During the summer, students are encouraged to attend the George Washington Suzuki Institute. This is a five-day camp where students take classes with Suzuki teachers from all over the country and meet students from all over the DMV area.
Masterclasses: Each student gets a daily lesson with a masterclass teacher between 10-15 minutes long. They are also matched with two to three other students matching their age and level. During the full block, students get to see their peers' lessons.
Repertoire: Students are assigned a repertoire class depending on their level within the Suzuki books. Classes usually include no more than 15 students. Children get the opportunity to lead their class and learn how to follow others.
CAD and Fiddle: Creative Ability Development and Fiddle classes give students the chance to improvise and learn different styles of music with others.
Enrichment: Younger students have loads of fun in music enrichment where they play games and learn new ideas in music.
Chamber Music: One option open to students is to play in a chamber group. Students are matched based on their levels and get coached by faculty members.
Orchestra: Every student is placed in one of four orchestras at the institute. They learn how to play in a large ensemble with orchestra etiquette.
Solo Recitals: Throughout the week, there are many opportunities for children to perform their solo pieces. They also have the choice to play with a professional pianist.
Final Concerts: On the final day of the week, all the students in chamber ensembles perform their pieces together. Additionally, students perform with their orchestras, and later with their particular instruments during a Suzuki play-down. During the play-down, students perform all the Suzuki songs they know up to the piece they're working on from a specific list.
Register here: https://www.sforzasuzukistrings.org
Sforza Suzuki Strings is a Suzuki program in Woodbridge, Virginia where students within the Opus 11 Music Studio get fantastic opportunities to play with their peers and experience other Suzuki teachers in the area.
Solo Recitals: Throughout the school year, Sforza gives students multiple performance opportunities where they also get to hear other players.
Group Class: Part of the Suzuki Method includes allowing students to play with each other. This builds community and friendship, along with furthering their musical education. In group class, students are matched with others based on their level and age. They review Suzuki and Christmas concert songs together in preparation for concerts and institutes.
Chamber Music: Sforza offers chamber classes for students with music-reading abilities. In these, students play in small ensembles together and are coached by a faculty member to understand how to play in a chamber music setting.
Fiddle Class: Sforza puts on a fiddle concert during the year where students learn how to play their instruments in a different style.
Masterclasses: During audition season, students who are auditioning for regional, state, school, or youth orchestra events get feedback in a masterclass setting. Students perform for each other and are coached on audition preparation.
Holiday Concert: During the fall semester, Sforza prepares for their annual holiday concert. Students get the opportunity to learn classic holiday arrangements and perform as a group in different venues in the D.C. area.
Register here: https://www.sforzasuzukistrings.org