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Teaching the Violin and Viola

Creating a Healthy Foundation

Stacia Spencer

4.7

Based on 209 ratings

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Stacia Spencer

Join us as we explore the fundamental principles and early stages of teaching violin and viola through a series of engaging video lectures and lesson demonstrations, including: 1) Master classes with some of the world’s top string pedagogues, 2) Individual lesson demos of teaching violin/viola set up, left and right hand technique and pieces from the early violin/viola repertoire, 3) Group lesson demos of teaching music theory, ear training and fun activities that encourage good playing habits, and 4) A “field trip” to the violin shop, where we will outfit a new beginning student with a proper instrument and bow. You’ll also engage in a series of discussions and reflections with colleagues and peers across the globe. Upon completion of this course, we hope you’ll return to your studio with confidence, a new curriculum, and a renewed approach to sharing with your students the joyful experience of making beautiful music.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Beginning Stages

Welcome to Teaching the Violin and Viola: Creating a Healthy Foundation! We will begin by covering leading philosophies and pedagogical theories about teaching children the violin and viola. The beginning stages will cover the child’s setup, posture and first left hand techniques.

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Introduces students to foundational violin and viola teaching techniques, preparing them to become effective educators

Provides a comprehensive curriculum for teaching violin and viola, covering various techniques and repertoire

Guided by experienced instructor Stacia Spencer, a respected figure in the field of string pedagogy

Offers practical demonstrations and hands-on exercises to enhance teaching skills

Engages participants in discussions and reflections to foster a collaborative learning experience

Includes a field trip to a violin shop for a practical understanding of instrument selection

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Reviews summary

Healthy foundation in violin and viola pedagogy

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in teaching violin and viola, particularly focusing on creating healthy habits from the beginning. Many found the course highly beneficial for understanding fundamental techniques and pedagogical approaches for early students. The inclusion of masterclasses with renowned pedagogues and practical lesson demonstrations were frequently cited as significant strengths. While the course is highly praised for its foundational content, some students with extensive prior experience found parts to be a review, suggesting it offers the most value to newer or less experienced teachers seeking a structured and expert-led introduction to string pedagogy.

Most valuable for those less experienced.

"As someone with years of teaching experience, some of the very basic sections were a review for me."

"This course seems ideal for university students or those just starting their teaching journey."

"If you have significant pedagogical training already, parts might feel fundamental."

"I found it a good refresher, but someone new to teaching would get more out of it."

Logical progression builds strong fundamentals.

"The course is well-structured, moving logically from basic setup to incorporating pieces."

"I feel much more confident in creating a curriculum that builds healthy habits sequentially."

"The focus on building a 'healthy foundation' is consistent and well-explained throughout."

"The course provides a clear roadmap for teaching beginning string students."

Clear demonstrations for teaching fundamentals.

"The step-by-step demos on teaching posture, bow hold, and left hand setup are extremely practical."

"I can immediately use these teaching exercises and explanations in my own studio."

"Seeing the techniques demonstrated with actual students makes it much easier to apply."

"The practical demos are a huge help in visualizing how to explain concepts to beginners."

Learn from world-renowned string teachers.

"Learning from the best like the Vamos' and Mimi Zweig was incredibly inspiring and educational."

"The masterclass sections alone are worth the price of admission. Truly insightful."

"I appreciated hearing directly from such experienced and respected teachers."

"The masterclasses provide invaluable perspective from top pedagogues."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Teaching the Violin and Viola: Creating a Healthy Foundation with these activities:

Review the basics of music theory

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This will help you strengthen your foundational knowledge and improve your understanding of the material covered in this course.

Browse courses on Music Theory

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Review your notes from previous music theory courses or lessons.
Take practice tests or quizzes to assess your understanding.
Watch online videos or tutorials on music theory basics.

Review a book

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This text will provide you with foundational knowledge on playing strings that will help you as you start your journey in this course.

View The Twelve Lesson Course in a New Approach to... on Amazon

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Read a chapter or two to familiarize yourself with the general principles and ideas presented in the text
Make notes and highlight sections that you find particularly helpful or relevant

Read a book

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This book is an invaluable resource for string teachers at all levels, providing practical tips, lesson plans, and activities.

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Read through a chapter of the book to gain an overview of the author's approach to teaching strings.
Select a lesson plan or activity from the book to use in your own teaching.

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Start a practice journal

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This will help you track your progress, identify areas for improvement, and stay motivated.

Browse courses on Violin

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Get a notebook or journal specifically for your violin practice.
Write down your practice goals for each session.
Record your practice time, what you worked on, and any challenges or successes you encountered.

