Suzuki & Preparatory String Program- Events Calendar 2013-2014

Hello Sherwood Suzuki Families, and welcome to the 2013-2014 Academic Year. 

Suzuki & Preparatory String Program Calendar:

September

7th	Orchestra note reading test for newly eligible students (no rehearsal or note readers class) Parent meeting from 10-10:30am in R. Hall String Suzuki performance at PDNA festival (time TBD)
14th	Parent Introduction to Suzuki Pedagogy 10am (1st class)
17th	Parent Introduction to Suzuki Pedagogy 6:30pm
21st	Parent Introduction to Suzuki Pedagogy 10am (2nd class)
28th	Performance class rehearsals with piano First Parent Enrichment meeting at 10am Snack Sale from 10:30-12:30pm October Practice Challenge charts distributed Royal Conservatory of Music Assessments- Informational meeting (time TBA)

October

1st	30 Day Practice Challenge Begins!
5th	First Parent Committee meeting at 10am
19th	Performance Class Dress Rehearsals
26th	Performance Class Halloween Recitals Parent Enrichment meeting at 10am Snack Sale from 10:30-12:30pm

November

2nd	October Practice Challenge Winners Announced Parent Intro to Suzuki Pedagogy 6:30pm
9th	Performance Class Dress Rehearsals Parent Intro to Suzuki Pedagogy 10am (1st class)
16th	Piano Concertina submissions are due Parent Intro to Suzuki Pedagogy 10am (2nd class)
23rd	Performance Class Recitals Parent Enrichment meeting at 10am Snack Sale from 10:30-12:30pm String playing test for Dept. Recital

Nov.30^th- No Classes at Sherwood

December

7th	Dept. Recital Dress Rehearsals 10:45am Strings Pre-T through Book 1 11:30am Strings Book 2+
8th	Art Institute “Tea Party” Performances
14th	Suzuki Dept. Recital at Noon Potluck reception to follow
21st	No Suzuki Group Classes

January

1st	100 Day Practice Challenge Begins
11th	Private lesson make-ups only. No Group Classes
14th	Parent Intro to Suzuki Pedagogy 6:30pm
18th	Suzuki Classes Resume Parent Intro to Suzuki Pedagogy 10am (1st class)
25th	Parent Enrichment meeting at 10am

February

8th	Parent Intro to Suzuki Pedagogy 10am (2nd class) Performance Class Dress Rehearsals Check the SAA website to register for Parents as Partners Online
14th	Suzuki Valentine’s Day Faculty Recital 7pm
15th	Performance Class Recitals Parent Enrichment meeting at 10am Snack Sale from 10:30-12:30pm

March

4th	Parents as Partners online course- discussion group at 6:30pm
8th	Performance Class Dress Rehearsals
22nd	Performance Class Recitals Parent Enrichment meeting at 10am Snack Sale from 10:30-12:30pm

Mar. 29^th- No Suzuki Group Classes (or private lessons) 

April

5th	String Master Class with Yang Liu
12th	Parent Note Reading Class at 10am
26th	Performance Class Dress Rehearsals

May

3rd	String playing tests for Dept. recital Performance Class Final Recitals Parent Enrichment meeting at 10am Snack Sale from 10:30-12:30pm
10th	Dept. Recital Dress Rehearsals 10:45am Strings Pre-T through Book 1 11:30am Strings Book 2+
17th	Suzuki Dept Recital (Location and Time TBA)
24th	Final day of Suzuki & Prep String Program 100 Day Practice Challenge Completion Ceremony Note Readers final assessments Suzuki Faculty Recital 11:15am

String Performance Class Schedule

Prep String Performance Class:

Parental attendance is mandatory, unless you in another music lesson elsewhere in the building. Teachers and students should follow the SAA performance descriptor guidelines when selecting their performance pieces.

