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.
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.
What's included
6 videos5 readings1 assignment
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6 videos•Total 16 minutes
Introductory Video•2 minutes
Violin Shop•3 minutes
Posture•3 minutes
Holding The Instrument•3 minutes
Left Hand Setup "Eggs"•3 minutes
Left Hand Setup "GDG"•3 minutes
5 readings•Total 50 minutes
Syllabus•10 minutes
Grading and Logistics•10 minutes
Meet Your Instructors•10 minutes
Suggested Reading•10 minutes
Module Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Beginning Stages•30 minutes
Bow Arm and Hand
Module 2•1 hour to complete
Module details
To introduce the use of the right hand, we start by creating a “pinky house” for the child’s bow. We delve further into the violin setup and positioning through various creative exercises.
What's included
4 videos1 reading1 assignment
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4 videos•Total 10 minutes
Bow Set Up; Pinky House•2 minutes
The Beginning Bow Hold•2 minutes
Shoulder Bowing•2 minutes
Preparation for Violin and Bow Together•4 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Module Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Bow Arm and Hand•30 minutes
Putting It All Together
Module 3•1 hour to complete
Module details
Now we get to put it all together by slowly incorporating the different movements of the right and left hand through four different pieces.
What's included
4 videos1 reading1 assignment
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4 videos•Total 15 minutes
Shh Shh•2 minutes
GDG & AEA•3 minutes
See Saw•4 minutes
See the Little Monkey•6 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Module Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Putting It All Together•30 minutes
Pieces in the Key of A Major
Module 4•3 hours to complete
Module details
After good setup and posture have been established, we start teaching the fundamentals through elementary pieces in the key of A Major. We also get to learn our first scale!
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review
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6 videos•Total 28 minutes
Twinkle•7 minutes
The A Major Scale•6 minutes
Strawberry Red•3 minutes
Lightly Row•5 minutes
Go Tell Aunt Rhody•5 minutes
Brother John•3 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Module Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Pieces in the Key of A Major•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 120 minutes
Peer Review•120 minutes
Playing with the Whole Bow
Module 5•1 hour to complete
Module details
To transition to using the full bow, we introduce the “adult “ bow hold and a series of exercises to extend the bow stroke. Pieces include Long, Long Ago, O Come, Little Children, and Butterfly, Flutterby.
What's included
4 videos1 reading1 assignment
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4 videos•Total 19 minutes
Adult Bow & Whole Bow Exercises•6 minutes
Long, Long Ago•6 minutes
O Come, Little Children•3 minutes
Butterfly, Flutterby•4 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Module Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Playing with the Whole Bow•30 minutes
Pieces in the Key of D Major
Module 6•1 hour to complete
Module details
We can now introduce the key of D Major. Students learn the D major scale along with pieces such as Bach Musette and Hushabye Lullaby.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment
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6 videos•Total 31 minutes
D Major Scale•5 minutes
Hop, Hop, Hop•4 minutes
Fox, You've Stolen the Goose•4 minutes
All the Birds are Already Here•7 minutes
Bach Musette•5 minutes
Hushabye Lullaby•7 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Module Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Pieces in the Key of D Major•30 minutes
Pieces in the Key of G Major
Module 7•1 hour to complete
Module details
When we progress to the G Major scale and arpeggio, we start adding etudes and more advanced technical concepts. Pieces covered include Minuet and Happy Farmer.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment
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6 videos•Total 29 minutes
G Major Scale & Arpeggios•7 minutes
Wohlfahrt Etude in G•3 minutes
Minuet•7 minutes
Minuet in G•4 minutes
The Happy Farmer•5 minutes
All the Pretty Little Ponies•4 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Module Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Pieces in the Key of G Major•30 minutes
Note Reading, Vibrato, and the Group Class
Module 8•1 hour to complete
Module details
To teach note reading, we will cover the best-practice teaching techniques for note reading and vibrato. We will also explore group teaching, group games, and group dynamics.
What's included
8 videos1 reading
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8 videos•Total 22 minutes
Note Reading•4 minutes
Beginning Vibrato•6 minutes
Simon Says & Eggs•2 minutes
Bow Games•2 minutes
Shh Shh•1 minute
Boil The Cabbage•2 minutes
Sunflower and Intervals•3 minutes
Rhythm Games•2 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Module Overview•10 minutes
Favorite Exercises for the Older Student
Module 9•3 hours to complete
Module details
Now that our students are getting more advanced, we can begin to cover our favorite exercises for the older student. Exercises include "Poof Bow" and the "Invisible Violin."
What's included
5 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review
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5 videos•Total 14 minutes
The Invisible Violin•2 minutes
Bow Hold Exercises•3 minutes
The Train Story•3 minutes
1:4 Bow Exercises•2 minutes
Poof Bow Exercises•3 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Module Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Favorite Exercises for the Older Student•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 120 minutes
Peer Review•120 minutes
The Master Class
Module 10•1 hour to complete
Module details
In our final segment, we will learn from top pedagogues Mimi Zweig and Roland and Almita Vamos in a master class setting.
What's included
2 videos1 reading
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 62 minutes
Mimi Zweig Master Class•33 minutes
Almita Vamos & Roland Vamos Master Class•29 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Module Overview•10 minutes
Instructor
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Northwestern University is a private research and teaching university with campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, and Doha, Qatar. Northwestern combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment that transcends traditional academic boundaries.
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AK
5·
Reviewed on Aug 19, 2015
this course looks like for kids ... but this is not - we adults can learn way too many things too - totally recommended - very well conducted and informational - thanks!
J
JR
5·
Reviewed on Nov 4, 2015
I am really satisfied with the class. I love your teaching techniques. Thank you really.
I
IK
5·
Reviewed on Mar 3, 2023
This course has helped me so much with teaching my students better. It has filled it some gaps and details I was missing and solidified my foundation for teaching children and adult beginners.
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Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.