Teacher Workshop:

Teaching the Cello to Children

June 24-27

Faculty: Scott Cook, Trischa Loebl

Presented by the String Academy of Wisconsin at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Because children learn differently than adults, the foundations of a child’s technique and tone depend very much on the ability of the first string teacher to provide instruction adapted to a child’s motor skills and understanding.  The course is designed for private studio teachers and public school string teachers with students between the ages of four and eighteen.  It is intended to validate teaching techniques and introduce new ideas of how best to set the foundations for young cellists using ideas from Shinichi Suzuki, Paul Rolland and the extensive experience of the String Academy faculty.  Seminar topics include:

• Setting the stage: teaching and guiding students and parents through the important first lessons.
• Musical foundations: introducing the, language of music at the earliest stages; developing an ear which discerns the relationship between sound and meaning.
• Finding the sound: ideas for finding the balance of the bow and the left hand; the release of tension; the meaningful vibrato.
• Principles of teaching: strategy, setting teaching goals for students and achieving them.
• The sequence: technique married to musicianship through clear goals; teaching without leaving holes in the student’s development.
• Seeking virtuosity: a continuation of the Sequence through to artist-level repertoire.
• Secure intonation: the hand frame, shifting, thumb position and “wiring the brain” for success.
• Music theory: how and why music theory is important to every musician.
• Cello literature: a guide to the cello solo and technical repertoire and its application toteaching.
• Group instruction: ideas for organization and repertoire.
• Rehabilitation of incorrect beginnings: ideas to help the teacher and student shift briefly into reverse.

He is the artistic director of the Swannanoa Chamber Music Festival Workshop and the director of the annual international teaching workshop, “Teaching Cello to Children” at the String Academy of WI.  As a performer, he held principal positions in the Greenville, Waukesha and Racine Symphonies as well as the Skylight Opera.  He is a frequent recitalist appearing at the Swannanoa Festival, Chamber Music Milwaukee, Saint James and Wilson Center recital series.  He is a longtime member of the AIMS Orchestra in Graz, Austria.  He has made numerous recordings including those for Brett Records (England) and for Hal Leonard.

E-mail: SACook@uwm.edu

Fax: 414-963-4760
Web: www.stringacademyofwisconsin.org/celloworkshop