Strategies for Teaching Strings Building a Successful String and Orchestra Program

by Hamann, Donald L.; Gillespie, Robert

• ISBN13: 9780199857227
• ISBN10: 0199857229
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Spiral Bound
• Copyright: 2012-10-10
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Strategies for Teaching Strings: Building a Successful String and Orchestra Program, Second Edition, is an essential guide for prospective, novice, and experienced string teachers alike. Now featuring an integrated DVD, this comprehensive text provides all the information necessary to develop and manage a successful school-based program. Based on the national standards for teaching strings and orchestra, the text covers performance objectives, strategies for teaching technical and performance skills, and solutions to common playing problems for elementary, middle, and high school skill levels. It also offers rehearsal strategies to develop large-group ensemble techniques, practical approaches to teaching improvisation, and advice on how to increase student recruitment and retention. New to the Second Edition *In-text DVD demonstrating playing techniques, fingering positions, and teaching strategies in action; these are keyed to the text by clip numbers and marginal icons *New and updated lists of resources at chapter ends, including new resources for jazz improvisation in Chapter 8 *Expanded appendices, including the national standards for school orchestra directors, tools for evaluation, correlated string orchestra music and teaching strategies to develop bowing and left-hand playing skills, and additional pedagogical resources *A more extensive history of string instruments in Chapter 1 *Thorough updating of Chapter 10 to include the most recent literature on method books and music for the school orchestra program

Table of Contents

Strategies for Teaching Strings DVD
Preface
How To Use This Book
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. BEGINNING STRING CLASS INSTRUCTION
Guiding Principles for Teaching Beginning
String Classes
Rote-to-Note Teaching Sequence
Recommended Seating Configuration for Beginning String Classes
Performance Goals and Objectives of First and Second-Year 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
Détaché Bowing: General Guidelines
Pedagogy for Teaching Détaché 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 3. 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 Martelé 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
References
Additional Resources
Chapter 4. ADVANCED STRING CLASS INSTRUCTION
Goals and Objectives of Advanced Playing Skills
Pedagogy for Teaching Expressive Détaché Bowing
Pedagogy for Teaching Louré (Portato) Bowing
Pedagogy for Teaching Sul Tasto Bowing
Pedagogy for Teaching Ponticello Bowing
Pedagogy for Teaching Controlled Tremolo Bowing
Pedagogy for Teaching Collé 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
References
Additional Resources
Chapter 5. 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 00
The School Orchestra Curriculum
Enhancing the Orchestra Curriculum
References
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 Commonalties in Teaching Wind, Brass, and String Instruments
Choosing Music for Your Groups
Score Preparation
Lesson Planning
Auditions/Tryouts
Nearing the Rehearsal
References
Additional Resources
Chapter 7. " CONDUCTING" YOUR REHEARSAL
Tuning
Warm-Ups
Review of Old and Introduction of New Materials
Sight Reading
End of the Rehearsal
Troubleshooting During Rehearsals
Effective Teacher/Director Presentation
Other Considerations
Additional Resources
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
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 PROGRAM
Guidelines for Choosing Music
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
Appendix B. THE NATIONAL STANDARDS
Appendix C. THE SURVEY OF TEACHING EFFECTIVENESS (STE)
Appendix D. ADDITIONAL PEDAGOGICAL RESOURCES
Index