2023 Parent Teacher Convention

Convention Information
 
Saturday, January 21st, 2023
American Preparatory Academy 
3636 West 3100 South, West Valley City, UT 84119
 
Schedule

Session Descriptions
Keynote Session:
Propelled by Joy: How the Accomplishment of Meaningful Proximal Goals Contributes to Skill Development and Well-Being
Presented by Dr. Robert A. Duke (see his bio below)
 
Additional Sessions
Preparing Our Children with the Ingredients of a Well-Lived Life by Dr. Duke
 
You Are What You Eat. You Play How You Think. Imagine That. by Dr. Duke
 
Eleven Years of ‘Cello and I Can’t Get a Date: The Social Value of What We Learn by Dr. Duke
 
Q&As with Dr. Duke: If you'd like to submit questions for this session, click here.
 
Wee Violin: Music for Young Violinists Preparatory to Twinkle: Crystal Boyack will present a curriculum for young violinists, pre Suzuki book 1, that was designed to help make practicing with your children more fun. Music is based on tunes from around the world.
 
5 Ways to Simplify Your Studio Management: In this presentation, veteran Suzuki cello teacher Brittany Gardner and CEO of studio management software Duet Partner Neylan McBaine will introduce teachers to tools and ideas that can make their lives easier. Drawn from their course, Setting Up An Independent Music Studio, Brittany and Neylan will share tips around billing, scheduling, building relationships with parents, streamlining studio traditions and more. 
 
Music and the Developing Child: Jessica Nix, Early Intervention Specialist at Kids On The Move and Kindermusik teacher, will explore how music impacts a child's development.
 
Child-Focused Stretching Workshop: Young students often develop tension in their back, shoulders, arms, and jaws from spending time at their instrument practicing.  Join yoga instructor Rachel Woerner to learn some fun, child-focused stretches and exercises you can take home and help your students or children in this workshop designed for both teachers and parents.
 
Chair-Assisted Yoga for Adults: Pain and tension in the back, neck, hips, and wrists are common issues for musicians—and anyone else who spends a lot of time seated. Join yoga instructor Rachel Woerner in learning accessible, chair-supported stretches to relieve some of the most common pains and tensions. 
 
Creative Teaching & Practicing Ideas: TruAnn Boulter will be sharing fun and creative teaching ideas for Private lessons, Group lessons, and Recitals. There will also be time to share fun and creative ideas workshop attendees use or have heard about.
 
Reimagined Rewards: Building Intrinsic Motivation in Your Student: Are reward systems beneficial for your student? Join Peter Romney to learn about ways to provide more than just rewards, while at the same time increasing the time and quality of your student's practice.
 
Creating a Culture of Community in Your Studio and Beyond: Whether intentional or not, your music studio or home learning environment has a culture. This session with Rebecca Goeckeritz is going to explore how the Suzuki Method supports a culture of community and will challenge teachers and parents to look at their current culture and creatively think about ways to be more intentional in creating the culture they desire. 
 
Songs for Sight Reading: Phala Tracy will present her four-volume graded curriculum "Songs for Sight Reading" along with ideas for approaching note reading at various levels and from various angles. While this printed curriculum is harp-specific, the games and challenges she uses in her teaching could be applied to any instrument. Some of this will be harp specific, but a lot of it will be ideas about how to engage with students as they are learning to read music...and that is universal.
 
I LOVE to Read Music! Suzuki Steps to Music Literacy: Old-fashioned Suzuki whiz kids, who can play well but can’t sight read? This session with Denise Willey for all bowed stringed instruments will demonstrate easy, quick, efficient, and effective steps to teach music reading, sight reading, & even theory to children & teens, to bring them to fabulous music literacy in 5+ minutes a day. Presentation includes understandable methods, clear explanations, and helpful demonstrations with children demonstrators, and effective materials which teachers and parents can use.
 
So You Want to be a Suzuki Teacher?: Join Kyra Sovronsky for this introductory session for students/teachers interested in learning about the Suzuki method. Topics will include the Suzuki philosophy, practical applications and the training process. 
 
Parent Panel: Come ask all your questions to a panel of Suzuki parents! Learn the ins and outs of how to be a thriving Suzuki family.
 
 
Schedule:
Additional Room Assignments:

110 - violin

125 - harp

147 - cello

127 - flute

142 - piano

123 - viola

 

Flyers

 

 
 
Bios
Dr. Robert A. Duke

Bob Duke is the Marlene and Morton Meyerson Centennial Professor and Head of Music and Human Learning at The University of Texas at Austin, where he is a University of Texas and University of Texas System Distinguished Teaching Professor, Elizabeth Shatto Massey Distinguished Fellow in Teacher Education, and Director of the Center for Music Learning. He is also a clinical professor in the Dell Medical School at The University of Texas and was the founding director of the psychology of learning program at the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles.
 
Duke’s research on human learning and behavior spans multiple disciplines, and his most recent work explores the refinement of procedural memories and the analysis of gaze in teacher-learner interactions. A former studio musician and public school music teacher, he has worked closely with children at-risk, both in the public schools and through the juvenile justice system. He is the author of Scribe 4 behavior analysis software, and his most recent books are Intelligent Music Teaching: Essays on the Core Principles of Effective Instruction, The Habits of Musicianship, which he co-authored with Jim Byo of Louisiana State University, and Brain Briefs, which he co-authored with Art Markman, his co-host on the public radio program and podcast Two Guys on Your Head, produced by KUT Radio in Austin.
 
A set of short videos on teaching music on the Center for Music Learning website:
 
 
Crystal Boyack

Crystal Boyack is a leader in early childhood violin pedagogy and is a highly sought after teacher, clinician and lecturer.

Crystal started teaching violin, viola and orchestra at 15 years old when she founded Morgan Valley Strings, a community orchestra program.  She attended Weber State University studying Music Education and University of New Mexico studying String Pedagogy.  At the University of New Mexico she received her Suzuki long term teacher training from Susan Kempter.  

Crystal has taught violin, viola, orchestra and early childhood music in public, private and charter school, youth symphonies, and music camps.  She has served as section coach and adjudicator to the Albuquerque Youth Symphony, New Mexico All State, as well as regional and state solo and ensembles.  She currently teaches at the University of New Mexico String Lab School. 

She performs solo, chamber and symphonic music regularly and before taking an indefinite maternity leave, was the principle violist for the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra.  She is an active member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and the America String Teacher's Association. 

In 2012 she began studying and teaching early childhood music education. She has taught Fierabend, Suzuki Early Childhood and Music Together.  She has synthesized what she has learned from early childhood music and violin pedagogy in her upcoming book Wee Violin - a curriculum for young violinists, pre Suzuki book 1.

She currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she runs a private studio focusing on early childhood violin pedagogy as well as teaching at the University of New Mexico's String Lab School. She loves spending her time gardening, doing yoga, and playing, laughing and adventuring with her husband and four young children.