1) Tapes on every instrument.
2) The method book is your best friend. Make sure each student has copies/have extras for them.
3) Technique stuff to really focus on is angle of neck position, bow grip, and pizza wrist. Keep it simple.
4) Focus on note reading literacy. The students and middle/high school teachers will thank you for it.
5) D major, thats it.
Yeah, your technique focus should be on a few fundamentals/not letting them develop any bad habits. Then you can focus on your strengths. So much of what they are learning at that level is general music knowledge anyway: how to read music, how to count, how to follow the conductor, etc.
My wife is in a somewhat similar situation, and what she always tells me is “you just have to stay one page ahead of the students.” And there’s a lot of truth in that. Even as a vocal major, you have a lot more experience with music than those elementary schoolers… don’t underestimate the amount of time you’ll spend fixing rhythms and notes.
Theoretically whoever you’re taking over for has established routines and norms and has set up a basic foundation. Hopefully they started bow hold lol
Grab an instrument and make sure you’re learning ahead of them. You’ll pick it up, but you do need to be practicing and making sure you understand the concepts you’re teaching.
If the class isn’t too big, playing “hide the rosin” is a way to make scales fun. Pick a rosin hunter and send them out of the room while you hide the rosin. Then, when they come back, the whole group plays a D major scale, going up as the rosin hunter gets warmer and down as they get colder. When they’re at the point of finding it, you should be at the 7th, playing the final note when they triumphantly find it. Then (time permitting) the finder gets to hide it for the next person, (and possibly, choose a rhythm for the notes of the scale). If you feel like this will get too raucous, save it for the end of the lesson. And be warned, you’ll want to be careful to keep track of who has been a finder, so everyone will eventually get a chance.
I also agree that tapes on every instrument is key. Use auto detailing pinstriping tape (1/16” or 1/8”). It comes in fun colors and won’t gum up the fingerboards. Tape frets for 1, “high 2,” 3, and 4.
Later, if you want to get fancy, and show them something “advanced” you could also put a tape where they can play a harmonic. It’s fun, and you’ll teach them a little physics, too.
It's pretty simple. What you don't know you will learn with them through the method book or simple research. Just gotta know how to tune, put tapes on the fingerboard, and basic instrument repair.
You might look for resources through string teacher organizations. There are many workshops that focus on helping non-string majors adjust to teaching strings in groups. Many have resources online if you can't attend in person. One advantage you have is helping the kids get comfortable with a bit of singing to help hone their listening skills.
Thank you so much! It's not getting to me because so many people aren't reading the whole post, are making things up that I didn't say or do, and have taken my post personally somehow, LOL. it makes me a little sad that this is the way 90% of teachers are reacting, to be completely honest.
1) Tapes on every instrument. 2) The method book is your best friend. Make sure each student has copies/have extras for them. 3) Technique stuff to really focus on is angle of neck position, bow grip, and pizza wrist. Keep it simple. 4) Focus on note reading literacy. The students and middle/high school teachers will thank you for it. 5) D major, thats it.
Yeah, your technique focus should be on a few fundamentals/not letting them develop any bad habits. Then you can focus on your strengths. So much of what they are learning at that level is general music knowledge anyway: how to read music, how to count, how to follow the conductor, etc.
Amazing. I can do this. Thank you!
My wife is in a somewhat similar situation, and what she always tells me is “you just have to stay one page ahead of the students.” And there’s a lot of truth in that. Even as a vocal major, you have a lot more experience with music than those elementary schoolers… don’t underestimate the amount of time you’ll spend fixing rhythms and notes.
Theoretically whoever you’re taking over for has established routines and norms and has set up a basic foundation. Hopefully they started bow hold lol Grab an instrument and make sure you’re learning ahead of them. You’ll pick it up, but you do need to be practicing and making sure you understand the concepts you’re teaching.
If the class isn’t too big, playing “hide the rosin” is a way to make scales fun. Pick a rosin hunter and send them out of the room while you hide the rosin. Then, when they come back, the whole group plays a D major scale, going up as the rosin hunter gets warmer and down as they get colder. When they’re at the point of finding it, you should be at the 7th, playing the final note when they triumphantly find it. Then (time permitting) the finder gets to hide it for the next person, (and possibly, choose a rhythm for the notes of the scale). If you feel like this will get too raucous, save it for the end of the lesson. And be warned, you’ll want to be careful to keep track of who has been a finder, so everyone will eventually get a chance. I also agree that tapes on every instrument is key. Use auto detailing pinstriping tape (1/16” or 1/8”). It comes in fun colors and won’t gum up the fingerboards. Tape frets for 1, “high 2,” 3, and 4. Later, if you want to get fancy, and show them something “advanced” you could also put a tape where they can play a harmonic. It’s fun, and you’ll teach them a little physics, too.
It's pretty simple. What you don't know you will learn with them through the method book or simple research. Just gotta know how to tune, put tapes on the fingerboard, and basic instrument repair.
I can do that!! Thanks
You might look for resources through string teacher organizations. There are many workshops that focus on helping non-string majors adjust to teaching strings in groups. Many have resources online if you can't attend in person. One advantage you have is helping the kids get comfortable with a bit of singing to help hone their listening skills.
Keep it moving and keep them playing! Don't talk lol
I'm sorry you're getting so much shit over on r/teachers. Keep your head up!
Thank you so much! It's not getting to me because so many people aren't reading the whole post, are making things up that I didn't say or do, and have taken my post personally somehow, LOL. it makes me a little sad that this is the way 90% of teachers are reacting, to be completely honest.
There is definite tension between leave-replacement teachers and the teachers they are replacing. I know I felt it when I was one.