Many participants have returned multiple times
to this
workshop for
several
reasons.
First, it is
taught by a
master teacher
who has
studied and
worked with
the Saito
method for
decades,
understanding
it both at a
theoretical
level and also
its practical
application.
Second, the
environment of
the workshop
is structured
around
camaraderie
and support
rather than
competition.
Third, the
method itself
emphasizes
clarity and is
valuable to
conductors of
any
type of
ensemble.
Justine
Koontz
Having
attended numerous
Saito conducting
workshops over the
years, this is where
I learned the
freedom to conduct
and see music in
such a holistic way.
Once the gestures
are internalized,
one then has the
technique to apply
them to every
musical situation. A
truly life-changing
musical experience.
- Dr. Brian Kilian
I spent 10 days in Saskatoon recently. July 16-23 were
spent in an
excellent
conducting
course
focusing on
the Saito
Method led by
Wayne Toews, a most
wonderful
instructor and
expert
conductor.
I highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to
improve their
skills in
conducting -
orchestra,
band, choir -
in a very
supportive
atmosphere.
I met lovely musicians from various places in Canada and
the US and
learned so
much
Saskatoon is a beautiful city. Marg Stubington
I met Maestro Wayne Toews at
his summer workshop, The
Saskatchewan Orchestral
Association International
Saito Conducting Course in
2021. I found his
approach relaxed and
friendly and I began online
private lessons with
him. Saito founded a
children’s academy which my
teacher Syoko Aki attended
as a child. The Saito method
as taught by Mr. Toews
organically combines
interpretation, critical
listening and clear hand
gestures. Wayne’s teaching
requires a student to plan
and slow down down all
motions, paring down musical
gestures, phrasing and
nuance using the
simplest and clearest
technique. Practicing slowly
to play fast.
Mr. Toews has never sought
to impose his own musical
ethos on my technique. Only
to bring clarity and
flexibility to my own work
so that I can communicate
better from the
podium. My first few
outings back on the podium
after a pandemic
hiatus reflected back
to me the fruits of our
labors with a new found
confidence, control and
connection to the players I
have long sought.
I cannot recommend Mr. Toews
highly enough as a
teacher.
Kenneth Freed,
violist in the Minnesota
Orchestra for 23 years and
before that 2nd violin with
the Manhattan String
Quartet; conductor of the
Mankato Symphony for 12
years.
I
attended the 2019 Saito
workshop and found the
skill set that I came away
with to be absolute
conducting gold. Wayne is
a fantastic teacher and a
great guy to work
with. Justine Koontz
Thank
you again for all your time
and support. You
remind me every time we meet
what it means to be a gifted
educator, and how privileged
and transformative an
experience it is when you
get to work with one.
I have a deep
appreciation for your skill
and years of experience, and
the concise, practical
feedback you give as a
result. More than that
however, I am so glad for
your perceptiveness of
recognizing and supporting
people where they are at,
and knowing how to leave
them feeling positive and
confident in what they are
doing. You never
forget you are working with
human beings first and
musicians second, and that
makes all the
difference. Keitha
Clark (composer, arranger,
performer, teacher)
Thanks
for such a well organized,
thorough, thoughtful,
exciting and accessible
(yes, even on Zoom)
workshop. The whole
program was geared toward
sharing Saito's
magnificent gift with
musicians. Very
liberating! I might also
add that YOU are also a
gift to musicians, for
continuing the legacy and
making it easy for us to
understand. Today's
band gig went well. I felt
confident and relaxed. My
husband (who plays in the
group), noticed the
clarity and expressive
gestures right away.
Dr. Deborah Rebeck Ash
(online 2021)
Thank you greatly for
sharing your time and
expertise with me. I must
admit the discussion was
thrilling!
It is obvious to me that I
can continue to grow as I
continue to explore the Saito
method. Furthermore, I really
enjoy your teaching and
communication style.
RT-Q Military Bandmaster
Discovering the Saito method
has been life-changing for me as
a conductor. I've found it
much easier to shape/change
things without having to stop
& talk, and
on 2 separate occasions
a player or singer has come up
to me after rehearsal thanking
me for "being so clear"!
I love how systematic it is
about describing the anatomy of
a gesture - it's possible to
call or email another conductor
who knows the method &
discuss strategies about how to
conduct something, and both of
us know exactly what
it looks like & how to do
it! With most other
approaches, that would probably
be impossible.
Wayne is an amazing teacher.
Warm, generous with his
time, an absolute wealth of
knowledge, and has an incredibly
keen eye for technique, even
over Skype! I would make a
very slight change to a gesture
and he would point out how - and
why - it would affect the sound
the orchestra makes. And
of course, has has some great
stories!
I strongly recommend studying
the Saito method with Wayne and
can't wait to discover what else
I learn as I continue! - Erik
Ibsen-Nowak
Wayne teaches
with passion and clarity.
