Suzuki National Conference is open to teachers and students who are financial members of their local Suzuki Association for the 2018 calendar year.

Teachers must have commenced or completed a Suzuki Teacher Training Course in the instrument/s in which they enrol for National Conference.

Students must be learning with a financial Suzuki teacher or teacher trainee member who has completed or commenced Suzuki teacher training in the instrument on which they enrol for the National Conference. It is expected that all students can perform repertoire up to the piece they list at the time of enrolment from memory and at CD speed. A general review of all learned repertoire is encouraged prior to attendance at this event.

Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 July 2018 inclusive
Cost: $390 per student

Violin Book 1 to Book 5, Viola Book 1 to Book 4, Piano Book 1 to Book 4 Bach Gavotte from Suite in G minor,
Cello Book 1 to Book 5, Flute Book 1 to Book 4, Guitar Book 1 to Book 4

Wednesday 11 July
2:00 - 2:45	Registration	One registration envelope per family - families with a student enrolled in the advanced program too, will register with the advanced program from 8am.
3:00 - 4:00	Opening play ins/piano opening activity	All enrolled students participate
4:15 - 5:00	Koto Demonstration	Open to all enrolled families and teachers
Thursday 12 AND Friday 13 July
9:00 - 10:00	Practical session with Richard Gill	All enrolled students and teachers - a selection of repertoire from this session will be performed in the Farewell Concert
10:15 - 11:15	Class 1	Class details will be issued on individual timetables available at registration
11:45 - 12:45	Class 2
1:30 - 2:30	Class 3
3:15 - 4:45	Thursday - Ensemble Concert Friday - Gala Concert	Off- site concerts at MLC in Kew (within walking distance). Performers selected by audition.
Saturday 14 July (please note different timetable)
9:00 - 9:45	Class 1	Class details will be issued on individual timetables available at registration
10:00 - 10:45	Class 2
11:00 - 11:45	Class 3
12:15 - 1:00	Play-outs/Piano solo concerts	All enrolled students perform
2:30 - 4:30	Farewell Concert	Off-site concert at MLC in Kew (within walking distance). All enrolled students perform.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The three classes (all group classes) will include a selection of instrument based tutorials, instrument based repertoire classes (using keyboards for Bk 2 to 4 piano students), music reading/ensemble classes (instrumental students in bks 2 and above), general enrichment classes and piano enrichment classes (piano bk 1 students only). Programs will vary based on instrument, age, book level and class ranges will be dependent on the actual enrolments received.

Individual timetables specific to each enrolled student will be provided at registration and will not be available prior to this time.

Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 July inclusive
Cost: $480 per student

Violin Book 6 to Post Book, Viola Book 5 to Post Book, Piano Book 4 Bach Minuets & Gigue to Post Book,
Cello Book 6 to Post Book, Flute Book 5 to Post Book, Guitar Book 5 to Post Book

Wednesday 11 July
8:00 - 8:45	Registration	One registration envelope per family
9:00 - 10:15	Session 1
10:45 - 12:00	Session 2
1:00 - 2:30	Lecture and Practical session with Richard Gill	All advanced students together
3:00 - 4:00	Opening play ins/piano opening activity	All enrolled students participate
4:15 - 5:00	Koto Demonstration	Open to all enrolled families and teachers
Thursday 12 July AND Friday 13 July
9:00 - 10:00	Practical session with Richard Gill	All enrolled students and teachers - a selection of repertoire from this class will be performed in the farewell concert
10:15 - 11:15	Class 1	Class details will be issued on individual timetables available at registration
11:45 - 12:45	Class 2
1:30 - 2:30	Class 3
3:15 - 4:45	Thursday - Ensemble Concert Friday - Gala Concert	Off- site concerts at MLC in Kew (within walking distance). Performers selected by audition.
Saturday 14 July (please note different timetable today)
9:00 - 9:45	Class 1	Class details will be issued on individual timetables available at registration
10:00 - 10:45	Class 2
11:00 - 11:45	Class 3
12:15 - 1:00	Play-outs/Piano solo concerts	All enrolled students perform
2:30 - 4:30	Farewell Concert	Off-site concert at MLC in Kew (within walking distance). All enrolled students perform.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Students will participate in group classes including tutorials, ensemble/orchestra classes and repertoire classes during this week. An individual timetable will be provided for each enrolled student at registration. Programs will vary according to the level, age and instrument and the range of students within each class will depend on final enrolments.

