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We are a premier music school located in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. We welcome all music students who want to learn to play a string instrument. Our educational philosophy is primarily based on the principles of the Suzuki Method and the foundation of our curriculum is lessons in Suzuki violin, viola, cello, and bass.

SSA also welcomes school age string students coming from all other teaching methods for private instruction, group classes, orchestra, and chamber music.

SSA offers group lessons in guitar and early music education classes in Music & Movement in cooperation with Livermore Area Park and Recreation District (LARPD).

Sycamore Strings Academy is partnering with the Livermore-Amador Symphony Association in organizing a Summer Youth Orchestra for musicians ages 13 to 21 – the Livermore-Amador Symphony Youth Orchestra, or LASYO. The orchestra meets during the summer months each year. Our second season ended with a remarkable concert on July 31, 2010.

See this link: LASYO performance July 31. Conductor is Goran Berg, assistant conductor is Katherine Boster.

For information and registration for the 2012 summer youth orchestra, please contact Betsy Hausburg:  vdt.director@sbcglobal.net or (925) 443-6953. Link: Livermore-Amador Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Sycamore Strings Academy has a partnership with the Livermore Valley Performance Arts Center (LVPAC), using their facilities at the Bothwell Performing Arts Center in Livermore. SSA also cooperates with the Crowden Center for Music in the Community (CCMC) in Berkeley and the Holy Names University (HNU) in Oakland. SSA is an approved vendor, providing music instruction to students of Connecting Waters Charter School, an organization for home school students in the area.

SSA’s classes are held primarily in Livermore, Pleasanton, and San Ramon.

To enroll in our program, start by filling out an enrollment form. Because of high demand, students will be admitted on a first come – first served basis, so send your forms in as early as possible.  The enrollment form is located on our Admissions page.

Class Offerings

String/Suzuki Classes

• Group & individual classes in Suzuki violin, viola, cello, and bass with certified Suzuki teachers: Available for beginners from age 3 to 8.
• Note Reading & Music Theory: All Suzuki students who have reached an appropriate age level and technical ability will get instruction in note reading & music theory, developed and implemented by our faculty and directors.
  Parent Education: Introduction to Suzuki is offered prior to starting beginner students. For the  latest information about this important class, follow the link Introduction to Suzuki.
• Junior string orchestra: Provides students with their first time orchestra experience.
• Senior string orchestra for advanced string students. Special tuition discount for this year’s LASYO students.
• Chamber orchestra and chamber music classes for advanced string students. Special tuition discount for this year’s LASYO students.
• Cello: We are continuing to develop our cello program for students of all ages. We welcome beginners from age 3 and up to our Suzuki program. School age students coming from other teaching methods are also welcome.

For Continuing Students on Violin, Viola & Cello

SSA offers:

• Private instrumental instruction, designed for school age children who want to take private lessons on their string instrument. Adjusted traditional & Suzuki inspired methods will be applied by our highly trained faculty to best fit each student.
• Orchestra and Chamber Music classes by audition. Students are not required to take private lessons with SSA to be members of our orchestra or chamber music class. Students may apply to orchestra or chamber music classes only.
• We have openings for cello students of all ages and levels.

Guitar

• Join our very popular Guitar With Christina program where students learn basic guitar skills to accompany traditional and popular songs! Taught in group classes for age 7 and up.

Music and Movement

• For young students, either before or after starting instrument studies, we offer Music & Movement classes for toddlers and preschoolers, arranged by LARPD and designed and taught by our own certified early education educator, Christina Berg.

Performances

• Annual concert series with student performers. SSA performed 15 times in 2011! Performance is integrated in the annual curriculum as part of the education for everybody, young beginner as well as experienced older students.
• Ensembles of advanced students have the opportunity to participate in groups for hire to perform at public and private events, like weddings, choir concerts, church events.

Our Motto: Everyone Can Learn!

• As a Suzuki student students will receive a child-centered, individualized music education as well as experience playing in a group. Parents and students have the opportunity to learn together according to the teachings of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki from teachers with certified Suzuki training.
• All SSA students on the violin, viola, aand cello will have access to quality private lessons and classes in orchestra, fiddle, chamber music, and will have multiple performance opportunities.
• Our affiliation with the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center allows SSA to offer our students excellent performance facilities like the Bothwell Performing Arts Center and the Bankhead Theater.
• Our partnership with Livermore-Amador Symphony organizing LASYO, the Summer Youth Orchestra, is active in June through August. The orchestra will be conducted by Goran Berg, SSA Director.
• SSA offers an annual concert series for all students to participate in, with formal concerts, student recitals, fiddle sessions, and community performances, as well as our own annual Young Musicians’ Festival with performances by invited groups as well as the SSA students. Our performances are a very important part of our students’ education. Our partnership with the Crowden Music Center in Berkeley provides a direct connection between SSA and the music education world of the greater Bay Area. Teachers from the SSA faculty currently teach Suzuki classes at CMC. Every summer SSA offers a Suzuki Workshop as part of CMC’s summer program with a faculty of outstanding, nationally known Suzuki teachers. The 2012 Summer Workshop will be held at Crowden July 26 – 29th.
• Our partnership as vendor to the Connecting Waters Charter School provides financial support for home school students when studying with SSA.