Welcome!  

We invite you to join our Northern California, San Francisco Bay Area community of teachers and families.  As a branch of SMAC, all SMAC members can participate in our local events.  To join our organization, join SMAC here.  SMAC will confirm your membership and you will be added to our emails and be eligible to participate in events.

Our Mission:  We encourage and support excellence in music education by creating a community of students, parents and teachers that upholds the ideas, principles, and philosophy of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki.



What is the Suzuki Method?

Founded on the core belief that "Every Child Can" learn music, just as they learn their mother tongue, the Suzuki method is a joyful way of learning music and developing character based on the priniciples and ideals of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki.  Read More.

Top Stories

2020 Graduation

We were very fortunate to hold the Graduation Concerts February 1, 2020, at the Oakland Inter-Stake Center, Oakland, before the Covid-19 stay-at-home order occurred. They were beautiful and inspiring performances!

The Guitar Graduation Concert featured 48 graduates from 4 teachers, performing pieces from Levels 1 – 7.

The Violin Graduation Concert following, had 34 graduates from 7 studios, playing pieces from Levels 1 – 7 as well. Teachers gathered together to play in an impromptu string ensemble to accompany the 3 Concerto pieces, giving those graduates the rare opportunity to play their piece as it was written, to be played with orchestra.

We did not know at that time, how fortunate we were to be able to provide this special experience for our students. Nora Grafton will be keeping Graduation information current. Graduation@suzukinorcal.org

2019 SANC Cello Play-In

CELLO FUN was created by 28 young cellists from 7 cello teachers playing pieces from Books 1-7 at the SMAC-SANC Cello Play-In, on October 26, 2019, at San Jose State University. 

The teachers and students came from Gilroy to Berkeley to play together.

We hope more young cellists join us next year to create that beautiful cello sound.

Please enjoy pictures included.

2019 South Bay Play-In

The Annual South Bay Play-In featured 55 young violinists from 8 studios.

We all had a great time playing pieces from books 1-8 in the Music Building Auditorium at San Jose State University.

We hope more children join in the fun next year!!!

The Play-In is a wonderful opportunity to review  pieces and to create  a beautiful sound together with other young violinists.

Upcoming Events


Play-In


Unfortunately, we do not see a way we can hold the SANC South Bay Violin and Cello Play-Ins this fall of 2020. This is perhaps the first year since the tradition began in the 1970's to not hold the Play-Ins. We all hope that by the Fall of 2021, we will be able to resume this very fun and motivating activity.

SANC Graduation


2021 (Date TBA)

Recordings are due November 11, 2020


Since almost every element of the Graduation is not a group activity, this SANC Event should in fact be possible to continue. Certainly all the students have plenty of time to review and polish their Graduation piece. Even the recording with an accompanist could be coordinated with all safely at least 6 feet apart. Of course the Graduation Concert will not be scheduled until we are all safe to play in some sort of group setting.

It really helps the motivation of the young musicians to have and accomplish a goal. Preparing and recording the Graduation piece is something we can do. We are all missing Recitals, Institutes, Orchestra rehearsals and concerts. Graduation is one of the few music activities actually remaining!!!

So we would like to encourage all of you to help your students prepare whatever Graduation piece appropriate for each. Please click here to see the list of Graduation pieces and requirements. This list and all other Graduation information will be updated as needed on our website, www.suzukinorcal.org. For questions, contact Nora Grafton, Graduation@suzukinorcal.org.


Institute and Family Camp Alert

ASI, LASI and Coastal Institutes and SANC Family Camp have been cancelled for 2020. We are doing our best to make arrangements for 2021.

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Family Camp Skit


News! Click for full articles

2018 Peninsula Play In

The Annual Peninsula Cello Play-In and the South Bay Violin Play-In were held October 27, 2018, at San Jose State University. There were 27 young cellists of seven different teachers from Oakland to Gilroy created a beautiful sound playing many pieces through Book 8! The Violin Play-In featured 63 young violinists + two Pre-Twinklers of nine mostly South-Bay teachers. They had a lovely time playing pieces into Book 7. Both events were very fun for all involved and were an inspiration for all the students and teachers participating.

Click here for more photos from the 2018 Play In!

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