Thursday 12 to Saturday 14 July inclusive
Cost: $95 per student

Open to babies and toddlers, 3 years and younger at time of National Conference, who are financial members of their local Suzuki association, however students do not have to be currently learning with a Suzuki teacher. One adult must participate with each child enrolled for this class. Each child participates in 3 x 45 minute classes.

This class is a pre-instrumental general music program run by two trained Suzuki Baby & Toddler program teachers. A parent participates in the class with each child. Activities include singing, dancing, percussion instruments and more.

Thursday 12 and Friday 13 July
10:15am - 11:00am

Saturday 14 July - note different class time today
9:00am - 9:45am

Monday 9 to Saturday 14 July inclusive

Cost: $520 per teacher / $620 for instrumental teachers enrolling for additional optional Baby & Toddler PD

Please note that this cost is not inclusive of any catering at the National Conference - for this fee, teachers will be required to provide their own food and drink. Once the planning committee has been able to discuss catering with the on site catering group, teachers may be offered the opportunity to pre-order lunch. More information to be provided as soon as possible.

Sunday 8 July (Optional extra PD - additional fees apply for instrumental AND Baby & Toddler Music teachers)
1 - 4pm	Baby & Toddler PD at the Music Cottage in Bentleigh	Optional extra Baby & Toddler PD.
Monday 9 July
9:00 - 9:20	Registration	All enrolled teachers should collect their registration envelope - teachers who have children enrolled in student programs may also collect family registration envelopes at this time
9:30 - 10:30	Welcome and tutor introductions All Instruments PD Lecture	Bruce Anderson - The Suzuki Method in the 21st Century
11:00 - 1:00	Instrument Specific PD	Separate instrument groups - please bring your instrument with you
1:45 - 2:45	All Instruments PD Practical Session	Toshio Takahashi - 'Opera Class'
3:00 - 5:00	Instrument Specific PD	Separate instrument groups
5:00	Teacher event	Please join us for a teacher social event to welcome our guest tutors and enrolled tutors - more details to come
Tuesday 10 July
9:00 - 10:00	All Instruments PD Lecture	Presenter and topic to be confirmed
10:30 - 12:30	Instrument Specific PD	Separate instrument groups
1:15 - 2:15	All Instruments PD Practical Session	Toshio Takahashi - 'Opera Class'
2:30 - 4:00	All Instruments PD Paper Presentations	Up to 8 x 40 minute sessions will be presented by enrolled teachers who have applied and been accepted to present their paper.
4:15 - 5:15	Instrument Specific PD	Separate instrument groups
Wednesday 11 July
9:00 - 10:15	All Instruments PD Lecture	Richard Gill - presentation to teachers
10:45 - 12:00	All Instruments PD Practical Session	Richard Gill - practical session with teachers
1:00 - 2:30	Instrument Specific PD	Separate instrument groups
3:00 - 4:00	Opening Play-ins with students	Teachers to assist with set up, tuning and running of these play-ins and may also perform with students
4:15 - 5:00	Koto Presentation	All enrolled teachers and families welcome to find out about the Koto and it's relationship to Suzuki method.
Thursday 12 July AND Friday 13 July
8:15 - 8:45	Teacher Tonalisation sessions	Violin/Viola; Cello; Guitar
9:00 - 10:00	All Instruments PD Practical Session	Richard Gill - practical session with teachers and students
10:15 - 11:15	Student classes	Teaching or observing classes
11:45 - 12:45	Student classes
1:30 - 2:30	Student classes
3:15 - 4:45	Student Ensemble Concert (Thursday) Advanced Student Gala Concert (Friday)	Off site at MLC Assembly Hall, Kew (within walking distance); all enrolled teachers and families welcome
Saturday 14 July - please note different class times today
8:15 - 8:45	Teacher Tonalisation sessions	Violin/Viola; Cello; Guitar
9:00 - 9:45	Student classes	Teaching or observing classes
10:00 - 10:45	Student classes
11:00 - 11:45	Student classes
12:15 - 1:00	Play-outs and piano solo concerts	Teachers needed to set up, tune and run these play outs and piano concerts. Piano concerts will be small groups of students with several rooms running concurrently.
2:30 - 4:30	Farewell concert	Off site at MLC Assembly Hall, Kew (within walking distance); all enrolled teachers required to assist and perform with students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auditioned Concerts:

Student Ensemble Concert, Thursday 12 July from 3:15pm (MLC Assembly Hall)
Student ensembles; selected by audition will perform for enrolled families and teachers.

