Suzuki Ireland

The SEIi provides Teacher Training Courses in Violin, Cello, Piano, and Guitar in accordance with the regulations of the European Suzuki Association (ESA) which is the examining body.

Teacher Training Information for all Instruments

Entrance Requirements:

General / Education:

• Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and
• 20 years old or enrolled in a full-time 3rd Level Course.

Music Education:

• Leaving Certificate Music or its equivalent, or Third Level Music qualifications.
• Trainees should ideally have a professional degree or should actively pursue further musical education through lessons and exams.

Performance requirements:

• Traditional instrumentalists should be able to play reels up to tempo and have Grade 3 Associated Board standard theory.
• Classical players should have a minimum of Grade 5 Associated Board standard theory and performance.

All Instruments:

• There are 5 Levels in the ESA teacher training programme.
• Level 1 will be taken on its own before pursuing further levels. 
• Any teacher who does not have a Level 3 teaching qualification may not set up a teaching practice using the Suzuki name unless they are attending the Teacher Training course on a regular basis or are teaching in a Suzuki school, education scheme or group which includes a Suzuki teacher who has attained at least a Level 3 training level.
• Candidates applying for Teacher Training on a 2nd instrument but with a strong 1st instrument standard or a degree in music or equivalent, may be accepted with a lower entry standard of violin/cello/piano performance.

Overall Course Content:

• Intensive study of Suzuki’s philosophy.
• Intensive individual study of the instrument focusing on the technique, tone production and sound needed to teach young children through the Suzuki repertoire.
• Step-by-step mastery of the teaching points in the repertoire.
• Study of the psychology of teaching.
• Structuring of individual and group lessons.
• Observation of group and individual lessons given by recognised Suzuki teachers.
• Supervised teaching of children’s individual and group lessons.
• Lectures and discussions on child development with particular regard to the parent/child/teacher relationship.
• Solo performance
• Discussions
• Written work appropriate to each Level.

A Typical Course session would include:

• Tonalization - working to produce and demonstrate the sounds and techniques at each level.
• Teaching points - of each piece on your level of study.
• Individual Tuition - on your instrument for your level.
• Observing student lessons and Teaching students.
• Discussions on Suzuki's philosophy and teaching styles.
• Individual performance in the Concert.
• Repertoire performance.

For more detailed information see the Teacher Training Syllabus on the European Suzuki Association website: www.europeansuzuki.org