Page 10 - Info magazine Strings Class nr 1 january 2021

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS STRINGS

For teachers everywhere, Essential Elements has
continued as the standard of string pedagogy. Its
carefully designed curriculum makes student learn-
ing efficient, yet fun, at all levels. In addition, Essen-
tial Elements continues its innovation with power-
ful technology-based learning tools, supplementary
components, and correlated performance materials.

Essential Elements for Strings Book 1 offers begin-
ning students sound pedagogy and engaging music,
all carefully paced to successfully start young play-
ers on their musical journey. EE features both fami-
liar songs and specially designed exercises, created
and arranged for the classroom in a unison-learning
environment, as well as instrument-specific exer-
cises to focus each student on the unique charac-
teristics of their own instrument. EE provides both
teachers and students with a wealth of materials to
develop total musicianship, even at the beginning
stages.

Book 1 uses a note-to-note sequence with easy-to-
read notation. Students begin with the note names
written inside the note heads, and then the names
are gradually eliminated.

Contemporary pedagogy starts from the "top" of
the hand. Violins and violas start with three fin-
gers down, cellos with four. This technique creates
better left-hand shape and helps develop proper
playing position from the beginning. Teaching the
double bass is accomplished without displacing the
octave.

New material is carefully paced, sequential and
immediately reinforced. New notes are approa-
ched by step, then gradually played with wider
skips and crossing strings. Each new rhythm
is introduced as a Rhythm Rap, which can be
shadow bowed, then played on an open string,
and finally placed in an appropriate melodic
setting.

The right hand is thoroughly and sequentially
developed through a series of seven Bow Buil-
ders. Each one defines a specific action requi-
red to produce an acceptable bow hand.