New year, new chats! Scroll below for our upcoming events!
Want to see what we talked about last year in 2025? Check out our Past Coffee Chats page, and email us at IndianaSuzuki@gmail.com if you would like to register to watch the replay.
Getting Off the Practice Time Struggle Bus
How to get through a practice session with your child while still maintaining each other’s humor and sanity
Presented by Anne Montzka Smelser
Sunday, January 11th | 7 PM CT/ 8 PM ET
Ann Montzka Smelser began playing violin at the age of 3 with the help of her mother and father, Marilyn and Arthur Montzka. Later she studied under Kazuko Numanami and Sarah Hersh at the Oberlin College Suzuki Program and later with Rebecca Sandrok and Pierre Menard. In between receiving her Bachelors of Music Education and Masters in Performance and Pedagogue at Northern Illinois University, Ann studied with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki at the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan.
Ann has performed in many orchestras and chamber ensembles, including touring with the Ruggieri String Quartet after college, and is currently principal 2nd violinist with Camerata Chicago and concertmaster of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
Ann became a Registered Suzuki Teacher Trainer in 2007 and currently teaches Suzuki Pedagogy at both Northwestern University and Northern Illinois University. Ann teaches about 35 private students and is director of the NIU, CSA Suzuki Strings Program at NIU. Ann enjoys working with Suzuki families and teachers at Suzuki Institutes and workshops throughout the United States. Ann was a guest teacher at the 2010 International String Conference in Singapore and has given Teacher Training courses in Lima, Peru, Costa Rica and Mexico City. Ann lives in DeKalb, IL with her husband, Linc. Linc and Ann are proud Suzuki parents of their daughter, Genevieve, and son, Benjamin, who are professional musicians.
(Free for SAI members; $15 for non-members)
Non-SAI Members: After registering, please go to Home to pay the attendance fee ($15.00).
SAA Conference Recap
Sunday, March 15th | 7 PM CT/ 8 PM ET
Can’t make it out to San Francisco for the SAA conference this year? Never fear! Some of our members will give you a recap of their experience! This general discussion is free for all!
Registration form coming soon!
Free for all!