Teacher Offerings
Would you like to have all your students sound great from the start?
Would you like to have a toolkit of tried-and-true techniques that work well with students of all ages, even very young beginners?
Have you ever wondered how veteran teachers usher their students from a fun and exciting beginning through those tricky intermediate years to become expressive and communicative young musicians?
Become a Suzuki flute teacher!
The Suzuki approach to teaching music is a skillful and powerful way to answer those questions, as it is based not only on sound musical technique, but on how children learn.
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki called it the “mother-tongue” approach, with the idea that all children can become fluent in music just as they become fluent in their own native language: through observation, imitation, and breaking down big skills into child-sized bites, with family support and encouragement all along the way.
Learning to teach the Suzuki way will not only help you teach adorable young flute players…it will improve your teaching at all age levels. The Suzuki community is one of life-long learners, and the colleagues you meet in your training will become friends for life.
How to Become a Suzuki Teacher
#1
Become an SAA member. Joining the SAA means joining a community of teachers committed to furthering their practice!
#2
Take Every Child Can! (ECC!) and Submit an Audition Video. You must submit an before taking Unit 2.
FREE online info session
Join Flute pedagogy co-directors Zara Lawler and Mary Bassett Shemon for a free online info session for all flutists interested in taking Suzuki unit training! Registration is free, but required. You will receive a zoom link automatically after submitting registration.
Free
Schedule
(Central time):
Mon January 26, 2026: 12:30-1:30pm
Every Child Can! (ECC!) Info
Fee
$185
Schedule
(all in Central time):
May 4 + 6, 2026
9:30am-2pm
The ECC! course is an introduction to the Suzuki philosophy and Suzuki Method and is non-instrument specific. Auditions & membership are NOT required to take ECC! Our ECC course is entirely online.
Note, if you cannot attend our ECC!, you can take any ECC! offered before our Unit 1 training starts.
Teacher Audition Workshop
In order to be trained as a Suzuki flute teacher, you must pass a video audition. Repertoire is set by the Suzuki Association of the Americas, and chosen to demonstrate appropriate levels of proficiency to teach at all levels.
Join Suzuki teachers and Institute Co-Directors Zara Lawler and Mary Bassett Shemon for an informative and informal mini-masterclass to get you ready for this important process. Come prepared to play! We will all learn the most important points of the required repertoire, as well as discuss best practices for recording and submitting your audition.
Fee
Free
Schedule
(all in Central time):
Monday, March 30, 2026
1-2pm Central Time
Zoom
Repertoire to be covered:
- Basic level: Blavet Sonata No. 2 in D Minor (La Vibray), movements 4 and 5 (Sarabande and Allegro); qualifies you for training Units 1 to 4
- Intermediate level: Mozart Concerto No. 2 in D Major, K. 314, movement I or II; qualifies you for training Units 1 to 9
- Comprehensive level: Chaminade Concertino; qualifies you for training all Units (1 to 14)
ALL are WELCOME, even if you are just starting to learn your audition piece!
Teacher Training Courses:
Flute Units 1+2
June 20 – July 5, 2026
We hope you will join us to begin your Suzuki journey. Please read below carefully for dates, registration, and important information about prerequisites to Suzuki training. Please note: you must be present at ALL training dates, both online and in person, for your training to be complete and registered with the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Be sure to read through the SAA Audition Guidelines & Audition Repertoire. The SAA requires that teachers submit auditions for training in Unit 2 or above. We suggest you submit your audition video no later than May 1st. If you need support on your audition or have an accessibility need, or a question, write to info@suzukiassociation.org.
Registration for each course is limited to 15 people, so we suggest you register early!
Housing
On-campus housing (shared rooms) is available for $75 per night. Protection of Minor training must be completed to stay in on-campus housing. Housing registration will close on June 12, 2026; link will be shared upon registration for training.
Meals
On campus lunch pass for $50. For other meals, good local options include: Whole Foods, Mildred’s, Eggtc, UMKC Dining Hall
Location
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Grant Hall, 5228 Charlotte St, Kansas City, MO 64110
Unit 1 training Schedule
Flute Unit 1 is a 43 hour course and will include 28 hours of intensive class time and 15 hours of in-person pedagogy observations.
All in Central Time
SAT June 20
1-5pm, Online
Sun June 21
1-5pm, Online
Sat June 27
Arrive in Kansas City + dorm check-in
Sun June 28
Training 9am-7:30pm
Mon June 29 – thurs july 2
Training from 9-6pm with optional evening activities
fri July 3
Check out of dorm, training from 9-11am, final concert at 11am
Sun July 5
1-5pm, Online
Unit 2 training Schedule
Flute Unit 2 is a 23 hour course and will include 15 hours of class time and 8 hours of in-person pedagogy observations. Additional observation hours will be available.
All in Central Time
Sat June 27
Arrive in Kansas City + dorm check-in
Sun June 28
Training 9am-7:30pm
MON June 29 – thurs july 2
Training from 9-6pm with optional evening activities
fri July 3
Check out of dorm, training from 9-11am, final concert at 11am