To audition, the ensemble (comprising only Suzuki students) must submit an audition recording of the piece they wish to perform along with audition application form and audition fee by 23 March 2018. Please note that auditons will only be accepted from ensembles with where all students have enrolled in the National Conference. Ensembles must be entered by a Suzuki teacher of at least one of the students with prior agreement obtained from any other Suzuki teachers. Students who are not learning their instrument with a current Suzuki teacher or teacher trainee member are not eligible to perform in these concerts and should not audition as part of an ensemble. Accompanists will not be provided for this concert however, professional accompanists may be used by an ensemble.

Gala Concert, Friday 13 July from 3:15pm (MLC Assembly Hall)
Student soloists selected by audition from very high level students enrolled in the National Conference advanced programs will perform in this special afternoon concert. Enrolled families and teachers are welcome to attend this concert.

To audition, the student must submit an audition recording (accompanied where applicable and performed from memory) of the piece they wish to perform and submit it with their audition fee by 23 March 2018. Students must be enrolled in the National Conference on that instrument by 23 March to be eligible and must be enrolled and performing a piece of at least the minimum book levels as indicated in the Gala Concert audition information below.

Non auditioned concerts:

 

Wednesday 11 July

Opening Play-ins: all students enrolled in the standard or advanced programs are welcome to participate in these concerts. They will be held in instrument groups in various locations around the school concurrently. The play-ins will run from 3:00 until 4:00pm.

Opening Piano activity: all enrolled piano students are welcome to participate in this session.

Koto Demonstration: This talk and koto demonstration is an opportunity for all enrolled participants to find out about this very special Japanese instrument and how it relates to Suzuki Method. This will be held from 4:15 - 5:00pm.

Saturday 14 July

Play-outs: all students enrolled in the standard or advanced programs (except piano) will perform in informal play outs for their families. These play outs are an opportunity to perform, building on what you have learnt during your classes.

Piano solo concerts: all students enrolled in the piano program have the opportunity to perform a piece for their families. Students will be broken up into small concert groups (siblings together) to perform in several concerts at the same time.

Farewell concert: This is a more formal concert to conclude our Conference. In order to accommodate all our students and families we will be using MLC Assembly Hall (off site). All enrolled students may perform - all students will perform in the item with Richard Gill (rehearsed on Thursday and Friday morning), instrument groups will also present short group items (except piano) and the orchestras will also perform short items.

 

Auditions Close 23 March 2018

Students are invited to audition for the Conference concerts (Gala Concert for Advanced Program students - see minimum levels listed in the tab below and Student Ensemble concerts - any book level) if they are performing their chosen piece at an exceptional level. Your teacher must approve your audition prior to its submission.

Only students learning from a current financial Suzuki teacher or teacher trainee member who has commenced or completed training in that instrument are eligible to audition. Normal eligibility criteria also applies to concert auditions.

Conference auditions will only be accepted by Unlisted YouTube link which must be provided when you apply online to audition. For information about how to upload your recording to YouTube and make it Unlisted please refer to the help pages on YouTube which can be found at https://support.google.com/youtube/?hl=en#topic=4355266.

Conference auditions must be accompanied (live or recorded accompaniment is fine) unless the piece is written as an unaccompanied piece.

Applications must be completed online with TryBooking.

Please note:

1. Only students enrolled for the National Conference by 23 March 2018 can have their auditions considered for concert placement. It will not be possible for a student to await audition results before deciding to enrol in this Conference.

2. Students who audition but do not enrol for the National Conference by 23 March will not be offered a concert place under any circumstances.

