Join me this summer for

Teaching Strings Made Easy – Part 2!

Join me for 2 more weeks of fun as we continue the adventure of learning how to play and teach strings!

Everybody should take Part 2!

If you’re not sure what to do next, you’ll get a lot of ideas and a structure to help you take your students to the next level in their development. It’s a lot of fun and you’ll get a lot of support.
Jacqueline Dalfonso Speer

Definitely take TSME2!

If shifting is a 4-letter word in your class definitely take Part 2. It will make shifting so much easier for your kids. It won’t be a dirty word any more!
Amanda Handfinger

You’ll accomplish more than you thought you could!

You will be so much more comfortable with shifting and the fingerboard and will feel so much more confident tackling it with your students!
Carolyn Greci

Take it a step further!

It solidifies everything you learned in TSME1. You’ll become so much better at playing yourself, and learn how to help your students do the same.
Elise Eden

Here’s what you’ll learn next:

Playing in higher positions

Learn how to easily take your students beyond 2-octave scales, navigate higher positions, and do it accurately and in tune!

More advanced technique

Teach more advanced skills including more articulations, double-stops, harmonics, and learn guidelines for bowing and fingering.

Practicing & rehearsal skills

More challenging music requires more advanced practicing and rehearsal skills. Learn how to set up your students for faster success.

You will take on these skills too and tackle a new solo!

As always, simplicity and independence are the key themes that will help you make amazing progress with your students!

Course Content

Feedback Sessions

  • Submit recordings of your students
  • Get coaching on your next steps
  • Group feedback from your peers
  • Troubleshooting school repertoire

Scales, Shifting & Position Work

  • 4-note finger patterns
  • Single string scales
  • 3-octave scales
  • Scales 3-ways
  • Silent shifting
  • Transposable scale patterns
  • Chromatic scales
  • Thumb position
  • Tenor clef

Continuation of Bowing Skills

  • Legato & bow changing skills
  • Slurs, detached slurs, hooked bowing
  • Articulations – collé, tremelo, spiccato, col legno, sul ponticello, sul tasto, riccochet, etc.
  • Slow bows
  • Arco & pizzicato skills
  • Double-stops
  • Ornamentation

Vibrato

  • Review & troubleshooting vibrato skills
  • Developing 4 vibrato variables: slow vs. fast, narrow vs. wide
  • Applying vibrato to music

Guidelines for Bowing and Fingering

  • How to decide on bow directions
  • When to lift the bow
  • Where to place the bow
  • When to use 4th finger
  • When to shift or stay in first position
  • How to decide on the best fingering

Continuation of Practicing Skills

  • Continued application of MDPs
  • How to design effective listening homework
  • Practice assignments vs. practice charts
  • How to prepare a solo
  • How to prepare chamber music
  • How to nurture independence and consistent self-evaluation

Continuation of Rehearsal Skills

  • How to keep technique level high across all sections
  • How to rehearse efficiently
  • How to get your students to listen effectively to intonation
  • How to get students to remember what you want them to do
  • How to involve students in technical and musical decision-making

How to Approach Different Aspects of Teaching Theory

  • Notation & Accidentals
  • Note Values
  • Simple Time
  • Compound Time
  • Major Scales
  • Minor Scales

Continuation of Troubleshooting Skills

  • 3 Steps to effective troubleshooting
  • Continued understanding of how to fix technique problems

Solo Preparation

  • Prepare a solo from Suzuki Book 4
  • Apply the approach to solo preparation learned above
  • Live feedback and coaching

Pre-requisites

  • Completion of TSME1
  • OR completion of SST Foundation & solo AND shifting & vibrato lessons in the SST Academy
  • Ability to play repertoire up to Suzuki Book 2 or 3 on secondary instrument
  • Ability to play 2 octave scales up to 5 sharps and flats on secondary instrument
  • Good understanding of 3rd and 4th position on secondary instrument

What’s included in

Teaching Strings Made Easy – Part 2?

  • 6 x 2hr live Zoom classes.
  • Individualized attention to ensure your success.
  • Essential handouts and teaching resources to use with your students.
  • 20% discount off all school licenses for publications over $100.

After the course you will get….

  • SST Certificate of Completion (with PD hours).
  • 6 months of access to all class recordings and course materials.
  • 1 month free access to the Smart String Teacher Academy.

Register below for

Teaching Strings Made Easy Part 2

TODAY!

Earlybird Bonus!

(March & April)

Get FREE ACCESS to the Smart String Teacher Academy until July 31st!*

That’s up to 4 months and over $100 in membership fees free!

*Your membership will automatically renew on August 1st, 2025 unless you cancel. Offer for new SSTA members only.


Teaching Strings Made Easy – Part 2

TUITION:

$395.00

**Your membership will automatically renew on August 1st unless you cancel. Offer for new SSTA members only.


DATES:

July 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18

6:30pm to 9:00pm ET

(6 x 2.5 hr live Zoom classes)

EQUIPMENT:

  • Secondary instrument(s)
  • Suzuki Books 3 & 4
  • Method books and repertoire from your school

Looking forward to working with you again!

**I want my program to be accessible to everyone. If the tuition is a financial burden, contact me about my PWYC (pay what you can) option.