A merican philosopher John Dewey believed, “There is no such thing as educational value in the abstract.” He also said, “Art is the most effective mode of communications that exists.”
As a music teacher and instructor, you’re already helping students…
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1. Introduction to Our Guide on Violin Strings
“When you play a violin piece, you are a storyteller, and you're telling a story.”
– Joshua Bell
Some people tell stories through their writings – poems that are written in ink…
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Social media channels are useful platforms for putting yourself in public and developing your performer persona (or “brand”). They can also be a way to promote upcoming performances or recordings.
Carefully managing what you post — and what you don’t…
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Looking for new and inventive ways to inspire – and deepen – your students’ experience? Some of the suggestions below are basic, and others are new and innovative, but all are cool tools that support music educators in their classrooms…
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The picture of the typical student is someone young, anywhere from a toddler to college student. However, older adults are also often students. Whether it’s veterans, women's reentry or retirees who decided to learn to play the violin – adults…
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Forming personal connections is the Number One, best thing you can do as a music educator to bring out the best in your students. When students feel connected and seen by their teachers and mentors, they automatically invest more in…
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For many teachers, adult students are the calm in the teaching storm. What a treat it is to spend time teaching students who are eager and willing to learn because their interest in the violin is entirely self-generated.
On the…
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The spring semester can feel like an infinite haul for students – and even teachers. For most schools, the second “half” of the academic year is legitimately the longest period in terms of days-spent-in class. Plus, the spring semester offers…
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Approach any circle of friends at random and you’ll find common interests. Maybe it’s gaming, or the Marvel or DC universe. Sports could be a common thread. Books, or culinary adventures, perhaps.
When it comes to classical music, though, it…
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S
ometimes, string musicians get so set on becoming professional musicians that they forget to take a big-picture look at the variety of music-related careers available to them.
Whether you’ve just graduated from college, or you’re trying to figure out…
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Is there anything more universal than music? It comforts us when we’re sad, and we use it to celebrate in times of joy. Music helps us power through chores and long trips. For musicians, you don’t have to be a…
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With the flu season upon us, and in particular, the spread of COVID-19, we thought it a good idea to pass along recommendations from various experts about how to protect yourself and your string instrument to minimize inadvertently spreading viruses…
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Niccolò Paganini is well-known to anyone who has even thought about picking up a violin. Yet how well do you really know this composer and violin maestro? Paganini was a towering figure who lived an extraordinary life – whose catalogue…
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Lists are problematic things. Many people reading this list will be incensed by who was left off it. This isn't the full list of every Romantic composer worth knowing. You do, however, need to know the ones shared here if…
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In the universe of shining, young musical stars, Sheku Kanneh-Mason could be called his own solar system.
Consider that in the past several years alone, this gifted cellist starred on British reality TV, made hit recordings, earned a top BBC…
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For an artist with such eclectic tastes in music, there's one thing violinist Regina Carter doesn't much care for, and that's labels. When Carter, 53, transitioned her formal studies from classical to jazz, it set her on a path to…
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onsidered the grandfather of jazz violinists, Stéphane Grappelli 1908 – 1997 was a French violinist who had a long, prolific career spanning into his late 80’s, and founded one of the first all-string jazz groups, the Quintette du Hot Club…
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We love celebrating the viola and the talented violists who play it. Professional violists such as Kim Kashkashian prove this vital instrument deserves its rightful place in the orchestra and that violists have just as much right to the solo…
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Following a score measure by measure, and its notations regarding tempo, dynamics, emotional expression, etc., can feel stifling for a creative musician. The good news is that over time, you will be able to take pieces of music, even well-known…
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Music has always served to bring people together, rejuvenate communities, and provide comfort, solace, and fun. While concert halls and music festivals are the usual go-to destinations for live music lovers, sheltering-in-place has created a new era of live music…
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