Strategic Strings
with Emily Williams

Course Outline and Materials

Module 1: Like Bees to Honey

See how the right studio policies can reduce your work load and attract students who will work hard and pay you well for it.

Introductory Audio (2:49)
Studio Policies Activity 1
- Worksheet
- Audio (1:53)
Studio Policies Activity 2
- Worksheet
- Audio (3:21)
Studio Policies Activities 3–4
- Worksheet 3
- Worksheet 4
- Pricing Worksheet
- Audio (4:46)
Enforcing Your Studio Policies
- Audio (7:26)
- Handout
Application of High Standards in Teaching
- Audio (5:33)
Sample Studio Policies
- Studio Policies
- Studio Policies for Adults
- Studio Policies for Young Children
Mastery Assignment
- Audio (1:40)

Module 2: Make Music Reading Easy!

Discover the simple steps that will get students of all ages reading music quickly and easily!

Introductory Audio (1:09)
Introducing the 5 Fundamentals
- Audio (6:48)
- Five Fundamentals Graph
Music Reading Steps 1-4 Instructional Video (6:00)
- The Value of Teaching Open Strings (handout)
- Lesson Footage
  - Learning and Plucking the Open Strings (7:12)
  - Learning to Read Rhythms: Rhythm Cards (22:16)
  - Reading the Open Strings: Note Cards (10:30)
  - Plucking the Note Cards (2:06)
Music Reading Steps 5-8 Instructional Video (9:16)
- Music Reading Steps Summary Handout
- Lesson Footage
  - Learning Time Signatures (10:31)
  - Introducing a New Open String Piece (11:38)
Learning All the Notes Instructional Video (7:36)
- Lesson Footage
  - Introducing How to Read Notes on the A-String (8:13)
  - Introducing a New Piece with Key Signature (11:02)
  - Introducing a New Piece with Changing Key Signature (11:16)
  - Reviewing Key and Time Signatures with an Intermediate Student (2:14)
The Value of the Strategic Strings Approach
- Handout
- Audio (6:36)
How to Use The Beginning Violinist and Violist
- Audio (6:31)
Using Strategic Strings to Improve Sight Reading
- Audio (1:32)
- Handout
- Lesson Footage
  - Sight Reading with a Beginning Student (Initial Assessment) (3:39)
  - Sight Reading Steps with an Intermediate Student (10:41)
Ear Training Games for Beginners
- Audio (5:51)
- Handout
- Lesson Footage
  - Beginner Open String Ear Training Games (15:13)
  - Beginning Ear Training Games with Steps and Skips (28:36)
Suggestions for When a Student Hasn't Practiced
- Handout
Left Hand Pizzicato for the Beginner
- Audio (0:37)
- Handout
- Lesson Footage
  - Introducing Left Hand Pizzicato in Surprise for Strings Part 1 (12:36)
  - Introducing Left Hand Pizzicato in Surprise for Strings Part 2 (15:08)
  - Working on Left Hand Pizzicato in Bird Song (6:43)
  - Introducing Left-Hand Pizzicato to an Intermediate Student (7:50)
Mastery Assignment
- Worksheet

Module 3: The Art of Excellent Technique

Learn how to use balance and relaxation to produce more natural technique and create fluid bow control from even your youngest students.

Introductory Audio (1:43)
Teaching Approaches to Avoid
- Audio (5:46)
- Handout
Instrument Set-up
- Instructional Video (10:43)
- Lesson Footage
  - Introducing Instrument Set-up (11:35)
Left Hand Set-up
- Instructional Video (11:48)
- Handout
- Lesson Footage
  - Introducing Left Hand Set-up (12:01)
  - Left Hand Set-up 2 - Plucking (8:14)
  - Left Hand Set-up and Plucking with an Adult Student (7:50)
  - Working on Left Hand Technique with an Advanced Student (5:06)
Right Hand Set-up
- Instructional Video (16:43)
- Handout
- Lesson Footage
  - Introducing the Bow Hold (12:19)
  - Working on Right Hand Set-up with a Young Student (6:53)
  - Working with Adult Students on Set-up and 3 Positions (6:34)
  - Applying Balance and Finger Function to Bowing with an Advanced Student (14:59)
Bowing
- Instructional Video (15:36)
- Handout
- Lesson Footage
  - Introducing the Lower Half of the Bow (3:45)
  - Introducing the Upper Half of the Bow (8:09)
  - Introducing Full Bows and Adding Bow to Music (11:05)
Introducing the 3 Elements of Tone and Dynamic
- Audio (5:35)
- Handout
Relating the 3 Elements to Bow Strokes
- Audio (7:23)
- Handout
- Lesson Footage
  - Working on Detache, Staccato and Legato (21:16)
  - Working on the Detache Stroke with an Advanced Student (13:58)
Bow Distribution Instructional Video (21:03)
- Lesson Footage with Young Beginning Students
  - Bow Distribution and Tone Work on Lightly Row (Viola) (4:27)
  - Bow Distribution in Allegro (5:43)
  - Bow Distribution in May Song (4:54)
- Lesson Footage with Intermediate Students
  - Bow Distribution in Minuet #1 by Bach (7:00)
  - Bow Distribution and Tone Work in The Puppet Show (8:09)
- Lesson Footage with Advanced Students
  - Working on Bow Distribution and Tone in Accolay Concerto (4:13)
  - Working Bow Distribution, Tone and Dynamic with a New Student in La Folia (8:38)
  - Bow Distribution in Hungarian Dance and German Dance (37:39)
Finding Repertoire
- Handout
- Audio (16:53)
The Benefit of Teaching All 4 Fingers from the Start
- Handout
Mastery Assignment
- Audio (2:50)
- Blank Graph
- Create a Bar Graph Online

