OrchestraTeacher.net

OrchestraTeacher.net Blog

Just for fun / Recruitment and Retention

Holiday Gift Ideas for String Players

With the holidays fast approaching, I always hear from parents asking me what sort of thing they could get for their favorite string players. The first thing I mention is an upgrade of instrument and or bow. If this is not feasible, smaller items like rosin, mutes, tuners, strings, shoulder...

Hardware / String Repairs

Top 5 best selling cello fine tuners

Fine tuners are super handy for making those micro adjustments to a violin, viola, or cello string. They also allow beginners to learn to tune without too much fear of breaking strings. Using the pegs can be somewhat difficult for beginners and it is very simple to overturn and break...

Equipment / Hardware / String Repairs

String recommendations for school orchestras

Using fresh, high-quality strings is probably one of the most important factors that can help your students and your orchestra sound their best. As a public school educator, I understand that budgets can be tight and teachers need high quality products that deliver good performance and are durable enough to...

Best Practices / Teaching Strategies

Reminding students to loosen their bows

Do your students ever forget to loosen their bows? No? Mine neither! Ha ha, yeah right!! I’ve found that creative posters and memes can help students to remember to do this very important task. Below is a small flyer/poster I made for my classroom. Feel free to download and print...

Administration

String Storage Solution

It seems like I’ve always struggled keeping my extra strings organized and available quick access, but I’ve finally found something that makes it easy to keep my violin, viola, and cello strings separated and neatly organized. This organizer, actually made for storing photos, has 18 removable compartments.  I’m using 4 each...

Charles Laux, Julie Ellis, and Matt Radspinner

Audio Recording / Classroom Pedagogy / Conference Recap / Technology Integration

From the 2022 OSU String Teacher Workshop

It’s always a pleasure to return to Buckeye country for the OSU String Teacher Workshop. This year I had the pleasure to participat in presenting several sessions. See below! 1. Making Your High School a Complete Program Presented with Matt Radspinner and Julie Ellis! 2. Audio Recording for Music Educators...

Print Resources

Essential Print Resources

There are so many fantastic books available that will help you learn the essentials of string teaching, new teaching strategies, or understand a variety of teaching philosophies. Do you need some back to school inspiration or just a few new ideas? I’ve put together a list of print resources with...

Left Hand / Music Theory / Pedagogy / Teaching Strategies

Fingerboard Geography

It’s quite fascinating how many students play without knowing much about the geography of their fingerboard. Lack of this knowledge causes students to make note errors and can often lead to frustration. The analogy I provide to my students is for them to imagine that they are going on a...

Classroom Pedagogy / Podcast

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast is Back!

After a much needed break and a few busy weeks back to school, The Orchestra Teacher Podcast is back! Today, Sunday, August 29 at 12 noon EST we will be streaming LIVE with my good friend and special guest, Mr. David Eccles! We will be discussing back to school, back...