The Suzuki Pedagogy curriculum promotes the exploration and application of Suzuki philosophies, which utilize the Suzuki method of playing and teaching violin, viola and cello. CIM Conservatory Suzuki Pedagogy candidates must be admitted to the CIM Master of Music degree program.

An in-depth study and performance of the Suzuki Violin/Cello school repertoire is required of all CIM Suzuki Pedagogy students, including a comprehensive knowledge of supplemental scales, arpeggios, études and works from the standard repertoire. Pedagogy students must complete required observations of private and group lessons within the CIM Preparatory Department and pursue performance studies in the conservatory celloviolin, or viola departments.

Learn more about all degree and non-degree options in the sidebar to your right.

Alumni Success

Alumni Spotlight

Sarah Miller Senn

Sarah Senn (née Miller) joined the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra in 2021, and is also a contract member with the Akron Symphony Orchestra as the 3rd chair cello since 2018. As a soloist, she has won first prize in the 2017 Tennessee Cello Workshop Competition and in the 2019 “Getting to Carnegie” competition, where she not only had the opportunity to perform in Carnegie Hall but also won a trip to the US Virgin Islands to give a concert tour. Sarah has also won prizes in the New York Music Competition, the Tuesday Musical Scholarship Competition, the Cleveland Cello Society Concerto Competition, and the Island Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, among others.

Notable Alumni

  • Rachel Lemna (BM '17, Kraut), orchestra director at Franklin Middle School in Wheaton, IL and strings director at the Naperville Youth Symphony Orchestra in Naperville, IL 
  • Even Ma (BM '17, MM '18, Kosower), cello performance and Suzuki pedagogy faculty at Hoff-Barthelson Suzuki School, NYC
  • Henry Stubbs (MM '19, Weiss), cello faculty at Levine School of Music, Washington D.C. 
  • Eleanor Lee (MM '20, Geber), Canton Symphony Orchestra, cello faculty at Merchhhurst University, cello coach for Contemporary Youth Orchestra 

Concerts and events

Apr 19 Fri
11:00 am
Second Master of Music Recital: Yusong Zhao, violin
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals
Apr 20 Sat
4:30 pm
Second Master of Music Recital: Hadar Zaidel, violin
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals
Apr 20 Sat
7:30 pm
Senior Recital: Theo Bockhorst, violin
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals
Apr 21 Sun
9:30 am
Senior Recital: Ifetayo Ali, cello
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals
Apr 21 Sun
1:30 pm
First Professional Studies Recital: Jason Chen, double bass
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals