Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass

Essential Elements: A commonly used book in the public-school systems, Essential Elements aims to introduce the violin, technical skills, and music reading step by step. Orchestra is typically introduced as an elective for students in Middle School, though many students may start learning violin, viola, cello, or bass a few years earlier with a private teacher. Students begin by briefly learning about the instrument and its parts. We will go over proper care for the instrument, posture for holding the instrument, and the different ways we can make sounds on the instrument. It is important to have some understanding of how the violin works, how to care for it, and how to take care of ourselves so that we can make the best sounds we can without causing damage to ourselves or the instrument. As we proceed through the Essential Elements books, we will introduce notes and skills song by song. We will go over each piece of notation and each term as it is introduced starting from the construction of the music staff, concepts of beat and rhythm, notes, and rests, and so on. The very first songs are simply one-note. Each song introduces one note on a string and we steadily progress to playing each of the notes we learn together. When we first start playing the instrument, we will begin by learning how to pluck the strings with our right hand and put our left fingers down to make new notes. As we get used to putting our left fingers down with good posture, we will slowly introduce using the bow through bow exercises separate from the instrument. Putting the left-hand and right-hand skills together takes some time but it especially takes practice. While practicing at home, the student may either use the CD that may come with the Essential Elements books or there will be information on the book so that the student may go online to find recordings and play along with the assigned songs. Frequent and consistent practice is the key to success! 10 minutes a day is much better than 2 hours once a week. In lessons, we will proceed through the book focusing on the necessary skills needed for both the violin and practice at home, including - Posture - Intonation - Tools we can use and how to use them (pencil, metronome, tuner, recordings, etc...) - How to practice - How to perform 

Technique and musicality are the foundation for every musician.  Students will study from a variety of various cello methods including Suzuki Method books Essential Elements, and Rick Mooney’s Position Pieces.  Beginning students start by learning how the cello works and how to properly care for their instruments.  Our focus will be on developing proper techniques and understanding the basics of music theory.  As students progress, they will begin to develop their skills of sight-reading music and memorization.  Students’ progress will be determined by their studies at home, and it is important that students practice daily.   In lessons, we will focus on the various ways in which to practice effectively to ensure students understand what is needed to complete weekly assignments. 

Progressive Repertoire for the Double Bass gets beginner students playing music right away with easy, recognizable tunes. It gets students moving into the upper registers of the bass at a faster rate than the traditional double bass method books. The book begins with musical intervals that are easier to hear and slowly increases the difficulty throughout. Progressive Repertoire is the first book in English to incorporate the division of the entire fingerboard into six different positions, a la famous modern double bass virtuoso, Francios Rabbath. This system allows the bass player greater efficiency and ease when tackling difficult musical passages. The student will be taught how to hold the instrument correctly, how to hold the bow, different styles of pizzicato (plucking the string), different names for the parts of the instrument, how to tune, how to produce a good tone, and much more. Strict adherence to the method books is not necessary. There is plenty of opportunities to break away from the method books for side lessons. There may be students that want to incorporate improvisational elements into their playing or even writing music. Our mini music theory lessons can get them started playing with musical harmony. We find that finding and incorporating the music that they are passionate about into their lessons can lead to a more positive relationship with their instrument and to their own musical goals.