Welcome Students!
We are looking forward to welcoming students back in-person or online this year! The theme for this year is ¡Fiesta! in honour of it being our 30th year!
All student participants will receive in-person or online individual masterclass-style instruction with our renowned Suzuki instructors as well as a group class. In-person classes will take place at St. Paul's Church located at 48 Broadway St W, Paris, ON.
2024 student classes run between 10 am and 3:30 pm Eastern Time, Tuesday, July 16, to Friday, July 19, with a recital at 1pm Eastern on Saturday, July 20. Our day begins with an enrichment class with musical theatre coach Tammy Whetham. At 11am all students and teachers will meet for our group repertoire class after which we have a 1.5 hour lunch break. Students will be grouped by level for masterclasses \at either 1:30 or 2:30.
Additional activities include a welcome picnic on Tuesday night, and informal solo recital at 1pm on Thursday, and the outdoor concert on Friday at 1:00pm at a nearby park.
Student tuition for 2024 is $175 for the week plus $15 registration fee. Please contact us for a reduced group rate or other financial considerations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should we prepare for the institute?
Students should review all of the repertoire leading up to their current piece. These pieces will be worked on in the group class.
Bring a polished piece to work on in master class. You should have all of the notes and rhythms down and the piece should be memorized. This will allow the master class teacher to work with you on musicality and refining execution, rather than on learning the basics of the piece.
Also bring another piece, highly polished (preferably one you have previously performed) to play in the informal recital.
What are master classes?
In master classes, students share the hour with one or two other students (possibly three in the case of younger students). Each works with the master class teacher on their chosen piece, and all of the students observe each others’ lessons and have the chance to learn through observation as well as through their own lesson.
Can we bring a piece that is not in the Suzuki repertoire?
Yes. In the case of advanced or lesser-known pieces, it is better to give the master class teacher a heads-up so that they can also look at the piece before the institute. (Note from a master class teacher: I once learned a whole new sonata because I had to teach it in an upcoming workshop. What a great opportunity!)
What if my piece is not memorized?
Do your best - you want to know the piece thoroughly to get the most out of the class. Usually a memorized piece best fits that bill.
Where can we stay?
Please check hotels and AirBNBs for accommodations. There are some very affordable AirBNBs right in Paris.