He candidly opens himself up to
share his vast experience in
Saito's conducting method and in
life as well. His ability
to detect, isolate, assess, and
correct technical aspects of
conducting technique is
fantastic. He has a
plethora of handouts,
worksheets, videos, and other
teaching materials that are
extremely valuable in studying
this beautiful conducting
method. Wayne has helped
me tremendously in my growth and
development as a
conductor. Thank you
sir! - Ryan Knight,
Warrant Officer 1, Military
Bandmaster
From the bottom
of my heart, thank you for your
teaching and mentorship over the
past nine years. You have truly
been the guiding force in my
development as a conductor, and
an inspiration as an educator.
I received,
what I consider to be, high
praise today at the doctoral
conducting masterclass.
[Context: I'm the only non DMA
in the room, and the DMAs were
very clear that our prof simply
does not give compliments; no
comment or praise means good].
After watching my rehearsal
video, my prof remarked on how
exceptionally clear and precise
my right hand was, that my stick
technique was incredible, and
"some of the best he's ever
seen." ... the baton is so
expressive and clear ..." -
Taina Lorenz
I thank you for
creating, sustaining, and
running the workshop. It was
everything I hoped it would be
(though not what I expected it
to be -- didn't really know what
to expect!) and more. Your
commitment to Saito and its
clarity, flexibility,
musicality, and replicability
make clear the value of the
approach. And your teaching is,
without fail, thoughtful,
passionate, engaging, and clear
-- I learned a great deal from
your example. - Dr. David Rentz,
Chaffey College
This
summer I participated in a
workshop that I have been
wanting to do for years and I
am so glad that I finally took
the opportunity to do so. It
was the Saskatchewan
Orchestral Association's 2015
10th Anniversary Saito
Conducting Workshop taught by
Wayne
Toews
and a team effort with George
Charpentier,
Bonnie Nicholson, Diane Gyrba,
and an excellent team of
musicians in the orchestra. It
was absolutely worth the
effort. My conducting
technique has grown both in
making more
meaningful musical gestures
and with being able to show
more clearly how the gestures
define the music. It was
really difficult to develop a
'new' technique of gestures
after 30 some years of the
'old' way. It was stressful
and tearful to not be able to
do what I wanted immediately-I
will continue to work on this.
But after countless hours on
the podium over the 8 days and
many more practicing, I feel
that I bring to the table an
improved set of tools to
achieve my musical goals.
Thanks to Wayne, George,
Bonnie, Diane,and all
orchestra folks. My hats off
to all of your hard work and
relentless work. It was tough.
Also congratulations to my
classmates who I got to know
and saw them grow along with
myself. May we never forget to
WATT-Wait at the top!
I
had the most amazing time this
week at the International Saito
Orchestra Conducting Workshop! I
learned SO much that I will
continue to use everyday in my
conducting life. I will also be
including Saito techniques in my
conducting classes and
recommending that my students
attend this workshop! I'm so
grateful to Wayne Toews Sensei
for his high degree of expertise
and warm supportive approach to
teaching. He is a true
Maestro! - Dr.
Dominic Gregorio (Saskatoon,
2013)
Thanks
to what I learned with you, I
could show all the accelerandos
and ralentandos, ritenutos and
incalzandos I wanted! And the
best, the orchestra could
understand them!
Eduardo Torres (Brazil, 2012)
The
2007 workshop is still one of
the greatest life changing
moments in my career! -
Dr. Scott MacLennan (Saskatoon,
2007)
I
cannot express enough my
gratitude towards you for
allowing this life changing
experience of mine to happen!
Thank you for being such a
wonderful conducting mentor to
all of us, and, also for making
the time and effort to keep this
course going. I dare say that
all of us had a very intense yet
musically (and physically)
stimulating experience and I
just can't wait to show off my
'new moves' to my choir in the
fall! -- Livia Gho,
SOA 2012 workshop
(At
the workshop) I can work with
music, musicians, and mentors
that simply are not possible or
available in my current job and
daily environment. This is about
being more than I am and putting
myself into a situation where I
am challenged to push my own
boundaries and be supported
throughout. It is beyond a
workshop; it is a musical
renewal and revitalization, and
an immersion into pure
authenticity." -- Taina Lorenz,
SOA 2012 workshop
I would like to
thank Maestro Wayne Toews for
his wonderfull teaching! I had
the great experience to study
the Saito Conducting Method in
Saskatoon for 10 days (October
2011) under his orientation and
then to have him four months
later in Salvador, Brazil to
teach orchestral musicians and
my conducting students at
NEOJIBA using the same method,
for 10 days in February 2012. I
can tell that this made a big
difference. Conducting is now
much easier for my students and
for me, and the orchestras of
the program respond to the beat
because of the Saito Method.
This allows music-making with
even more fun and discipline.
Maestro Wayne Toews is a master
of this art and a great teacher!
