​Why ASI?

The American Suzuki Institute is a family-oriented Suzuki music summer program held on the campus of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. The Institute offers a rich curriculum taught by an outstanding  faculty (link to faculty page) and a variety of electives to spark the imagination. Founded in 1971, ASI  boasts the longest-running history of any summer institute outside of Japan. The Institute is the model of excellence for other institutes around the world. It truly is an "Original." 

ASI offers a nurturing and magical music immersion experience for all participants, complete with the highest quality instruction, fun extra-curricular activities, and a nurturing, welcoming community of friends, mentors, and colleagues guaranteed to leave you inspired and refreshed. 

But ASI has another side as well. The campus is nestled between the shores of the Wisconsin River and the world class SentryWorld Golf Course. Every member of the family can find something that interests them, from the green circle hiking and biking trail, to the sculpture park and the Farmers' Market. For a more information on things to do in Stevens Point, go to the Stevens Point Visitors and Convention Bureau. You can also look at our Recreation page to find more details about local activities. 

 

For more information, please contact us at:
suzuki@uwsp.edu  or  715-346-3033.

​The Role of Recitals at an Institute   

by Pat D'Ercole  

 

The Role of Recitals at an Institute…
Dr. Suzuki taught that each piece requires three stages of learning—1) the introduction of the particular technique(s) that a piece utilizes, 2) the fluency phase when students can play the piece from beginning to end from memory with all the correct rhythms, fingerings, bowings and technique, and 3) the artistic phase.  This is the stage when the mechanics of the piece are so habitual that the performer can communicate a mood or character or a feeling through the music.  These are the performances that really speak to the audience's heart.  Since the piece is well within the performer's skill level and the execution is effortless, there is surplus attention to give to the emotional content of the piece.  Sometimes the amount of time between when a piece is fluent and when it becomes artistic can be as much as a year or two or when the student is well into the next book. Professional performers for example, never take their newest piece first to the concert halls in big cities with music critics.  Instead, they hone their performing skills in much smaller venues until the piece becomes comfortable, easy and they feel confident.  

True artists are hardly ever satisfied.  They are always trying to improve and are reaching for the next level of playing.  And that's why you're here—to learn how to get to the next level, how to become an artist.  And what better way than to have five consecutive lessons where one can hardly practice a small task incorrectly?  Secondly, since as Suzuki students we believe in the power of the environment, we are also here to be inspired by outstanding performers, both adults and students, who have achieved that level of communication in their performance.  Occasionally, students will do that on the very first day of class and these are the students who are asked to perform on the 4:00 and informal recitals at ASI.  

So the evidence of a successful institute experience is not whether students are selected to perform on a recital, but rather if they leave ASI with the tools and the motivation to be a more artistic player than when they arrived. 

 

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