The Suzuki Education program was first introduced to Utah in the early 1970’s. Steven Goodman, a Suzuki educator in Provo, Utah, began the Goodman School of Music, since disbanded.
On July 14, 1977, the Utah Talent Education Guild was organized. The purpose was to provide Utah Suzuki Teachers further growth in Talent Education, while allowing them to teach on an individual basis. The name was eventually changed to the Suzuki Association of Utah.
The Association has grown from the original 17 teachers with a few hundred students to over 200 teachers serving 3000 students. The original offering of instruction in violin, piano, cello and flute has been expanded to include harp, viola, guitar, pre-school, voice, string bass and most recently, organ.
Information about the association and events can be had by contacting the Suzuki Association of Utah executive office at 943-6989.
There are four Registered Teacher Trainers with the Suzuki Association of the Americas residing in Utah.
For further information on training to be a teacher in the Suzuki Method call these trainers directly.
- Violin: Jeanne Grover 801 292-8717 jgrover@aros.net
- Piano: Cleo Brimhall 801-943-1237 callcleo@att.net
- Cello: Carey Cheney 801-942-5291 cheney@aros.net
- Viola (early violin books) Denise Willey 801-796-9391 denisewwilley@yahoo.com
Summer Institutes have brought many of the foremost Suzuki educators to Utah. The Institutes are held annually for the enrichment and training of teachers, parents and students in Suzuki.
Celebration Concerts, held tri-annually, have been inspirational as the entire student body of Suzuki students in Utah gather together to play and share their spirit. Concerts have been held in Abravanel Hall, the Capitol Theatre, the Rotunda of the State Capitol and Historic Temple Square. October 2004 featured concerts held in the LDS Conference Center.
