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