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How to Become a Teacher Trainer

The full appointment procedure is set out in the ESA Teacher Training and Examination Manual, Section D and its appendices. The details of the Procedure below are a summary which should be read in conjunction with the Manual.

Frequently asked questions:

What is an ESA Instructor?
Before ESA teachers can become Teacher Trainers, they must apply to become Instructors (see more below). The Instructorship is a form of training which takes at least two years. Only after this can the full Teacher Trainer appointment be made.

Can I become an Assistant Teacher Trainer?
This term is no longer on official ESA title. The term now used for this interim stage is Instructor. Of course, one of the instructor's tasks during the instructorship is to assist in teacher training, but unlike the previous system (until 2002) there are many other aspects to the training.

Does everybody have to be an Instructor before becoming a Teacher Trainer?
The only exception to this rule is when somebody who is already a recognised Teacher Trainer in another region applies to become a Teacher Trainer in the ESA. There is still an application procedure and the applicant must be approved by the ESA Board and must observe ESA examinations.

Who is qualified to become an ESA Teacher Trainer?
The candidate must be a Suzuki teacher with a level 5 qualification (or equivalent from another region)

He or she should have

    -    a professional degree in music from a conservatory, university

or other accredited institution or equivalent advanced musical         training

   -    at least 10 years teaching experience covering all levels of the Suzuki repertoire, as well as non-Suzuki repertoire. (An exception may be made to this rule if the ESA board judges this necessary in special circumstances).

    The candidate must also fulfil a number of other application criteria (further details below and in the ESA Teacher Training Manual.

What is the ESA Teacher Training Panel?
The Teacher Training Panel consists of the ESA Instrument Directors and their Deputies (at present there are directors for violin, piano, cello and flute). The Chairman and Deputy Chairman are ex-officio non-voting members of the Panel.

What does the ESA Teacher Training Panel do?
In relation to appointments the Panel checks that all the requirements for appointments have been fulfilled and make recommendations for acceptance or rejection of appointments to the ESA Board.
    The Panel also advises the ESA Board on a number of other issues relating to teaching and teacher training, including the evaluation of qualifications from other regions.

The guide to the process of becoming a Teacher Trainer

Please read this guide in conjunction with The Teacher Training Manual Section D and Appendices D1, D2 and D3.

Stage 1: Becoming an Instructor:

The application is made to the candidate's own national Suzuki association Full details of what is required are set out in the manual (Appendix D1)
The national association appoints a committee of three A-teachers or teacher trainers to evaluate the application.
When the application is approved, the national Suzuki association sends the signed Instructor Appointment Form to ESA. The appointment is only valid, when ESA has confirmed the Instructor appointment in writing.

Stage 2: Instructor training

The Instructorship period is a minimum of two year. For details of the instructor training, see Appendix D3

Stage 3: Becoming a Teacher Trainer

The application at this final stage is made to the ESA Teacher Training Panel.

The following items should be sent to the ESA office at least three weeks before a meeting of the Panel (which is usually just to prior to a meeting of the ESA Board of Directors, currently in September every year).

1. A formal letter of application
2. A brief account of the work undertaken during the instructorship
3. A brief, up-to-date Curriculum Vitae
4. Two up-to-date letters of recommendation, supporting the appointment, from ESA teacher trainers, usually from the same instrument, one of them should be the candidate‘s instructorship ‘supervisor’.

Please contact the ESA office if you have any questions relating to these rules for appointment.

National Suzuki Associations should note that announcing an intention to appoint someone as an Instructor is not sufficient. All requirements must be fulfilled, including submission of the Instructor Appointment Form and the confirmation by ESA.

For a list of current Instructors, who have been formally appointed, please follow this link.

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Last Updated: 01 December, 2009

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