Comments for String Teaching Resources http://stringteachingresources.com Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:00:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Buying or Renting a String Instrument by amber http://stringteachingresources.com/buying-a-string-instrument#comment-99 amber Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:00:44 +0000 http://stringteachingresources.com/buying-a-string-instrument#comment-99 Natalie- I have to disagree with you to some extent. I think if I required my students to purchase an instrument as beginners it would turn off a lot of students and parents who (rightfully so) don't want to invest that much money up front for their 5th grader to venture into something new. I am fortunate that I live in a place that has very good reputable music stores that only rent decent quality instruments. (Of course, the sound of a beginning level violin does not compare to a pricier one, but as students progress, they will see a need for a better quality instrument.) The music stores here will adhere to a teacher's request that an instrument meet certain specifications before being given to a student (such as 4 fine tuners, dominant strings, etc.) Natalie- I have to disagree with you to some extent. I think if I required my students to purchase an instrument as beginners it would turn off a lot of students and parents who (rightfully so) don’t want to invest that much money up front for their 5th grader to venture into something new.
I am fortunate that I live in a place that has very good reputable music stores that only rent decent quality instruments. (Of course, the sound of a beginning level violin does not compare to a pricier one, but as students progress, they will see a need for a better quality instrument.) The music stores here will adhere to a teacher’s request that an instrument meet certain specifications before being given to a student (such as 4 fine tuners, dominant strings, etc.)

]]> Comment on Choosing Repertoire by amber http://stringteachingresources.com/choosing-repertoire#comment-97 amber Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:13:53 +0000 http://stringteachingresources.com/choosing-repertoire#comment-97 Thanks for the suggestion Robin Here is a (non-comprehensive) list of some good arrangers and pieces of music. This was compiled from various string teachers I've talked with. Hopefully it will help if you're feeling stuck! Arrangers: Merle Issac o Music often has a separate advanced violin part plus first and second. o Makes repertoire accessible to string players. (Read article in 1992 ASTA Journal) • Brandenburg 2 (F Major), 3 (G Major), 5 (D Major) • Farandole- Good for teaching spiccato. 7-8 grade. • Russian Sailor’s Dance- Full orchestra version also works with just strings. • Hungarian Dances (Brahms) • Ballet Parisian- Contains the Can-Can melody • Hopak Robert Frost • Heber Creeper • Scheherazade • Sanseneon William Hofhelt • The Gift • Lullaby • Dance Parhelia • Centennial Overture- Full Orchestra Elliott Del Borgo o Very rhythmic • Tachanka • Rustic Dance- 2nd Year • Arlington Sketches • Hungarian Airs and Dances Richard Stephen • Fanfare and Frippery nos. 1 & 2 (Highly Recommended) • Australian Folk Tune- Grade 3 Sandra Dackow o Excellent arranger of full orchestra pieces to string. • Mozart Symphonies • Mahler 1, mvmt III • Tchaikovsky- The Little Russian • Dvorak 8, Finale • Dance of the Tumblers (2-3 year) Shirl Atwell • Drifen (4-5 year) Debbie Monday • For the Star of County Down, Other Celtic/ Irish music Other Good Pieces: - San Joaquin Delta Suite - Walking Basses - Gaelic Overture - Sabre Dance - Vaughan Williams- Concerto Grosso for Strings o Has parts for all skill levels- Can be used at a collaborative concert with middle school through high school. - Bring a Torch Janette Isabella - Entrance of the Queen of Sheba- arr. by HB Fisher (Highland Etling) Grade 2 - Dance Diabolique by Jared Spears (Kjos) Grade 2½ - Legend by David O’Fallon (Highland Etling) Grade 3 - Rosin Eating Zombies from Outer Space by Richard Meyer (Highland Etling) Grade 3 - Bold Venture by ML Daniels (Kjos) Grade 4 o Lots of half position for violas. - Cello Rondo by ML Daniels Grade 2 - Fumble Fingers – 2nd Year - Little Classic Suite by John Akers o 3 movement suite- typical classical form o Out of print- Write Carl Fischer for permission to copy (about $50) Method/ Supplemental Books: - Third Year Method Books (only 2) o All For Strings- easier o Strictly Strings- harder - Strings Extraordinaire - Christmas Kaleidoscope Pop Music - Cherry Hill Publications o Latest pop music o Orange Blossom Special (difficult) Thanks for the suggestion Robin

Here is a (non-comprehensive) list of some good arrangers and pieces of music. This was compiled from various string teachers I’ve talked with. Hopefully it will help if you’re feeling stuck!