Connect with a peer and practice together

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Learning with a peer can help improve motivation and accountability.

Browse courses on Violin

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Find a friend or classmate who is also learning violin.
Schedule regular practice sessions where you can play together and provide feedback.
Take turns teaching each other new techniques or pieces.

Record yourself playing and share with the class

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This will allow you and your classmates to share progress and get feedback for improvement.

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Record yourself playing a piece or exercise.
Upload the recording to a platform like YouTube or Vimeo.
Share the link with your classmates and ask for feedback.

Contribute to an open source music project

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This is a great way to get involved in the music community and learn from others.

Browse courses on Music

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Find an open source music project that you are interested in.
Join the project's community and start contributing.
Share your knowledge and skills with others.

Career center

Learners who complete Teaching the Violin and Viola: Creating a Healthy Foundation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Private Music Instructor

A Private Music Instructor teaches music lessons to individuals or small groups. This course may be useful to you if you want to focus on teaching violin and viola privately, as it provides detailed lessons and demonstrations for teaching these instruments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Private Music Instructor

Music Professor

A Music Professor teaches music-related courses at a college or university. If you want to teach violin and viola at an academic institution, this course may be useful to you as it offers foundational knowledge in pedagogical approaches, techniques, and philosophies for teaching these instruments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Professor

Music Teacher

A Music Teacher teaches techniques to aspiring musicians who wish to learn how to play a musical instrument or sing. This course may be useful to you if you are interested in teaching violin and viola, as it provides a foundation in the pedagogical approaches and techniques used to teach these instruments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Teacher

School Music Teacher

A School Music Teacher teaches music-related subjects in a school setting. If you want to teach violin and viola at a primary or secondary school, this course may be useful to you as it offers a comprehensive overview of teaching methods and techniques for these instruments.

See salaries and explore the career path for School Music Teacher

Violinist

A Violinist plays the violin professionally. This course may be useful to you if you want to develop your violin skills or learn more about the instrument, as it provides detailed lessons and demonstrations by experienced violinists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Violinist

Viola Player

A Viola Player plays the viola professionally. This course may be useful to you if you want to develop your viola skills or learn more about the instrument, as it provides detailed lessons and demonstrations by experienced viola players.

See salaries and explore the career path for Viola Player

Orchestra Director

An Orchestra Director leads, conducts, and oversees an orchestra. If you are interested in leading an orchestra that includes string instruments, taking this course may be helpful because it provides insight into the techniques and philosophies used to teach violin and viola.

See salaries and explore the career path for Orchestra Director

Music Director

A Music Director leads, conducts, and oversees musical groups such as orchestras, bands, and choirs. While this course focuses on teaching violin and viola, it may be useful to you if you are interested in leading string ensembles or orchestras.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Director

Musician

A Musician plays a musical instrument or sings as a profession. This course may be helpful to you if you are interested in using your violin or viola skills in a professional setting, as it provides insights into teaching techniques and philosophies that you can apply to your own practice.

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Music Composer

A Music Composer creates original musical pieces. While this course focuses on teaching violin and viola, it may be useful to you if you are interested in composing music for string instruments.

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Music Arranger

A Music Arranger adapts and modifies existing musical pieces for different instruments or ensembles. This course may be useful to you if you want to learn about the techniques and principles of arranging music for string instruments.

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Instrument Maker

An Instrument Maker crafts and repairs musical instruments. This course may be useful to you if you are interested in learning more about the construction and maintenance of string instruments such as the violin and viola.

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Music Critic

A Music Critic reviews and evaluates musical performances, recordings, and compositions. This course may be useful to you if you are interested in developing your critical listening skills and learning about the techniques used to teach violin and viola.

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Music Therapist

A Music Therapist uses music to improve the physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being of individuals. While this course focuses on teaching violin and viola, it may be useful to you if you are interested in using music therapy to help people with disabilities or injuries.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Therapist

Acoustical Engineer

An Acoustical Engineer designs and builds systems and structures to control sound. This course may be useful to you if you are interested in the acoustics of musical instruments, such as the violin and viola.

See salaries and explore the career path for Acoustical Engineer

Reading list

We've selected 24 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Teaching the Violin and Viola: Creating a Healthy Foundation.

Gregor Piatigorsky

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Comprehensive guide to cello playing. It covers everything from basic technique to advanced repertoire. It valuable resource for both students and teachers.

Teaching the Violin and Viola

Creating a Healthy Foundation

Here's a deal for you

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Healthy foundation in violin and viola pedagogy

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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