Suzuki Strings Program (3 years+)
The SIUE Suzuki Strings Program includes 200 students on violin, viola or cello, drawn from a 75-mile radius from SIUE. Each student receives a weekly individual lesson and attends Saturday morning group lessons 10:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Students are taught by SIUE Suzuki faculty and graduate assistants.
Our faculty teachers all have a Master's Degree and extensive registered Suzuki Teacher Training. We are professional teachers who have studied teaching in the Suzuki approach, are skilled musicians, and have learned how to work with your children. Our graduate student teachers all have at minimum a Bachelor's Degree and are currently receiving Suzuki Teacher Training.
Interested in the SIUE Suzuki Program? Watch our SIUE Suzuki Strings Video to learn more about our program.
We ask that prospective families please email us at suzukiprogram@siue.edu BEFORE registering so we can make sure to match you to a teacher.
Prices for our lessons are as follows:
- Faculty Teacher:
- 30 min lesson; 4 payments of $165 ($660 in 1 payment per semester)
- 45 min lesson; 4 payments of $213.75 ($855 in 1 payment per semester)
- 60 min lesson; 4 payments of $281.25 ($1125 in 1 payment per semester)
- Graduate Teacher:
- 30 min lesson; 4 payments of $146.25 ($585 in 1 payment per semester)
- 45 min lesson; 4 payments of $180 ($720 in 1 payment per semester)
- 60 min lesson; 4 payments of $240 ($960 in 1 payment per semester)
- Payment Due Dates:
- First Payment Due: August 15
- Second Payment Due: September 15
- Third Payment Due: October 15
- Fourth/Final Payment Due: November 15
Some of our Saturday Classes ARE open to students who are not enrolled in our SIUE Suzuki Program. Saturday Only Registration information is available here. Saturday Only is for students who study with a Suzuki teacher outside our program, who is looking just for group classes. Private lessons are required to participate in our Saturday Classes. To see if your child is eligible to participate in our Saturday Classes, please call us at 618-650-2839 or send us an email at suzukiprogram@siue.edu.
How do I know if my child is ready?
- The Suzuki method starts from the premise that any child can learn to play a musical instrument. Because children show a natural curiosity about music and musical instruments, the appropriate question for parents may not be “Is my child ready?” but “Am I ready?”
- Can parents commit to regular attendance at lessons and classes?
- Can parents set aside regular daily listening and practice time?
- Do parents enjoy spending time with their children, take delight in their children’s smallest accomplishments, and calmly deal with the backward steps as well as the steps forward? They are probably ready to consider Talent Education for their children.
- And if parents are ready, then their children will usually be ready too!
- New students are admitted only during the fall semester if they are under 9 years old. Students transferring from another program and older students may start at any time according to space available.
- We DO accept students into our program who already play, or have previously studied traditionally, provided that they understand we are a Suzuki program and our approach to teaching may be different from what they previously experienced.
- Most lessons are held in Dunham Hall. Parking for pass holders is available in Lot E. Non-pass holders must park in a pay lot (Lot B).
- Saturday group classes are held in Founders Hall; Parking is free in Lot A during weekends.
Parents Preparatory Class
- At the beginning of fall semester, new students and parents will observe private lessons. Your own private lessons will begin shortly after the semester starts, and group classes for parents and students begin in September.
- Parents of new students, ages 3-8, attend a weekly parent/ beginner class at 11:30 a.m. during the Saturday group time.
- Parents will learn to play the violin, viola, or cello, and learn how to practice and help their children at home.
- Attendance at the parent class ensures the parent’s success in their role as “home teacher” by giving them first-hand experience with the violin and with teaching points such as position, posture and tone production. This is a time to build friendships with other parents and create a network of friends who are new to the Suzuki method.