3. There are limited concert places and not all students who audition will be offered a concert place.

4. Audition results will be notified directly to families and teachers once final decisions have been made.

5. The audition panel will make all decisions in relation to concert placement and results will be final.

6. Audition results will not be available prior to official release.

7. Refunds are not available for concert auditions after submission of the application for any reason.

8. The piece a student or ensemble auditions with will be the piece they will perform in the concert.

Please refer to specific concert audition information in tabs below prior to submitting an application.

 

Audition Applications close 23 March 2018

Open to students enrolled in an Advanced Program by the National Conference closing date and meeting eligibility criteria for enrolment in the National Conference. Students must be enrolled at the following minimum levels for their instrument and must be performing a piece at that level also. Pieces may be selected from outside the Suzuki Repertoire.

Violin Book 9 and beyond
Cello Book 9 and beyond
Piano Book 7 and beyond
Guitar Book 7 and beyond
Flute Book 8 and beyond
Viola Book 8 and beyond

Students must audition on the same instrument as they enrol for the National Conference on. Only one audition piece may be submitted per student.

Students must audition with the piece they wish to perform in the National Conference Gala concert.

All auditions must be performed from memory.

Duration of pieces: There is no time limit but pieces under 8 minutes are preferred.

National Conference auditions must be accompanied (live or recorded accompaniment) unless the piece is written as an unaccompanied piece.

Rehearsals and sound checks:

Suzuki Music will pay for one brief sound check with the official accompanist which will be held on Thursday 12 July following the Ensemble concerts in MLC Assembly Hall (off site). Sound checks will be allocated and requests for specific times will not be taken.

Rehearsals with the official accompanist must be completed prior to National Conference, at the performer's expense. Accompanist details will be advised once concert allocations are distributed to applicants.

Students may provide their own accompanist but details must be provided upon audition application. All costs associated with an independent accompanist must be paid by the student.

 

Auditions close 23 March 2018

Open to students enrolled in an Advanced or Standard Program by the closing date and meeting eligibility criteria for enrolment in the National Conference.

Ensembles must contain a minimum of 2 or more students who are all learning from a Suzuki teacher of that instrument. All students must seek approval from their own teacher to participate.

One Suzuki teacher must be listed as the teacher in charge of the ensemble - this teacher must enrol in the National Conference PD program and must attend the concert to supervise the students. This teacher will be listed in the concert program.

A professional accompanist may be used to accompany a student ensemble, however all costs associated with that must be paid for by the ensemble group.

Two pianos will be provided for this concert.

Pieces must be a maximum of 5 minutes duration. The piece to be performed in the concert must be submitted as the audition piece. All students performing in the audition recording must be enrolled in the National Conference by the closing date to participate.

National Conference auditions must be accompanied (live or recorded accompaniment) unless the piece is written as an unaccompanied piece.

Rehearsals and sound checks:

There will not be any rehearsals or sound checks offered during the National Conference. All ensembles must complete their own rehearsals prior to the concert.

 

23 February	National Conference Paper Presentation Applications from Suzuki Teachers Closing Date
23 March 2018	National Conference Closing Date
23 March 2018	National Conference concert audition Closing Date
24 March 2018	Late fee level 1 applies to all enrolments and/or full payments received from 24 March to 22 April 2018. Applications will only be accepted subject to space in appropriate classes and administrative constraints. Applications may cease to be accepted at any time without prior notice and will be considered in order of receipt.
23 April 2018	Late fee level 2 applies to all enrolments and/or full payments received from 23 April. Applications will only be accepted subject to space in appropriate classes and administrative constraints. Applications may cease to be accepted at any time without prior notice and will be considered in order of receipt.
Late May to early June	Concert audition results notified to families and their teachers
Late June	National Conference confirmation packs sent to all enrolled families and teachers
8 July 2018	Baby & Toddler PD, 1 - 4pm at the Music Cottage in Bentleigh
9 July 2018	Professional Development programs commence
11 July 2018	National Conference commences for students enrolled in Standard or Advanced Programs
12 July 2018	Baby & Toddler classes commence
14 July 2018	National Conference concludes at approximately 4:30pm

 