Sept. 7^th – PDNA performance- no class 

Sept 14^th- Group A performs

Sept 21^st- Group B performs

Sept. 28^th- Both groups rehearse with piano (no formal recital this month) 

Oct.5^th - Group A performs

Oct. 12^th- Group B performs

Oct. 19^th- Dress Rehearsal with piano

Oct. 26^th- Recital

Nov. 2^nd- Group A performs

Nov. 9^th- Group B performs

Nov. 16^th- Dress Rehearsal with piano

Nov. 23^rd- Recital

No Performance Class in December

Jan 11^th- No Class

Jan. 18^th- Group A rehearse with piano

Jan. 25^th- Group B rehearse with piano

Feb. 1^st- Groups A & B performs

Feb. 8^th- Dress Rehearsal with piano

Feb. 15^th- Recital

Feb. 22^nd- Group A performs

Mar. 1^st- Group B performs

Mar. 8^th- Dress Rehearsal with piano

Mar. 15^th- Groups A & B perform

Mar. 22^nd- Recital

Apr. 5^th- Master Class with Yang Liu

Apr. 12^th- Group A performs

Apr. 19^th- Group B performs

Apr. 26^th- Dress Rehearsal with piano

May 3^rd- Final Recital

May 24^th- Suzuki Faculty Recital

String Performance Class Schedule

Prep String Performance Class:

Parental attendance is mandatory, unless you in another music lesson elsewhere in the building. Teachers and students should follow the SAA performance descriptor guidelines when selecting their performance pieces.

Sept. 7^th – PDNA performance- no class 

Sept 14^th- Group A performs

Sept 21^st- Group B performs

Sept. 28^th- Both groups rehearse with piano (no formal recital this month) 

Oct.5^th - Group A performs

Oct. 12^th- Group B performs

Oct. 19^th- Dress Rehearsal with piano

Oct. 26^th- Recital

Nov. 2^nd- Group A performs

Nov. 9^th- Group B performs

Nov. 16^th- Dress Rehearsal with piano

Nov. 23^rd- Recital

No Performance Class in December

Jan 11^th- No Class

Jan. 18^th- Group A 

Jan. 25^th- Group B 

Feb. 1^st- Groups A & B performs

Feb. 8^th- Dress Rehearsal with piano

Feb. 15^th- Recital

Feb. 22^nd- Group A performs

Mar. 1^st- Group B performs

Mar. 8^th- Dress Rehearsal with piano

Mar. 15^th- Groups A & B perform

Mar. 22^nd- Recital

Apr. 5^th- Master Class with Yang Liu

Apr. 12^th- Group A performs

Apr. 19^th- Group B performs

Apr. 26^th- Dress Rehearsal with piano

May 3^rd- Final Recital

May 24^th- Suzuki Faculty Recital

Sherwood Suzuki Program 2013-2014 Policies & Updates

Sherwood Suzuki Program 2013-2014 Policies & Updates:

Attendance and Parent Involvement:

• Parents are required to attend their child’s lessons, including group classes and performance classes. Parents should take notes of group activities and follow up by practicing whichever pieces their child needs the most assistance with. 
• Dalcroze Eurythmics attendance is not required, but the instructor may invite parents in to participate. 

• Parents should attend the monthly enrichment classes offered in the Recital Hall. These classes are offered at no extra charge, and are an opportunity for parents to share experiences and insights, ask questions and discuss specific aspects of the Suzuki method and pedagogy. 

• One of Shinichi Suzuki’s most famous sayings was “You should only practice on the days that you eat”. This was his way of telling his students to practice everyday. A short but consistent practice session will yield more long-lasting results then a few longer sporadic practice sessions throughout the week. We recommend that parents practice with their child daily, even if the session is only 5-15 minutes long. 

Performance Requirements:

• Students are required to pass a Suzuki Book One jury, when they have completed the material in the book.  We recommend that students complete Book juries and perform graduation recitals through Book 3, but this is not a program requirement. Your teacher will give you more information about this process as it is appropriate.

• Students must dress appropriately for all performance opportunities, including monthly performance class recitals and Department recitals.  Students should not wear jeans, shorts, or gym shoes to a performance. When representing the Sherwood Suzuki Program off campus, students should wear dark bottoms (black or navy blue) and white tops.

• In an effort to raise our performance standards and reiterate the importance of the review process: String students will be required to take a review playing test 2 weeks prior to each Department group performance. The recital list will be given out at the beginning of the semester so that students have ample time to prepare. Group teachers will use the SAA performance descriptors to score each student’s performance. Each piece is valued at 10 points. If a student scores less than 7 out of 10 on any piece, then they will not perform that piece on the recital. Students will perform all pieces that they score 70% or higher. 