Arrangers:
Merle Issac
o Music often has a separate advanced violin part plus first and second.
o Makes repertoire accessible to string players. (Read article in 1992 ASTA Journal)
• Brandenburg 2 (F Major), 3 (G Major), 5 (D Major)
• Farandole- Good for teaching spiccato. 7-8 grade.
• Russian Sailor’s Dance- Full orchestra version also works with just strings.
• Hungarian Dances (Brahms)
• Ballet Parisian- Contains the Can-Can melody
• Hopak

Robert Frost
• Heber Creeper
• Scheherazade
• Sanseneon

William Hofhelt
• The Gift
• Lullaby
• Dance Parhelia
• Centennial Overture- Full Orchestra

Elliott Del Borgo
o Very rhythmic
• Tachanka
• Rustic Dance- 2nd Year
• Arlington Sketches
• Hungarian Airs and Dances

Richard Stephen
• Fanfare and Frippery nos. 1 & 2 (Highly Recommended)
• Australian Folk Tune- Grade 3

Sandra Dackow
o Excellent arranger of full orchestra pieces to string.
• Mozart Symphonies
• Mahler 1, mvmt III
• Tchaikovsky- The Little Russian
• Dvorak 8, Finale
• Dance of the Tumblers (2-3 year)

Shirl Atwell
• Drifen (4-5 year)

Debbie Monday
• For the Star of County Down, Other Celtic/ Irish music

Other Good Pieces:
- San Joaquin Delta Suite
- Walking Basses
- Gaelic Overture
- Sabre Dance
- Vaughan Williams- Concerto Grosso for Strings
o Has parts for all skill levels- Can be used at a collaborative concert with middle school through high school.
- Bring a Torch Janette Isabella
- Entrance of the Queen of Sheba- arr. by HB Fisher (Highland Etling) Grade 2
- Dance Diabolique by Jared Spears (Kjos) Grade 2½
- Legend by David O’Fallon (Highland Etling) Grade 3
- Rosin Eating Zombies from Outer Space by Richard Meyer (Highland Etling) Grade 3
- Bold Venture by ML Daniels (Kjos) Grade 4
o Lots of half position for violas.
- Cello Rondo by ML Daniels Grade 2
- Fumble Fingers – 2nd Year
- Little Classic Suite by John Akers
o 3 movement suite- typical classical form
o Out of print- Write Carl Fischer for permission to copy (about $50)

Method/ Supplemental Books:
- Third Year Method Books (only 2)
o All For Strings- easier
o Strictly Strings- harder
- Strings Extraordinaire
- Christmas Kaleidoscope

Pop Music
- Cherry Hill Publications
o Latest pop music
o Orange Blossom Special (difficult)

]]> Comment on Buying or Renting a String Instrument by Natalie http://stringteachingresources.com/buying-a-string-instrument#comment-25 Natalie Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:03:08 +0000 http://stringteachingresources.com/buying-a-string-instrument#comment-25 <p>I do not encourage my students to rent violins as most (if not all rental violins) I have seen throughout my teaching career have a cheap "lunch box" sort of sound. Not only is the sound less than tolerable but on numerous occasions the violins are completely unsuitable to be played on as result of lack of care from the previous owners, factory defects etc. All other teachers I have talked to have shared similar experiences. Consult your potential teacher before you make your decision. </p> <p>In essence, a person gets what they pay for and in the end,a good quality violin will not lose value but only gain it over time (unless it is mistreated). This goes for violins of all sizes.</p> I do not encourage my students to rent violins as most (if not all rental violins) I have seen throughout my teaching career have a cheap “lunch box” sort of sound. Not only is the sound less than tolerable but on numerous occasions the violins are completely unsuitable to be played on as result of lack of care from the previous owners, factory defects etc. All other teachers I have talked to have shared similar experiences. Consult your potential teacher before you make your decision.

In essence, a person gets what they pay for and in the end,a good quality violin will not lose value but only gain it over time (unless it is mistreated). This goes for violins of all sizes.

]]> Comment on An article everyone should read by Jane http://stringteachingresources.com/an-article-everyone-should-read#comment-24 Jane Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:04:45 +0000 http://stringteachingresources.com/?p=4#comment-24 The experiment actually took place in the Washington DC subway. The accompanying video is actually pretty entertaining to watch. The experiment actually took place in the Washington DC subway. The accompanying video is actually pretty entertaining to watch.

