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 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 Rote-to-Note Teaching Sequence Strategies for Determining Proper Instrument Sizes Recommended Seating Configuration for Beginning String Classes Pedagogy for Teaching Instrument Position Creating Lesson Plans for Beginning String Class Instruction 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 Sound Production Principles Detache Bowing: General Guidelines 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 References Additional Resources 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 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 Additional Resources Chapter 6: Preparing for Your Orchestra Rehearsal Preparing Your Rehearsal Room and Equipment Factors to Consider in the Preparation of Your Rehearsal Strategies Differences and Commonalities in Teaching Wind, Brass, and String Instruments Choosing Music for Your Groups Score Preparation Lesson Planning Auditions/Tryouts Nearing the Rehearsal References Resources Chapter 7: Conducting Your Rehearsal Tuning Review of Old and Introduction of New Materials Sight-Reading End of the Rehearsal Trouble-Shooting during Rehearsals Effective Teacher/Director Presentation Other Considerations Chapter 8: Practical Approaches to Teaching Improvisation in the School Orchestra A Creative Drone Approach Review of Old and Introduction of New Materials A Riff Approach A Call-and-Response or Question-and-Answer Approach A Chordal Approach A Rhythmic Ostinato Approach Summary References Additional Resources Chapter 9: String Student Recruitment and Retention Philosophy Why Children Choose to Play Instruments Preparation for Recruitment Recruitment Procedures Retention References Additional Resources Chapter 10: Method Books and Music for the School Orchestra String Method Books and Method Book Evaluation Criteria Recommended Publishers String and Full Orchestra Literature: Criteria for Grade-Level Distinctions References Additional Resources Appendix A: Correlated String Orchestra Music and Teaching Strategies to Develop Bowing and Left-Hand Playing Skills Appendix B: The National Standards Appendix C: The Survey of Teaching Effectiveness (STE) Appendix D: Additional Pedagogical Resources Index