Creative Ability Development
Conference 2026
Join us February 24–25, 2026 | Hilton San Francisco Union Square
Creative Ability Development is proud to announce that we are hosting our 2026 conference as a pre-conference event with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and the American String Teachers Association in San Francisco!
We are excited to offer 4 paths for participation this year. Come with us and learn how to create artists!
Full Pre-Conference Events
10-Hour Suzuki Enrichment Course: Creative Ability Development Teacher Training (see more below!)
Tuesday Night Concert featuring Rachel Barton Pine, Masumi Per Rostad, Alice Kanack, and the CAD Tour Group
Partial Conference Options
Pre-Conference Details
WHO —
All teachers learning more about Creative Ability Development, using the method in their classrooms and studios, and sharing their experiences!
WHAT —
Co-Located national conferences for Creative Ability Development, Suzuki Association of the Americas, and the American String Teachers Association
WHEN —
Creative Ability Development, Feb. 24-25, 2026
SAA-ASTA, Feb. 25-28, 2026
WHERE —
Hilton San Francisco Union Square
333 O'Farrell St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
WHY —
To explore the possibilities of Creative Ability Development, and to benefit from mutual inspiration with our friends at the Suzuki Association of the Americas and the American String Teachers Association!
Our 2026 Conference is a Pre-Conference Event scheduled immediately before the larger SAA-ASTA Conferences. We are very excited to be kicking off this year’s events!
Tuesday and Wednesday, February 24–25, 2026
The Creative Ability Development Conference begins at 1:30 PM on Tuesday and concludes at 12 PM on Wednesday.
Wednesday–Saturday, February 25–28, 2026
Full events for the SAA-ASTA Conferences begin at 1 PM and run into the weekend. For more information on the full conference, visit our friends at the Suzuki Association of the Americas and/or the American String Teacher Association.
Co-located with the SAA-ASTA Conferences
Choose Your Path
Full Conference —
You, us, and the rest of the creativity movement!
10-Hour Suzuki Enrichment Course —
The essentials of Creative Ability Development for the Suzuki Teacher. This is an excellent opportunity to be introduced to creativity education! See more below!
Concert Ticket —
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 8:00 PM | Featuring Sylvia and Rachel Barton Pine, Masumi Per Rostad, Alice Kanack, and the CAD Tour Group.
Partial Conference Events —
Choose from events for Tuesday, February 24, 2026 or Wednesday, February 25, 2026 (see schedule below).
Schedule & Booking
Tuesday, Feb 24
Sessions in the afternoon. Tentative Schedule:
1:30 PM — Welcome
2:00–5:00 PM — Sessions 1 & 2
6:30–8:00 PM — Session 3
8:00 PM — Concert featuring Rachel Barton Pine, Sylvia Pine, Masumi Per Rostad, Alice Kanack, and the CAD Tour Group
9:00 PM — Open Jam
Wednesday, Feb 25
Sessions in the morning. Tentative Schedule:
8:00–11:30 AM — Sessions 4 & 5
11:30 AM — Closing ceremony
Hotel Information
All conference events are taking place at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square.
333 O'Farrell St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
Rooms in the conference bloc will sell out quickly! Reserve yours as soon as possible.
Suzuki Enrichment Course: Creative Ability Development Teacher Training
“Imagine a place where no one tells you what to do, everyone listens when you speak everyone applauds your ideas. This is the world of creative ability development!”
Creative Ability Development teachers study the fine art of facilitating, which is quite different from traditional teaching. It is both complex in its effect and simple to execute.
Definition: Creative Ability Development (CAD) is a method that uses improvisation as a tool to grow the creative part of the brain.
Instruction: Teachers will have hands-on opportunities to learn the multiple levels of teaching CAD, from early childhood through the advanced levels. They will learn CAD philosophy, pedagogy, and how to facilitate a creative classroom or private lesson. There will be many opportunities for playing and practice teaching as well as time for discussion and questions. Topics covered will include:
Core Concepts: Definitions, Theory, Pedagogy, Purpose
History: Eureka Moment, Research, Books, and Recordings
Science: IQ vs CQ, Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Outliers, Myelin
Evolution of Ideas: 80/20 Syndrome, Social Impact
Pedagogy: Basic Formulas, Solo and Group Applications
Extra: Educating Parents, Dealing with Fear, Time of Development
Observations: Teachers will have an opportunity to observe students in a classroom format, as well as a private lesson. This observation is very valuable and provides a realistic look at what to expect.
Books from the CAD Series for Use or Reference:
Musical Improvisation for Children
Fun Improvisation for violin, viola, cello, or piano
Basslines and Fantasies
Improvising String Quartets
Playing From The Heart for violin, viola, or cello
The Book of Games
Faculty: This 10-hour course will be taught by CAD founder Alice Kanack, along with several CAD teacher trainers, offering multiple perspectives on the universality of this method.
“Creativity is the search for truth and beauty within ourselves and in the world around us. Great creativity plus great intellectual capacity is the definition of genius, and it is genius which keeps us on the path towards greater humanity.”
