cellochan is a program for cellists created by Director/Teacher Suzanne Smith that has thrived and evolved for over fifteen years. Located in Ann Arbor, MI., it represents a coming together of her life experience, teaching, and performing for almost thirty years. The program provides an especially supportive and enjoyable environment for study while pursuing excellence, personal fulfillment, and artistic growth. This unique Ann Arbor cello school offers surrounding optional activities that are designed to enhance the private lesson and can be found on the activities and events calendar. Some of these include: frequent performance opportunities, master classes, cello ensemble, and home concerts. * We recently created a retreat style cello camp called "CelloChanWoods" located in southeastern Michigan that took place July 15 - 17, 2008. The theme of "well-being and the arts", as applied to cello playing, proved to be a meaningful and successful one. CelloChanWoods will be back in 2009 as an overnight camp taking place at the Howell nature center from July 27 - 30. CCW creates an opportunity for a special type of musical community by combining the traditional fun of summer camp in the afternoon and a more focused, retreat like atmosphere during the morning. You may learn more about it on this site.

Playing the cello involves all facets of a person: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. From one perspective, music is a kind of language of the self. Finding our musical "voice" can open us up to greater levels of awareness, self-acceptance, and personal satisfaction. In fact, music can bring enjoyment on so many levels that there is truly something for everyone regardless of age or level. Students in cellochan come to value and understand their unique learning styles and clarify their cellistic goals. Pablo Casals, one of the greatest of teachers, once said, "I always practiced as if I had forever."

The word Chan comes from the word Ch'an, meaning insight. The three parts of the cellochan mission statement are mutually reinforcing with the sum being greater than the parts.

Cello students come from a wide radius in Southern Michgan. We extend a warm welcome to you to join the fun and become part of the cellochan family!" ~ Suzanne