Standard Program (Violin/Cello Bk 1 - 5, Piano Bk 1 - Bk 4 Bach Gavotte, Viola/Flute/Guitar Bk 1 - 4)	$390
Advanced Program (Violin/Cello Bk 6 - post book, Piano Bk 4 Bach Minuets and Gigue - post book, Viola/Flute/Guitar Bk 5 - post book)	$480
Baby & Toddler Music Program (ages 0 - 3 at time of National Conference)	$95
Suzuki Teacher Registration for PD program (Violin/Viola, Cello, Piano, Flute, Guitar AND Baby & Toddler Music/Voice teachers who do not teach an additional instrument)	$520
Suzuki 'Baby & Toddler Teacher Plus' Registration (For teachers of Baby & Toddler Music AND Violin/Viola, Cello, Piano, Flute, Guitar, Organ or Voice)	$620
Concert Audition (per audition)	$55
Late Fee Level 1 (application or payment received after 23 March and by 22 April) - per student or teacher	$30
Late Fee Level 2 (application or payment received after 23 April) - per student or teacher	$50
30 mins Individual Lesson with guest International Tutor (Violin/Viola, Cello, Piano, Guitar) - applications for individual lessons will be sent to enrolled families and teachers after the conference closing date. ** most lessons will be take place on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 July**	$110

 

Students and teachers who are enrolled to attend the National Conference on violin, cello, piano or guitar will be able to apply for an individual lesson with a visiting International Tutor on either Monday 9 or Tuesday 10 July - please note that a link to apply for individual lessons will be emailed to enrolled teachers and families some time after the National Conference closing date. More details to come!

Lessons will be 30 minutes in length and a very limited number will be available. There is a limit of one lesson per enrolled student or teacher. Requests for more lessons may be made via email and families or teachers will be waitlisted for more lessons if places are available.

Students and teachers may not approach tutors directly to make private arrangements for lessons before, during or immediately after this event. All individual lessons must be booked through the official booking process.

A range of optional lectures on topics of interest to parents will be presented during student classes on Thursday 12, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 July inclusive, including some sessions with Richard Gill AO. Details will be provided in the National Conference handbook on registration.

These sessions need to be run at the same time as student classes. You are welcome to leave your child or children in a class with the teacher to attend the parent education sessions, provided your child is comfortable with this and you are confident that their behaviour will remain appropriate without your presence.

Parent sessions will start a few minutes after student classes and will finish a few minutes before so you can drop off and pick up your children.

All students aged under 14 years at time of the National Conference are required to be supervised by an adult who is on campus at all times that the student is in attendance. Application forms have a place to register one supervising adult per child - if you need to add more names of supervising adults (for example, you have different people looking after your child/children on different days) please let us know by email and we can add those details to your registration.

One adult may be the listed supervisor for more than one child and this person will be contacted in the event of an emergency or misbehaviour.

It is the responsibility of the adult supervisor to ensure that all children under their care behave in a manner appropriate to a school in which we are guests. Students need to remain respectful to teachers, other students and adults and themselves. We ask that parents talk to their children about appropriate and respectful in class and out of class behaviour. Students who are misbehaving in class may be asked to leave.

Conference attendees are requested not to play in garden beds or climb on school furniture. Drinks and food are not permitted in classrooms, theatres or halls. Litter is to be placed in bins.

Students who are aged 14 and older may be left unattended at your own risk provided a completed indemnity and medical details form is lodged with Suzuki Music staff on the first day of the National Conference. This indemnity form will require you to give consent for and agree to necessary medical treatment to be provided and for ambulance costs to be covered by you if required in your absence.

Please be aware that we will be using rooms in different parts of the school and most students will need to cross the road to get to different classes.

 

Enrolments and/or payment for enrolments received after the closing date of 23 March 2018 are late and are subject to payment of additional administration fees (late fees), availability of places in appropriate classes and administrative constraints.

Whilst we understand that it is not always possible for families to make a decision to attend events by the closing date, late enrolments impact on our event planning and management. Suzuki Music has a small office administration team and closing dates are set to allow enough time for staff to process each application, before starting the very long process of getting all students allocated to appropriate classes.

