Susan Beth Barak, MEd, BA (Hons), OCELT, RMT, RYT-300
Ontario Registered Music Teacher for violin and viola: Certified/Registered Suzuki, Royal Conservatory, Mark O'Connor Method and Wee Violin. Member TMA, ORMTA, SAA, SAO, AVS/CVS
Gold Winner, 2020 Toronto Star Readers' Choice Award, Best Music Instructor! My passion is teaching and inculcating a lifelong love of music!
A proud Canadian since 2002, Susan Beth Barak grew up in proximity to New York City and was privileged to study violin and viola with many illustrious American teachers. She has performed internationally with a wide variety of orchestras and chamber groups, and is a frequent soloist in York Region, Ontario. Founding Concertmaster and Artistic Director of the York Chamber Ensemble, she led the organization of YCE’s inaugural Annual Youth Concert in 2004, and the Baroque for Belinda fundraiser for Belinda’s Place [York Region’s first dedicated women’s shelter] in 2012. Susan has performed with other notable groups including Glimmerglass Opera and Symphony in the Barn. In addition to private lessons, Susan has taught groups in educational settings from pre-schools through university, and adult programs in the Toronto and York Region District School Boards. Susan is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and has served as Chair of the AVS Anti-Discrimination Committee, 905 North Area Representative of the SAO, and President of the Newmarket & Area branch of ORMTA. At Heart-Strings, everyone is welcome and "Every Body Can!"
Specialized in
- Youth (7-17)
- Adults (18+)
- Young Children (under 7)
- Beginner/Elementary
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Teaches At
- Music school
- Online
- Teacher's studio
Specialist designation
- Violin - Elementary
- Violin - Intermediate
Credentials
- 2019 - Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages - University of Toronto
- 2018 - Violin Books 5, 6, 8, 9/10, Enrichment course: Working with Parents; Beyond the Suzuki Repertoire - Suzuki Association of the Americas
- 2017 - Book 7 Violin, Book 7 Viola, Practicum Unit, Viola Technique and Pedagogy - Suzuki Association of the Americas
- 2016 - Books 1-4 - Suzuki Association of the Americas
- 2007 - Master of Education - Nipissing University
- 1982 - Bachelor of Arts (Hons) - Binghamton University
Professional development
- Beyond the Repertoire, Part 2 - Suzuki Teacher Training Enrichment Course with Brian Lewis at the Southwest Ontario Suzuki Institute - 2019
- Beyond the Suzuki Repertoire - Suzuki Teacher Training Enrichment Course with Brian Lewis at the Southwest Ontario Suzuki Institute - 2018
- Revisiting Book 1 with the Viola in Mind - Suzuki Teacher Training with Julia Hardie at the Southwest Ontario Suzuki Institute - 2018
- SECE Stage 1 (Suzuki Early Childhood Education - Prenatal through Age 3 - Registered Suzuki Teacher course with Sharon Jones at Thames Valley Suzuki School in London, Ontario - 2019
- Suzuki Principles in Action - Suzuki Teacher Training with Gail Lange in Ottawa, ON - 2016
- Suzuki Viola Book 4 - Suzuki Viola Teacher Training with April Losey at Ithaca College (New York) - 2019
- Suzuki Viola Book 5 - Suzuki Viola Teacher Training with April Losey at Ithaca College (New York) - 2019
- Transform Your Teaching - RCM Summer Teacher Workshop - 2017
- Viola Book 7 - Suzuki Teacher Training with William Preucil, Sr. at the Chicago Suzuki Institute - 2017
- Viola Technique and Pedagogy - Suzuki Teacher Training with Julia Hardie at the Southwest Ontario Suzuki Institute - 2017
- Violin Book 1 - Suzuki Teacher Training with Edward Kreitman at the Los Angeles Suzuki Institute - 2016
- Violin Book 2 - Suzuki Teacher Training with Joanne Melvin at the Chicago Suzuki Institute - 2016
- Violin Book 3 - Suzuki Teacher Training with Joanne Melvin at the Chicago Suzuki Institute - 2016
- Violin Book 4 - Suzuki Teacher Training with Paule Barsalou at the Southwest Ontario Suzuki Institute - 2016
- Violin Book 5 - Suzuki Teacher Training with Margot Jewell at the Institute Suzuki Montreal - 2018
- Violin Book 6 - Suzuki Teacher Training with Liz Arbus at the Los Angeles Suzuki Institute - 2018
- Violin Book 7 - Suzuki Teacher Training with Ann Montzka Smelser at the Chicago Suzuki Institute - 2017
- Violin Book 8 - Suzuki Teacher Training with Ann Montzka Smelser at the Chicago Suzuki Institute - 2018
- Violin Books 9/10 - Suzuki Teacher Training with Ann Montzka Smelser at the Chicago Suzuki Institute - 2018
- Violin Practicum - Suzuki Teacher Training with Paule Barsalou at the Institut Suzuki Montreal - 2017
- Working with Parents - Suzuki Teacher Training Enrichment Course with Sarah Bylander Montzka at the Los Angeles Suzuki Institute - 2018
School Associations
- Ontario Registered Music Teachers' Association - Provincial / State
- Suzuki Association of the Americas - National