Start Your String Programme with FREE Resources from SMT!

It’s the beginning of the school year and there is so much to do.  Did you know you can download a bunch of helpful free teaching materials at Smart Music Teacher?   Teach beginner tunes by ear.  Download a note-reading reference for violin, viola, cello and bass.  Teach a lesson on how to set up a string orchestra classroom.

Here are some SMT Member favourites:

Hoodie-Free Zone!

Highschoolers…. They seem to live and sleep in their hoodies these days!  But they get in the way of holding the violin and viola properly. Finally, tired of reminding my violin and viola students to remove their hoodies, I made … Read More

Custom Lesson Planner for Smart Music Teachers – FREE for a limited time!

Looking for the perfect teacher planner?  Tired of agendas that don’t meet your needs as a music teacher?  Perhaps you are someone who ends up scribbling things in different notebooks or scraps of paper, or somewhere in your agenda only … Read More

Start Your String Programme with FREE Resources from SMT!

It’s the beginning of the school year and there is so much to do.  Did you know you can download a bunch of helpful free teaching materials at Smart Music Teacher?   Teach beginner tunes by ear.  Download a note-reading reference … Read More

Free Beginner Bass Scales

The nice thing about teaching strings is, unlike band instruments, all the instruments are the same… almost!  The double bass is somewhat of an oddball, being played standing, only able to play two notes per string, and tuned in fourths … Read More

Do Your Students Have Major Pattern Addiction?

You know those students who really aren’t listening?  The ones who never adjust their finger patterns from string to string?  The ones who are totally unaware of how they actually sound?  How do you motivate these students to play the … Read More

3 Zoom Tips For Music Teachers!

Hi Everyone! As we all know, there has been an explosion of online learning, and I know some of us are less familiar with online platforms than others.  Of course, Zoom is one of those platforms that people are scrambling … Read More

Start Stringed Instruments Playing By Ear

It is very common for string teachers, whether they be classroom teachers or private violin, viola and cello teachers, to start their students off playing by ear.  This sets up a foundation for intonation and listening. Because playing a stringed … Read More

String Orchestra Seating Plan Lesson

The set-up of a string orchestra can be a bit bewildering to beginners. One of the first things I do in September is use this handout with my beginning students to illustrate how a string orchestra is seated.  Through this … Read More

Seating Plan Template for String Orchestra

  Time to get organized! It’s the beginning of the school year and it’s time to make up some new seating plans.  I thought I’d tweak my seating plan and share it with those of you who don’t have one, … Read More

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