Suzuki Teaching Certificate Program

General Information

Violin or Cello
The Suzuki Teaching Certificate Program provides an opportunity for violin and cello teachers to pursue comprehensive, long-term study of the Suzuki Method with internationally known master teachers. The successful completion of each level of this program entitles the participants to receive a Suzuki Teaching Certificate for that level from the University of Denver.

The Suzuki Teaching Certificate Program provides the following:

• Long-term study of Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy of Talent Education
• Study of Suzuki repertoire divided into 2 levels – Books 1-4 and 5-8 for violin. Books 1-4 and 5-10 for cello
• Study of related supplementary repertoire for each level
• Special attention to individual playing skills
• Instruction in skills and techniques for teaching children
• Observation of master teachers working with students
• Opportunity to teach children under supervision
• Ensembles and related courses to build musicianship
• Degree unnecessary to enter program
• One year program for each level
• Levels 1 and 2 may be taken in one year

Denver Talent Education
Suzuki Teaching Certificate participants will have the opportunity to observe the Denver Talent Education Program. DTE is a comprehensive program for Suzuki string students of all levels with classes in Suzuki repertoire, note reading, musicianship, ensembles, orchestra, and chamber music. In addition there are regular recitals and special concerts. These student activities provide an ideal opportunity for teachers to observe master teachers working with children of all ages. Graduates from this program have been competition winners at local, regional, and national levels. Many have appeared as soloists with orchestras and have gone on to study at the finest music schools in the U.S.

Courses & Credits

Levels
Each level may be completed in 1 academic year. Two levels may be completed simultaneously during 1 academic year. Upon successful completion of each level, the candidate will receive a Suzuki Teaching Certificate.

Tuition

There is a special tuition rate for the Suzuki Teaching Certificate Program. It is one half of regular tuition for degree students at the University of Denver. There are no scholarships available because of this special tuition.

Application Process

Entrance Requirements
An interview and audition are required for all applicants.

Violin - Graduate MM Suzuki Pedagogy

•  Major and minor scales with arpeggios (three octaves)

•  First movement of a concerto, minimum difficulty level of Mozart Concerto No. 5 , with cadenza

•  One movement of an unaccompanied Bach Sonata or Partita

•  One etude of your choice, minimum difficulty level of Kreutzer 42 Studies

Violin -Suzuki Teaching Certificate Level 1

•  Two contrasting pieces of your choice, minimum difficulty level of:

Seitz Concerto No. 5 , 1st movement

Vivaldi Concerto in a minor , 3 rd movement

Violin -Suzuki Teaching Certificate Level 2

•  Two contrasting pieces of your choice, minimum difficulty level of Mozart Concerto No. 4 or 5 , 1st movement with cadenza

Viola - Graduate MM Suzuki Pedagogy

•  Major and minor scales with arpeggios (three octaves)

•  First movement of a concerto, minimum difficulty level of Stamitz Concerto

•  One movement of an unaccompanied Bach Suite

•  One etude of your choice, minimum difficulty level of Kreutzer 42 Studies

Cello-Graduate MM Suzuki Pedagogy

•  Major and minor scales with arpeggios (3 or 4 octaves)

•  Piece or movement of your choice, minimum difficulty level of Boccherini Concerto in Bb , 1st movement with cadenza

•  One movement of unaccompanied Bach Suite

•  One etude of your choice, minimum difficulty level of Popper High School, Opus 73

Cello-Suzuki Teaching Certificate Level 1

•  Two contrasting pieces of your choice, minimum difficulty level of:

Breval Sonta in C Major, Allegro

Tchaikovsky Chanson Triste

Cello-Suzuki Teaching Certificate Level 2

•  Two contrasting pieces of your choice, minimum difficulty level of Boccherini Concerto 1st movement with cadenza

Application Procedure
For information and an application please contact:

Admission Office
Lamont School of Music
University of Denver
Newman Performing Arts Center
2344 E. Iliff Ave.
Denver CO 80208

Phone: 303.871.6973

Faculty

Violin Seminars
The Suzuki Violin Seminars are taught by James Maurer, an internationally recognized Suzuki Teacher-Trainer. At the age of 14, he received a full scholarship to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia to study with the famous violin pedagogue, Ivan Galamian. His Bachelor of Music is from the Curtis Institute and his Master of Music is from the University of Southern California. He has studied violin and chamber music with Eudice Shapiro, Jascha Brodsky, Josef Gingold, and Gabor Rejto.

Maurer has been a prizewinner in many competitions including the Munich International String Quartet Competition, the Coleman Chamber Music Competition, the Dealy Award, and the New Orleans Philharmonic Young Artist Competition.

As a soloist, he has appeared with numerous orchestras in Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, New Orleans, and Shreveport. He has performed throughout the United States with high critical acclaim in solo and chamber music recitals, and has made several chamber music recordings.

Maurer also has a great deal of experience in giving master classes and lecture recitals and judging regional and national competitions. He has taught at the University of Southern California and the University of Colorado. Currently he is Professor of Violin and Chairman of the String Department of the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver.

Maurer has been active in Suzuki education since 1977. He was the founder and former director of the Denver Suzuki Institute and the
Denver Talent Education Program. The University of Denver offers a Master's degree and a Certificate Program in Suzuki Pedagogy, which is administered by Maurer.

James Maurer has been chairman and treasurer of the Suzuki Association of the Americas, secretary of the International Suzuki Association, and president of the Suzuki Association of Colorado. With his wife, Jacqueline, he has served as co-editor of "The Violin Column" of the American Suzuki Journal, and as co-author of the STRING BOOK - Suzuki Teaching Reference: Instructions, Notes, and Guidelines.

Cello Seminars
The Suzuki Cello Seminars and the Teaching Note Reading class are taught by Carol Tarr, also an internationally recognized Suzuki Teacher-Trainer. Carol teaches cello in Lakewood, CO. She is an active performer and Suzuki clinician, and teaches students and teachers throughout the United States and Canada. Carol received her B.M. from the University of Southern California and her M.M. from Peabody Conservatory. She has studied with Gabor Rejto, Stephen De’ak, Zara Nelsova and Christopher Bunting. She has performed recitals, chamber music, and orchestra solos throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

She served on the Board of Directors of the Suzuki Association of the Americas from 1991-1995, is a Cello Teacher Trainer, and has been a member of the SAA Cello Committee for the past twelve years. Carol is a founding member and twice past president of the Suzuki Association of Colorado. In 1996, she received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year award from the Colorado String Teachers Association.

Carol has taught at Metropolitan State College, University of Northern Colorado, Beloit College, and Colorado Academy. From 1989-1991 she was Chairman of the Preparatory Cello Department at the Cleveland Institute of Music where she taught Suzuki Cello and long-term teacher training in Suzuki Cello Pedagogy.

Currently Carol is developing a program entitled Cello Tales where she combines storytelling and cello playing. She is giving numerous performances in schools and libraries for young children and is the recipient of a grant from the Lakewood Arts Council. She has also created a class for the very young child in Music Readiness, combining Pre-Twinkle skills and early music development.