Friday, January 26th, 2018 (Teachers Only)

5:00-5:45pm: SAU Teacher Social and Potluck Dinner

Come meet and mingle with other SAU teachers while we enjoy dinner together. Drinks and dessert provided by the SAU, sign ups for food assignments will be sent prior to convention. We’re excited to have you join us!

6:00-9:00pm: Suzuki Teacher Workshop with SAA Teacher Trainer Alice Ann O’Neill:

 “Nurturing Suzuki Friendships Through Conversational Intelligence”

Saturday, January 27th, 2018 (Parents and Teachers)

7:30am: Teacher Check In and Breakfast

8:00am: Teacher Instrument Meetings

 Parent Check In and Breakfast

9:00am: Parent and Teacher Sessions

• Your Suzuki “Elevator Pitch”  --Margaret Watts Romney

• Your Best Suzuki “Hat Trick” --Open Discussion for Parents and Teachers moderated by Melanie Harper

• Two Heads are Better Than One: Two Teachers' Tale of How Group Class Collaboration Saved Their Sanity and Grew Their Students' Ability  --Brittany Gardner and Kelly McConkie Stewart

• Discipline with Love  --Georgia Anderson

• What is "Rice-Spitting, Anyway?" (Flute)  --Joyce Bennett

10:00am: Keynote Address for Parents and Teachers with Alice Ann O’Neill

11:00am: Parent and Teacher Sessions

• Q&A for Suzuki Parents  --Alice Ann O’Neill

• Public Speaking  --Margaret Watts Romney

• Preparing for Orchestral Playing (Harp)  --Elizabeth White Clark

• Twinklers and Teens  --Kara Allen & Connie Bell

• Discipline with Love (repeat) --Georgia Anderson

12:00pm: Lunch for Parents and Teachers, Free with Registration

1:00pm: Parent and Teacher Sessions

• Cello Sitting Techniques with Alexander Technique Principles  --Alice Ann O’Neill

• Your Suzuki “Elevator Pitch” (repeat) --Margaret Watts Romney

• Vibrato for Violinists and Violists  --Ruth Godfrey & Leslie Henrie

• Piano Potpourri  --Kara Allen

• Emotion Coaching  --Georgia Anderson

2:00pm: Parent and Teacher Sessions

• Cello Sitting Techniques with Alexander Technique Principles (Continued from 1:00)  --Alice Ann O’Neill

• Public Speaking (repeat)  --Margaret Watts Romney

• Vibrato for Violinists and Violists  --Ruth Godfrey and Leslie Henrie

• Listening  --Kimberly Dunford

• Four Fixes for Relationship Meltdown  --Georgia Anderson

• Yoga for Musicians  --Sally Humphries

3:00pm: Parent and Teacher Sessions

• Q&A for Suzuki Teachers  --Alice Ann O’Neill

• Your Suzuki “Elevator Pitch” (repeat) --Margaret Watts Romney

• Yoga for Musicians  --Sally Humphries

• Inspiring Courage and Confidence  --Georgia Anderson

Course Descriptions

 More to Come - Check Back Often!

My Suzuki Life (Keynote Address) presented by Dr. Alice Ann O'Neill

Inspired by the recent SAA Podcast, Dr. O'Neill will share her life story intertwined with various aspects of the Suzuki Method.

Cello Sitting Balance with Alexander Technique Principles presented by Dr Alice Ann O'Neill

Learn to assess and explore solutions for an individualized cello sitting balance based on the natural use of the body or Alexander Technique. All SAU Cello teachers are invited to a cello dinner with Dr. O'Neill at 5:30pm following the convention, more details to follow.

Your Suzuki “Elevator Pitch” presented by Margaret Watts Romney

Be prepared when someone asks, “Why Suzuki?” In this interactive session, we will write, discuss, and practice our responses to ubiquitous questions like “Why are you a Suzuki teacher?” “What is Suzuki teaching?” and “Why do you choose Suzuki music for your child?” This workshop will help you look closely at your own answers, and feel confident speaking up about why Suzuki.

Presentation Skills: It’s All About Body Language presented by Margaret Watts Romney

When you find yourself in front of a crowd and talking, your body language and energy will connect you to your audience faster and more memorably than your message. How do you draw in your audience and keep their attention? How do you fight the jitters? What if you forget what you were going to say!? In this session, you will gain tools to make your speaking more confident and impactful.

Discipline With Love presented by Georgia Anderson

In this class we will discuss the difference between discipline and punishment, learn research based strategies to foster responsibility, self discipline, and problem solving, and practice solutions to parental melt downs. “My child is not giving me a hard time, my child is having a hard time”.—John Gottman

Four Fixes for Relationship Meltdowns presented by Georgia Anderson

The groundbreaking research of John Gottman pinpointed four communication styles that signal relationship distress.  This class will present both cause and cure, offering subtle and simple changes we can make in our relationships that foster closeness and mutual respect.

Emotion Coaching presented by Georgia Anderson

Every parent knows the importance of equipping children with the intellectual skills they need to succeed in life. But children also need to learn to master their emotions. Emotionally intelligent children enjoy more self confidence, better health, higher performance in school, and healthier social relationships.  This class will help you foster this ability within your children…and maybe even yourself.

Strength Training—Inspiring Courage and Confidence in Others presented by Georgia Anderson

In this class we will focus on research regarding true self esteem, and how to build it in others, preparing our children to meet life’s challenges with confidence.  We will build skills for giving and receiving compliments in a way that is genuine and meaningful.

Twinklers and Teens presented by Kara Allen and Connie Bell

Come get some great ideas on teaching our youngest and oldest piano students!

Piano Potpourri facilitated by Kara Allen

Bring your ideas, inquiries, and advice as we learn from the very best piano teachers in the state - each other!