Studio Policies:

• At Sherwood we strive to create an optimal learning environment. If you are experiencing any difficulties in your private lesson setting, please let the office or your teacher know right away.  Our first step is to assess what the difficulties are and to see if the relationship can move forward. Should you decide to request a different private instructor, please inform the office. You will need to fill out a form, and you will be assigned a different instructor as soon as possible.  Please do not approach another teacher directly to request a trial lesson. We need to follow procedures so please go through the office.

• The new academic calendar includes a make-up week for private lessons during each term. Teachers may use Jan 6^th-11^th and March 24-29^th for make-up lessons.  It is also possible to use November 25-27^th for make-up lessons as well. 

• This fall we will be supporting teachers in exercising their right to teach the “million dollar lesson”. This is a lesson practice popularized by Ed Kreitman, who is a widely respected Suzuki Teacher Trainer and author of Teaching from the Balance Point, amongst many other things. Basically, this is a method to deal with difficult lessons in which the child is not in a cooperative state that follows the logic of “three strikes and you’re out”. The child & parent are told of the policy ahead of time, and given specific feedback as to what the undesired behavior is (it could be running around, rolling eyes, etc.). The student is allowed two warnings. On the third offense, the teacher may decide to end the lesson early. They may alternately decide to have the child pack away their instrument and teach the parent instead. Teachers may opt out of this lesson format altogether. It is entirely their choice. 

Updates for 2013-2014:

• We are adding several initiatives to increase the interaction between our Suzuki piano and string students. This includes the participation of Suzuki piano students in our new chamber music class, as well as the Concertina Competition.
• I am excited to announce the start of a Sherwood Suzuki Parent Committee. This volunteer group will serve as an organizational body to express parent & student needs, organize fundraising & community building activities and assist with off-campus performances. I will monitor the first meeting, after which the committee will operate mostly on its own and decide how to organize itself, based on the perceived needs of the program. I hope to see representation from various instruments and age groups. 
• There are many ways to be informed about our program and stay on top of upcoming events. You should join our Facebook group to get updates, and share pictures and comments. There will also be an addition of a Blog/message board that will be linked onto our website. Important information will always get posted onto our Bulletin Board on the 2^nd floor of the building. The program coordinator will refrain from sending multiple mass emails pertaining to a single topic. All of that information will be available online, and on the bulletin board. 

Suzuki Academic Calendar

2013 - 2014 Suzuki Program Calendar

1312 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605 312.369.3100 colum.edu/sherwood

FALL TERM (16 weeks)
	September 2 (Labor Day)	SCHOOL CLOSED
	September 3 - September 7	1
	September 9 - September 14	2
	September 16 - September 21	3
	September 23 - September 28	4
	September 30 - October 5	5
	October 7 - October 12	6
	October 14 - October 19	7
	October 21 – October 26	8
	October 28 - November 2	9
	November 4 - November 9	10
	November 11 - November 16	11
	November 18 - November 23	12
	November 25 - November 30	NO SUZUKI CLASSES
	December 2 - December 7	13
	December 9 - December 14	14
	December 16 - January 11	NO SUZUKI CLASSES

SPRING TERM (16 weeks)
January 13 - January 18	15
January 20 (MLK Day)	SCHOOL CLOSED
January 21 - January 25	16
January 27 - February 1	17
February 3 - February 8	18
February 10 - February 15	19
February 17 – February 22	20
February 24 - March 1	21
March 3 - March 8	22
March 10 - March 15	23
March 17 – March 22	24
March 24 - March 29	NO SUZUKI CLASSES
March 31 - April 5	25
April 7 - April 12	26
April 14 – April 19	27
April 21 - April 26	28
April 28 - May 3	29

Missed Mondays due to Labor day and MLK day will be made up on 11/25 & 3/24

SUMMER TERM SESSION 1 (8 Weeks)
May 5 - May 10	30
May 12 - May 17	31
May 19 – May 24	32

No Regular Suzuki Classes Scheduled for Remainder of Summer Term Session 1 


SUMMER TERM SESSION 2 (8 weeks)
No Regular Suzuki Classes Scheduled for Summer Term Session 2