Director's Message

Parental Involvement, Guidance, Encouragement and Long-Term Commitment are Keys to Success.

The Suzuki Music School of Maryland, Inc. (SMSMD), celebrating thirty years of service to the greater community, is the oldest and most established music school of its kind based in Howard County. As a college preparatory music school [with increasingly higher standards] we offer both Virtual and In Person Lessons. We continue to create an increasing variety of musical opportunities in the form of private lessons, classes, and performing ensembles [TSMSTE] for the whole family and community at large. In addition to being the region’s finest and most comprehensive music school offering both Suzuki and traditional instruction in all instruments and voice, we offer a wide selection of classes for beginning through advanced levels which afford serious, motivated, and dedicated music students the opportunity to receive a quality well-rounded music education in preparation for college entrance and beyond. We always strive to customize our programs to suit the needs and interests of our students, without sacrificing our high standards in quality and excellence.

The Suzuki Music School Touring Ensemble (TSMSTE) became a separate nonprofit community-based organization in 2006, and a formal educational partner with the Howard County Public School System in 2007. TSMSTE is open to all qualified music students and musicians who successfully pass the audition. With a continuing commitment to sharing our talents with the greater community, we have given concerts in retirement and nursing homes, religious and spiritual institutions, shopping malls in many Maryland counties and Washington, DC, and have participated in many significant Howard County events, including numerous Columbia birthday celebrations, and the Columbia Festival of the Arts [Lakefest]. We also accepted the invitation to present a concert as part of the Best of Maryland Festival at Six Flags. We have given concerts at the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Post Office Pavilion in Washington, DC. We were selected to be included in a nationally televised PBS children’s education special “Preschool Power.” As part of our 25th anniversary celebration, we hosted a very successful Arts Advocacy Event at Lakefront Columbia. We were presented with an honorary resolution by the Howard County Council, and assisted by various speakers and sponsors followed by a TSMSTE concert. In the summer of 2017 we presented a Columbia 50th birthday concert at Lakefront followed by our participation in the Washington Preludio European Concert Tour.

SMSMD prides itself on providing a customized positive and nurturing learning environment in which parental involvement plays a very important role. Old-fashioned family values with a modern twist.

Dr. Joan Spicknall, B.M., M.M., D.M.A

Dr Joan Spicknall Director

Dr. Joan Spicknall

Director

Founder and Director of the Suzuki Music School of Maryland, Inc., is foremost, a music educator and performer.