Late applications delay and add many hours to the whole process since extra students in some classes require reallocation of several other students to ensure classes remain balanced. Staff and volunteers are often required to put in additional hours of work to 'catch up' the process when late applications are received. For this reason, an additional fee is charged to cover the cost of this additional administration work.

Please do not ask administration staff for the late enrolment fee to be waived as a refusal may offend.

Please note that late enrolments may cease to be accepted at any time without notice.

You are permitted to photograph, video or film your own children at Suzuki events. You are not permitted to photograph, video or film teachers or other people’s children for any purpose without the permission of the parents of those children or the individual teacher. Photography or videoing of group performances must be close cropped to only capture your own child.

Photos, video or film that contains footage from Suzuki events are not permitted under any circumstances to be uploaded to the web for public viewing*, broadcast or offered for sale without the explicit written permission of Suzuki Music.  Failure to comply with this request is a breach of the Copyright Act and the Child Protection Act.  We appreciate your cooperation.

*Uploading footage of your child (that does not display any other teacher or student) to password-protected private sites (eg. for viewing by family/close friends) is permitted.

Suzuki Music (Victoria) Child Safe Policy

Commitment to child safety
All children who participate in activities organised by Suzuki Music (Victoria) have a right to feel and to be safe. The welfare of the children in our care will always be our first priority, and we have zero tolerance for child abuse. We aim to create a child safe and child friendly environment where children can feel safe, develop their musicianship, and enjoy being part of a nurturing musical community.

This policy was developed in collaboration with staff, volunteers and parents, on behalf of the children who use our services. It applies to all staff, volunteers, children and individuals involved in our organization.

Children’s rights to safety and participation
Suzuki Music (Victoria) staff, teachers and volunteers encourage children to express their views. We listen to their suggestions, especially on matters that directly affect them. We actively encourage all children who use our services to ‘have a say’ about things that are important to them.

We listen to and act on any concerns children, or their parents, raise with us. We make ourselves available to discuss issues with children and parents as they arise, and we actively seek feedback
after Suzuki Music (Victoria) events.

Valuing diversity
We value diversity and do not tolerate any discriminatory practices.
Embedded in the Suzuki philosophy is the understanding that every child has value and potential, regardless of their physical or intellectual capabilities, and regardless of their ethnicity or culture.

Suzuki Music (Victoria) is sensitive to the needs for cultural safety of Aboriginal children and their families, and of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and their families. We welcome the participation of these groups in Suzuki events.

We also welcome children with a disability. Our teachers work with parents to determine the most appropriate programs for their children, and when planning events,we look creatively for ways to include them.

Reporting a child safety concern or complaint
The President and Vice President of Suzuki Music (Victoria) are
the appointed Child Safety People whose specific responsibility
it is to respond to any complaints made by staff, volunteers, parents or children.

All concerns and complaints are handled with sensitivity, and with confidentiality, insofar as this is possible.

Risk Management
We recognise the importance of a risk management approach to minimising the potential for child abuse or harm to occur, and use this to inform our policy, procedures and activity planning. In addition to general occupational health and safety risks, we proactively manage risks of abuse to our children.

Read our full policy

Read our code of conduct

Reporting a Concern

• Conference participants must meet eligibility criteria as listed in the first tab above.  
• Enrolments are subject to space in appropriate classes or programs. Programs may be cancelled or changed without notice and all programs are subject to minimum enrolments.
• It is the enrolling person’s responsibility to check that a Conference enrolment and payment has been received by Suzuki Music. You can check by finding a payment record in your bank account or by contacting Suzuki Music.
• Late applications are subject to late fees as described above. Suzuki Music may cease to accept enrolments at any time without notice.  
• The Guest tutor list is correct at time of going to print. Suzuki Music takes no responsibility for last minute changes to the tutor list.
• Attendance on campus is subject to Supervision of Participating Students and Student Behaviour Management as indicated.
• Cancellations received in writing in the Suzuki Music office by 23 March 2018 will be refunded less an administration fee of $90. Cancellations received after this date will not normally be refunded or credited. In exceptional circumstances a partial credit may be considered if evidence of illness or other exceptional, significant family disruption is provided in writing to the Suzuki Music Council.
• Enrolments are not transferable at any time.
• Enrolments are subject to the Photography and Video Policy as above.