-PERSON 4 hour Flute Workshop:
"How to Establish, Expand, and Engage your Private Flute Studio”
Instructor: Sasha Garver
This 4 hour workshop for flute teachers will take place in-person at PPSI on Sunday, July 13. This workshop is intended for both new and seasoned flute teachers.
Course Description:
After having moved 8 times in 20 years, both within the United States and China, Dr. Garver has established large (25+ student) music studios in each place she has moved, from rural Iowa to bustling Hong Kong and San Francisco. This class will cover the best ways to recruit new students and families, how to start a cohort of students simultaneously, effectively communicate with parents, and develop students into accomplished life-long music makers. We will cover how to manage your studio and what types of activities lead to student retention, word-of mouth referrals (the best kind!) and a fulfilling social environment within the flute studio.
July 14-18, 2025
IN-PERSON 10 hour Violin Enrichment Class:
"Planting and Nurturing the Seeds of Technique needed for Bruch and Mendelssohn Concerti while working through the Suzuki Repertoire - How, When, and Where to build the skills needed for greater ease and in learning future concerti."
Instructor: Teri Einfeldt
This 10 hour enrichment class will take place in-person at PPSI over 5 days. Each day will have 2 hours of lecture/discussion time in the morning.
Prerequisites: ECC and Unit 1 training in violin must be registered to register for this course. A current SAA Active Membership is also required.
Course Description:
In my 50+ years of Suzuki teaching, I have witnessed students trying to play the Bruch Concerto as early as Book 6. I have also observed students post Book 8 trying to play Bruch or Mendelssohn who are not experiencing success learning the challenging parts. Together, let’s explore the techniques needed in the Bruch Concerto and Mendelssohn Concerto, and trace where and how we can expand on these techniques so that our students will be able to play both pieces with ease. We will discuss techniques for both hands, understanding the musical and technical ideas needed to conquer the challenges, and rhythmical comprehension in relation to the Suzuki Philosophy. In addition we will discuss supplemental pieces that support the techniques needed in both concerti and the importance of listening to the famous violin concerti many years before even thinking about playing them.
July 14-18, 2025
IN-PERSON Cello Unit 8
Instructor: Blake Brasch
Cello Unit 8 will take place in-person at PPSI. This 15 hour lecture and 8 hour observation course will take place over 5 days - 3 lecture hours each morning followed by observation opportunities in the afternoons.
Prerequisites: For audition requirements, please review the SAA Guidelines and follow the SAA protocols for audition videos and guidelines. A current SAA Active Membership is also required.
SAA Guidelines: "Each core unit concentrates on one Suzuki book level (Book One, Two, etc.). The content will follow the syllabus for the instrument being studied and will include performance of the repertoire, supervised observation, discussion, and completion of assignments as given by the Teacher Trainer. In addition to their focus on Suzuki repertoire and instrumental technique, unit courses will also include additional topics as appropriate. These may include review and application of Suzuki™ philosophy, parent involvement, listening, home practice, private and group lesson formats, learning styles, learning by ear, note- reading, studio setup, and other skills basic to the Suzuki approach. Instrument unit courses follow an instrument-specific syllabus."
July 14-18, 2025
IN-PERSON Suzuki Early Childhood Education (SECE) Stage 1
Instructor: Danette Warren
SECE Stage 1 will take place in-person at PPSI. This 30 hour course will take place over 5 days - 6 hours each day (5 lecture hours and 1 SECE class each day)- resulting in 25 hours of lecture and 5 hours of SECE class.
Prerequisites: Teachers must have registered ECC training to be eligible to register for the course. A current SAA Active Membership is also required. Please review the SAA Guidelines and follow specific SAA protocols for SECE stages.
SECE STAGE 1 is the first course in the series of five courses. Teachers are approved to begin teaching SECE classes after the completion of the first SECE stage. Each SECE core unit concentrates on one Stage (level) of study. The content will follow the syllabus for the SECE Stage 1 course.