String Methods for Beginners

String Methods for Beginners is designed for students to receive the essential playing and teaching skills on all orchestral string instruments. The goal of this textbook is to be truly methodical in its approach, and to assist the instructor, completely eliminating the need to do additional research, or reorganization in preparation to teach this class. Students will gain the basic knowledge and experience to teach bowed stringed instruments in public schools. String Methods for Beginnerscovers the necessary topics to learn and teach the violin, viola, cello, and string bass. It explores the fundamentals of those instruments and teaching considerations, utilizing a heterogeneous approach. As the primary resource to any college- and university-level String Techniques, String Methods, or Instrumental Methods class, this course book fits into a standard semester, comprised of25lessons, which correspond with two hourly classes per week for the term. It provides the instructor with the tools to teach a classroom of non-majors or string education majors, or a mixed classroom of both. FEATURES Offers a blueprint for a semester long string methods course. For beginning students, and also comprehensive for more in-depth study or for reference. Logical, step-by-step "recipe-like" approach.

List of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgements Lesson 1 Introduction Address to Non-Majors Address to Majors Some Qualities of an Accomplished String Teacher Fundamentals of String Instruments Building Practice Skills Course Outline Course Requirements Parts of String Instruments Parts of the Bow Motions of the Bow Course Timeline for Bow Application Items to Receive a Quote, and if Necessary, Purchase Lesson 2 Instrument Overview and Care Heterogeneous String Classroom Setup Instrument Assignment Review of Parts of String Instruments Posture and Instrument Hold Five-Step Instrument Posture A Pizzicato Exercise Preparatory Bow Exercises Lesson 3 Review of Five Steps to Instrument Posture and Left-Hand Position Tuning "Pendulum" Exercise Preparatory Bow Exercises (continued) A Brief History of the String Instruments Tone Production Lesson 4 Review of Five Steps to Instrument Posture and Left-Hand Position "Pendulum" Exercise (continued) Preparatory Bow Exercises (continued) Finger Patterns Rosining the Bow The Bow Hold and Arco Playing Lesson 5 Preparatory Bow Exercises (continued) The Bow Hold and Arco Playing History of the Bow Tuning Strategies Tuning with Pegs Lesson 6 Arco Tuning Bow Exercises Accessories Lesson 7 Arco Tuning Bow Exercises Arco Playing String Ensemble Playing Traditions Lesson 8 Videotaping of First Playing Test Lesson 9 A Bow Placement Exercise Bow Management and String Crossings Selection and Maintenance of String Instruments, Bows, and Strings Lesson 10 Conducting Strings: Error Detection and Rehearsal Techniques Incorporating Good Teaching Habits in Strings: The Teaching Cycle Lesson 11 Collé Bowing Exercise Classroom and String Orchestra Setup Lesson 12 A) Left-Hand Techniques B) Performance Practices Specific to Orchestra Lesson 13 Principal Schools of Bow: German, Franco-Belgian, Russian; French vs. German bow holds Bow Strokes and Expressions Lesson 14 Common Technical Problems and their Remedies Lesson 15 Videotaping of Second Playing Test Lesson 16 Studio Teaching Teaching the Violin Teaching the Viola Teaching the Cello Teaching the Bass Lesson 17 Pedagogical Understanding of String Teaching Moving Students Between Instruments Lesson 18 A Presentation and a Discussion on the Secondary-School String Program Observation Legato Playing and its Exercises Lesson 19 Shifting, Vibrato, and Trill Exercises Lesson 20 Videotaping of Third Playing Test Lesson 21 Extended Left-Hand and Bow Techniques A Discussion on Heterogeneous String Class Method Books. Lesson 22 Selection of Repertoire: A Discussion on Graded Orchestra Repertoire How to Avoid the Dreaded Over-Programming Spiccato Exercises Lesson 23 A Brief Discussion on First Year of Teaching and Contest Preparation Writing a Lesson Plan for Individual and Classroom Teaching Lesson 24 Videotaping of Fourth Playing Test Lesson 25 Videotaping of Individual Lesson Videotaping of Classroom Teaching Conclusion Appendix A Instrument Sizing Chart Appendix B One and Two Octave Scales in D Major, G Major, and C Major for a String Ensemble Bibliography Index

Selim Girayis Director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Mississippi.