Strategies for Teaching Strings is an essential guide for prospective, novice, and experienced string teachers. Acclaimed instructors Donald L. Hamann and Robert Gillespie share their years of experience, providing readers with all the information and skills necessary to teach string instruments in schools and to develop a successful school orchestra program. Based on national standards for teaching strings and orchestra, the text begins by introducing the string instrument family and presenting an overview of the school orchestra program. Subsequent chapters--divided into three levels of string competency corresponding to elementary, middle, and high school skills--cover performance goals and objectives, strategies for teaching technical and performance skills, and solutions to common playing problems for each ability level. Rehearsal planning and preparation, rehearsal techniques, practical approaches to teaching improvisation, student recruitment and retention, and choosing literature for the school orchestra are also covered. The book is enhanced by illustrations and photographs that demonstrate correct playing techniques and fingering positions. An appendix includes information about special pedagogical approaches and professional string associations. A full listing of the national content standards established by the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) and by the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) appears in Chapter 6.

Preface Chapter 1. THE STRING INSTRUMENT FAMILY Instruments Bows Accessories and Supplies Selecting String Instruments Care and Maintenance of String Instruments and Bows Summary Resources Chapter 2. THE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA PROGRAM A Brief History of Orchestra Programs in the Schools Values of Orchestra Programs in the School Music Curriculum Strategies for Defending the School Orchestra Program Developing Community Support for the Orchestra Program The School Orchestra Curriculum Enhancing the Orchestra Curriculum References Additional Resources Chapter 3. BEGINNING STRING CLASS INSTRUCTION Guiding Principles for Teaching Beginning String Classes Performance Goals and Objectives of First- and Second-Year String Classes Strategies for Determining Proper Instrument Sizes Pedagogy for Teaching Instrument Position Additional Instrument Position Teaching Strategies Left-Hand Shape: General Guidelines Pedagogy for Teaching the Left-Hand Shape Pedagogy for Teaching Pizzicato Pedagogy for Teaching Beginning Finger Placement Bowing Instruction: General Guidelines Bow Hand Shape: General Guidelines Pedagogy for Teaching Bow Hand Shape Detache Bowing: General Guideline Pedagogy for Teaching Detache Bowing Beginning String Crossings: General Guidelines Pedagogy for Teaching String Crossings Staccato and Hooked Bowings: General Guidelines Pedagogy for Teaching Staccato and Hooked Bowings Pedagogy for Teaching Slurs Aural Skill Development in Beginning Classes: General Guidelines Pedagogy for Teaching Beginning Aural Skills Strategies for Teaching Instrument Tuning in Beginning String Classes Problem Solving: Beginning Students' Common Playing Problems and Solutions Chapter 4. INTERMEDIATE STRING CLASS INSTRUCTION Performance Goals and Objectives of Third- and Fourth-Year String Classes Pedagogy for Teaching Parallel Bowing Pedagogy for Teaching Smooth Direction Changes Pedagogy for Teaching Tone Production at Different Dynamic Levels Pedagogy for Teaching Moderate-to-Faster Tempo String Crossings Pedagogy for Teaching Slurring More than Four Notes Pedagogy for Teaching Martele Bowing Pedagogy for Teaching Basic Spiccato Pedagogy for Teaching Consistent Lengthened and Balanced Body Posture Pedagogy for Refining Instrument Position Intermediate Left-Hand Skills: General Guidelines Pedagogy for Refining Left-Hand Shapes Pedagogy for Teaching Cello Extensions Shifting: General Principles Pedagogy for Teaching Shifting Vibrato: General Principles Pedagogy for Teaching Vibrato Double Bass Pivoting: General Guidelines Pedagogy for Developing Intermediate Aural Skills in the School Orchestra Intermediate Instrument Tuning Problem Solving: Intermediate Students' Common Playing Problems and Solutions Chapter 5. ADVANCED STRING CLASS INSTRUCTION Goals and Objectives of Advanced Playing Skills Pedagogy for Teaching Expressive Detache Bowing Pedagogy for Teaching Loure (Portato) Bowing Pedagogy for Teaching Sul Tasto Bowing Pedagogy for Teaching Ponticello Bowing Pedagogy for Teaching Controlled Tremolo Bowing Pedagogy for Teaching Colle Bowing Pedagogy for Teaching Fast String Crossings Pedagogy for Teaching Expressive Spiccato Two-Octave Scales through Four Sharps and Four Flats: General Guidelines Introducing Three-Octave Scales: General Guidelines Pedagogy for Refining Shifting Pedagogy for Refining Vibrato Pedagogy for Developing Advanced Aural Skills in the School Orchestra Advanced Instrument Tuning Problem Solving: Advanced Students' Common Playing Problems and Solutions Chapter 6. PLANNING THE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA PROGRAM Your Goals and Objectives Guidelines for Organizing the Rehearsal Differences and Commonalities in Teaching Wind, Brass, and String Instruments Keys to Efficient and Effective Development of Playing Technique in the String Class Guidelines for Choosing Music Preparing a Score Lesson Plans Evaluation of Teaching The National Standards References Additional Resources for Teaching the National Standards in the School Orchestra Additional Sample Repertoire for Use in Teaching the National Standards in the School Orchestra Chapter 7. REHEARSAL TECHNIQUES Planning for the Year Your Rehearsal Room and Equipment Tryouts The Rehearsal Tuning Warm-Ups Review of Old and Introduction of New Materials Sight Reading End of the Rehearsal Rehearsal Format Other Considerations The First Rehearsal Troubleshooting during Rehearsals References Chapter 8. PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO TEACHING IMPROVISATION IN THE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA A Creative Drone Approach A Riff Approach A Call-and-Response or Question-and-Answer Approach A Chordal Approach A Rhythmic Ostinato Approach Summary References Chapter 9. STRING STUDENT RECRUTIMENT AND RETENTION Philosophy Preparation for Recruitment Recruitment Procedures Retention References Chapter 10. METHOD BOOKS AND MUSIC FOR THE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA PROGRAM Printed Method Books Recommended Publishers String Orchestra Literature Full Orchestra Literature References Additional Resources APPENDIX: ADDITIONAL PEDAGOGICAL RESOURCES Special Pedagogical Approaches Professional String Associations

Donald L. HamannDirector of the Institute for Innovation in String Music Teaching; Professor of Music Education and Strings in the School of Music and Dance, University of Arizona, Robert GillespieProfessor of Music, Ohio State University

"This text is particularly valuable to college music education students and to directors who do not play a string instrument...experienced teachers will also find this book useful for its exercises, method book and literature reviews, and rehearsal strategies."--The Instrumentalist