The Art of String Teaching 2nd Edition by Michael Hopkins

The Art of String Teaching – a hybrid of written text and high-quality online videos – is a comprehensive string pedagogy resource covering everything from the origins and history of the string family to advanced-level string techniques.

This one-of-a-kind resource begins with two chapters that provide an overview of the orchestral strings. In Chapter 3 Hopkins describes his philosophical approach to string education and provides a curricular model for string instruction. Chapters 4 and 5 provide a detailed description of foundational pedagogy for strings, and Chapters 6 and 7 contain information for helping beginners develop skills and musicianship.

Chapters 8 through 12 focus on intermediate- and advanced-level instruction, touching on such topics as left-hand shifting, vibrato, bowing techniques, tuning skills, improvisation and composition, and music listening, among others. The two concluding chapters offer insights on rehearsing and how to run a successful orchestra program. QR codes throughout the book link to online video demonstrations of string techniques.

The online appendices contain an abundance of practical and convenient teacher resources, including repertoire for beginning string classes, worksheets, flashcards, scales and arpeggios, a template for method book analysis, and sample assessments and rubrics.

This book serves as a useful reference guide for professional orchestra conductors, teachers of group string classes, and private studio teachers. It also addresses the needs of students whose primary instrument is not strings and is suited for use in a string techniques or pedagogy course at the college level.

Michael Hopkins is Professor of Music Education at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In addition to serving as a guest conductor at string festivals across the country, he has given many presentations at state and national conferences on various topics related to string education and music technology. He has composed or arranged over 90 published works for orchestra, and has published articles in a number of the most notable music and education journals.