I was honored to present again at The Ohio State University for their 39th annual String Teacher Workshop. Special thanks to my sensei, Bob Gillespie, and Heather Lofdahl for the invitation! This session explores a variety of scenarios and strategies that can help orchestra directors prepare for successful performances at adjudicated events. Come learn some of the most important elements such as repertoire selection, rehearsal techniques, musical interpretation, stage presence, and how to deal with constructive criticism. By emphasizing the importance of meticulous preparation and a comprehens ..read more

Hello everyone, I have an exciting announcement and that is that this website is now free of the annoying pop-up Google ads! Thanks to the generous support of Eastman Strings, I’ve removed all instances of Google ads. I became disappointed with the performance and convenience of the website with the ads, and even though they brought in revenue to cover my hosting fees, I was still not happy. I’m so glad that Eastman was able to help and make your experience on this site more pleasant! Please visit their site to learn more about their instruments, bows, cases, and other accessories. I have been ..read more

Hello everyone! The end of the school year is near and an exciting announcement about The Orchestra Teacher website will be coming soon! What do you think it will be about ..read more

With all of the mechanical variables of string instruments, a teacher may easily get overwhelmed when dealing with the various problems that can occur with school instruments or a student’s personal instrument. With a little knowledge and some practice, basic instrument maintenance and adjustments can be something every teacher can do. A properly maintained instrument not only ensures that a student’s instrument produces the best sound possible but also contributes to the comfort and ease of playing, proper intonation, and more. Here’s a short guide of things teachers can do when looking over ..read more

When I’m at home, I generally have a tendency to practice more when I have quick access to my instrument. I keep violin and viola on a wall hanger in my studio and it’s easy to grab my instrument quickly and start playing. I encourage my students to do the same, especially when they are home on weekends or during breaks. I tell them that if they leave their instrument in an accessible (but safe!) location that they will be likely to practice more frequently. When the instrument is out of its case and always “looking at you,” it’s simple to pick it up and play a little. To allow this to happen ..read more

Please read part 1 of this post before reading on… The feedback I received from my original post has been pretty awesome.  Thank you to all of the string teachers and string parents out there who read the post and commented on this website, social media, or via direct message. It was quite interesting to read the comments! At first, teachers stated their understanding of the concept but were skeptical of some of the details, particularly the time/financial commitments and the exclusivity.  “The idea goes against all the work I have done at [my school] in recent years to create a fla ..read more

String and Orchestra teachers, I’d love your feedback on an honors string ensemble I’m considering starting for my high school orchestra program for the 2024-2025 school year. The proposal is below. Please leave your comments at the bottom of this post. Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate any suggestions you might have! Description: In an effort to put together an elite performing high school chamber ensemble, the orchestra will be forming an honors nonet. A string nonet is an ensemble with 4 violins (2 first violins and 2 second violins), 2 violas, 2 cellos, and 1 double bass player. The ..read more

I’ve always kept a decent supply of extra strings, but this year I decided that I wanted to know EXACTLY how many I had, so I created a String Inventory Sheet to help me keep track. I went through all of my strings and was able to easily inventory them using this sheet. You can use numbers or tally marks to count them. I placed my beginning of the string order to fill the gaps of what strings I was missing. I needed a lot of cello A’s and violin E’s among others. String-Inventory-SheetDownload As I mentioned a while back, I am using this photo organizer to organize and store my strings and it ..read more

Sit or stand? I prefer my students sit. Which bass stools are best for your students? A stool is an essential piece of equipment for your double bass students. While some bass professionals advise standing while playing, I’m a fan of having students sit so that they have an easier time steading the bass and usually have less fear of dropping it. The number one priority when choosing a stool is that it is ADJUSTABLE. Students must have the height of their stool adjusted so that the seat is set to “the height of the bottom of their back pocket.” I use this terminology as to avoid saying butt or ..read more

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 last a long time. I try to find a balance of quality and price that will make string upgrades a reality and keep my students’ instruments sounding great. Check out this page for some of my recommendations for selecting strings in an educational setting. Let me know your thoughts below ..read more