]]> Comment on Improving Intonation for String Players by Amber http://stringteachingresources.com/improving-intonation-for-string-players#comment-23 Amber Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:03:10 +0000 http://stringteachingresources.com/improving-intonation-for-string-players#comment-23 Sabrina, Thanks for your question. I think repetition is the best way to train your ear. The website www.musictheory.net is a great resource. Being a violinist, it is really important that you can hear and understand interval relationships. A good place to start is with half steps and whole steps. Learn to hear and feel the difference between the two. Also, try doing the one string exercises mentioned in the article or try playing familiar songs in new keys (by ear). I'd love more suggestions from anyone reading! Thanks! Sabrina,
Thanks for your question. I think repetition is the best way to train your ear. The website http://www.musictheory.net is a great resource. Being a violinist, it is really important that you can hear and understand interval relationships. A good place to start is with half steps and whole steps. Learn to hear and feel the difference between the two.
Also, try doing the one string exercises mentioned in the article or try playing familiar songs in new keys (by ear).
I’d love more suggestions from anyone reading!
Thanks!

]]> Comment on Improving Intonation for String Players by Sabrina http://stringteachingresources.com/improving-intonation-for-string-players#comment-22 Sabrina Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:13:08 +0000 http://stringteachingresources.com/improving-intonation-for-string-players#comment-22 How does one "self teach" ear training? I've been playing violin for 3 years, and Im having trouble training my ears. I don't have a private lessons teacher, I learn through the public school system. Thanks! How does one “self teach” ear training? I’ve been playing violin for 3 years, and Im having trouble training my ears. I don’t have a private lessons teacher, I learn through the public school system.

Thanks!

]]> Comment on Choosing Repertoire by Robin Wedderburn http://stringteachingresources.com/choosing-repertoire#comment-18 Robin Wedderburn Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:37:11 +0000 http://stringteachingresources.com/choosing-repertoire#comment-18 I wonder whether you or any of your colleagues have come across music for younger string orchestras of my own, published by Goodmusic Publishing in the UK. They have a website - www.goodmusicpublishing.co.uk - and I hope it would be possible to view some score pages there. I too have found repertoire a real headache and have tried to provide worthwhile, attractive pieces which are grateful to play. Please excuse a bit of shameless self-advertising. Happy Christmas. I wonder whether you or any of your colleagues have come across music for younger string orchestras of my own, published by Goodmusic Publishing in the UK. They have a website -
http://www.goodmusicpublishing.co.uk – and I hope it would be possible to view some score pages there. I too have found repertoire a real headache and have tried to provide worthwhile, attractive pieces which are grateful to play. Please excuse a bit of shameless self-advertising. Happy Christmas.

]]> Comment on Improving Intonation for String Players by Pam http://stringteachingresources.com/improving-intonation-for-string-players#comment-17 Pam Sat, 13 Oct 2007 22:37:21 +0000 http://stringteachingresources.com/improving-intonation-for-string-players#comment-17 Hey Amber, Great articles. I should practice, huh? Actually music camp motivated me - hopefully it will help for awhile! MOM Hey Amber,
Great articles. I should practice, huh? Actually music camp motivated me – hopefully it will help for awhile!
MOM

]]> Comment on Buying or Renting a String Instrument by Amber http://stringteachingresources.com/buying-a-string-instrument#comment-16 Amber Sat, 13 Oct 2007 03:00:38 +0000 http://stringteachingresources.com/buying-a-string-instrument#comment-16 Thanks for your comments. Dalton- I will agree with you on the climate issue as I actually own a Weaver viola (purchased in Washington DC) and have lived in Utah with little trouble (although I am careful to keep a humidifier in my case). I have seen some cases where cracking has been a problem, but mostly where students don't take proper precautions. Thanks for your comments. Dalton- I will agree with you on the climate issue as I actually own a Weaver viola (purchased in Washington DC) and have lived in Utah with little trouble (although I am careful to keep a humidifier in my case). I have seen some cases where cracking has been a problem, but mostly where students don’t take proper precautions.

]]> Comment on Buying or Renting a String Instrument by Dalton http://stringteachingresources.com/buying-a-string-instrument#comment-15 Dalton Tue, 09 Oct 2007 23:01:51 +0000 http://stringteachingresources.com/buying-a-string-instrument#comment-15 Amber is offering some good advice here. One hopes that every community has a decent string shop to take care of ther students. The comment about climate differences is good one although my experience is that it is not an absolute. Many of our instruments travel around the country and give their owners very little trouble. One new product that has worked well for some folks who live in hot, sticky climates are the Perfection Pegs they have to be installed by your shop, though. Amber is offering some good advice here. One hopes that every community has a decent string shop to take care of ther students. The comment about climate differences is good one although my experience is that it is not an absolute. Many of our instruments travel around the country and give their owners very little trouble. One new product that has worked well for some folks who live in hot, sticky climates are the Perfection Pegs they have to be installed by your shop, though.

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