-- Eduardo Torres, Pedagogic
Coordinator and Conducting
Instructor at NEOJIBA
I
visited Wayne for an intensive
series of private conducting
lessons in December 2011. I
first worked with him four years
prior. The lessons were videoed
and have given me continued
reminder of the wonderful
lessons. Wayne was able to use a
number of different approaches
to help me experience the
gesture being studied. He taught
me by offering different ways of
conducting the same music -
different gestures which have
widened my range of conducting
gestures and hence enabling
clearer interpretation in
performance. At the same time,
he taught me to remove
unnecessary loops and make each
Saito gesture effective and
clear. Half of the sessions were
with a pianist. The 'live'
pianist provided me with
immediate feedback.
When going through immigration
the officer said "It is a long
way to come for conducting
lessons." in their usual gruff
tone!" I explained that
there was no-one in my part of
the world who could teach me the
Japanese conducting method in
English. What I learned was well
worth the effort to travel from
Australia. -- Roland Yeung,
Music Director Carey Baptist
Grammar School and The Grainger
Wind Symphony, Melbourne,
Australia
I
have spent countless hours
telling musicians what I want,
then hoping they will remember
when we perform. The
beauty of the Saito technique is
that it gives me the skills to
show exactly the form and line
of the music. This equals
less talk, more music and
greater musicality - Allison
Titus (Saskatoon 2011)
I
believe the Saito Technique is a
powerful process for learning
how to control one's movements
and achieve greater musical
control of one's ensemble. Mr.
Toews is clearly a master of the
Saito system, and his
explanations of the guiding
principles behind it are
revelatory. Dr. Robert G.
Patterson (Memphis 2010)
This
workshop was a lifechanging
experience. The
combination of a clear, concise
methodology and sequential
pedagogy coupled with a
vocabulary of gestures make the
Saito method superior. Mr.
Toews is a gifted musician and
teacher and the entire
experience was incredible.
-- Philip Baldwin (Saskatoon
2009)
Wayne
Toews is a brilliant and dynamic
pedagogue, who has studied and
taught the teachings of Hideo
Saito for more than thirty
years. - WO Shawna L. Mochnacz
I
have to thank you again, a
million times, for your work
with me this past week. I have
improved so much! I'm so excited
to share some of the feedback
from my players. Last night the
U of A summer band played a
concert in Red Deer for Music
Camp. I conducted one piece:
Cajun Folk Songs by Frank
Ticheli. I haven't been in front
of the group since before I went
to Saskatoon. But, I remembered
all of the things we had worked
on, went to my zen place, and
conducted. It rocked! Some of
the comments after the show
included: "What happened to you
at conductor school? You are a
different person! I knew exactly
what you wanted, where we were
and where we were going every
time I looked up! I didn't have
to think so I was freed up to
play. Night and day, night and
day!" (from a trombone player
who studied in McGill then came
here); "This is the best you've
ever conducted" (from a trumpet
graduate that I conducted in SWE
last year), and " yours was the
best piece of the night," (from
the head conductor! )
Wayne, you have given me a gift!
Thanks so much! I can't wait to
study with you some more.- -
Taina Lorenz Turner
I
just put on the Faure Requiem
with a choir and an orchestra at
the church where I work - the
first time I have conducted and
organized a project like that.
It was a pretty fantastic
experience and the Saito
technique was there for me every
step of the way. It's the best.
- Laura Hawley, Saskatoon 2007
Without
a doubt, that experience was
life-changing for me. In effect
it synthesized and summed up all
that I had learned over the
years, and in addition took me
to a new place musically and
personally. I was amazed at the
team work between the whole lot
of you. Each of you brought such
a wealth of gifts and skills to
the workshop members, and we ALL
benefitted. I did not fill out
an evaluation at the time, but
I've been processing and
reliving all that happened that
week, not only for me but for
the other participants. It
really was a process of opening
up each individual so that we
could get to a place in order to
make true progres. Holy, did we
fall on our egos, fears,
over/underconfidence, and then
gradually each of us submitted
to the process of rigorous
training and discipline
required.
Yay.
I just loved it. Man, it was a
great time. Tough but amazing.
You did a great thing for all of
us by letting us in on this
great secret. Thank you. -- Jen
Williams
I
learned a lot about clarity in
conducting, and this was
reflected back to me in the
response of the C&E Band
upon my return. I found
the band to be more responsive
to my direction, and the
feedback from band members
confirmed that. -- Sgt. J.A.
Paas
For
those of you who are
conducting enthusiasts I have
studied with this man at a
similar workshop (many years
ago). It was the experience of
a lifetime!! If you love
conducting and want to learn
more don't miss this
workshop!! -- Barb Hopkin
The course
was thorough and well
prepared, Wayne's
instruction was very clear,
and the collaborative
pianists were wonderful.
Professor Okabe was an added
bonus. I would definitely
recommend the course to
those interested in the
Saito method -- Stephen
Johnson
On
Sunday, July 30, 2006 Kemuel
Wong wrote in his blog - "OMG....2006
International Saito Conducting
Workshop goes down as the most
important, memorable,
monumental event of my life up
to this point. Hands down,
from now on life will be
different."
Click here to read Jim
Tempest's article about the
2006 workshop for the BC
Band Association Newsletter.