Module 4: Enhance Student Understanding

Explore how common approaches to tuning and practicing may be hindering your students’ understanding and retention and learn what to do about it.

Introductory Audio (1:41)
Importance of Tuning
- Audio (5:09)
- Handout
How to Teach Tuning Effectively
- Audio (7:36)
Stages of Tuning
- Audio (1:42)
- Lesson Footage
  - Introducing Tuning by Plucking (11:16)
  - Tips on Tuning by Plucking (16:42)
  - Introducing Tuning with the Bow: Young Student (9:23)
  - Introducing Tuning with the Bow: HS Student (3:38)
  - Working on Tuning with the Bow: Adult Student (6:35)
  - Introducing How to Tune in 5ths: HS Student (9:23)
Tone Deafness
- Audio (0:37)
- Handout
Introduction to Practicing
- Audio (0:55)
3 Elements of Effective Practicing (handout)
- Frequency Audio (3:40)
- Duration Audio (0:59)
- Quality Audio (2:14)
- Goal Oriented Audio (1:53)
- Structured Audio (5:15)
- Practicing Tools List
- Measurable Audio (2:00)
- Lesson Footage
How Muscle Memory Works and How it Affects Your Success (media link)
Motivating Children to Practice (handout)
Practicing Techniques for Intonation (handout)
Practicing Tools
- Lesson Footage
  - Student #1 Young Student (5:30)
  - Student #2 Young Student (3:36)
  - Student #3 Upper Elementary Student (4:46)
  - Student #4 High School Student (3:27)
  - Student #5 High School Student (18:17)
  - Student #6 Adult Student (5:26)
  - Student #7 Adult Student (10:20)
Suggestions for When a Student Hasn't Practiced (handout)
Mastery Assignment
- Audio (1:20)
- Worksheet

Module 5: Facilitate Student Learning

Employ my Assessment Steps and Student Participation Questions to quickly get students coming back to lessons prepared so you don’t have to teach the same things week after week.

Introductory Audio (0:54)
The Five Assessment Steps
- Introductory Audio (1:28)
- Worksheet
1. Praise Audio (1:12)
2. Critique Audio (2:46)
3. Solve Audio (2:37)
4. Practicing Tools Audio (3:22)
5. Solidify Audio (2:25)
Introduction to the 7 Student Participation Questions
- Audio (3:25)
- Handout
Adding the 7 Student Participation Questions (handout)
- Participation Question 1 (0:59)
- Participation Questions 2-4 (5:52)
- Participation Question 5 (2:22)
- Participation Question 6 (1:27)
- Participation Question 7 (1:01)
Summary of the Assessment Steps and Participation Questions
- Audio (6:24)
- Handout
- Lesson Footage
  - Example 1: Young Student (11:12)
  - Example 2: Young Student (11:27)
  - Example 3: High School Student (12:04)
  - Example 4: High School Student (13:10)
  - Example 5: High School Student (11:52)
  - Example 6: Young Viola Student (10:58)
Mastery Assignment
- Audio (0:58)
- Worksheet

Module 6: Mayday! Mayday! - Navigating the Stagnant Student

Learn a systematic way of getting to the root of why your valuable teaching is not getting the results you intend.

Introductory Audio (1:20)
4 Damage Control Steps
- Audio (6:14)
- Handout
- Lesson Footage
  - Damage Control Example 1 (5:34)
  - Damage Control Example 2 (7:44)
  - Damage Control Example 3 (2:52)
  - Damage Control Example 4 (1:06)
  - Damage Control Example 5 (5:46)
Mastery Assignment
- Worksheet

Module 7: Making a Great First Impression

See how everything we’ve covered can be used to eliminate the uncertainty and anxiety of initial lessons so you can put your best foot forward.

Introductory Audio (1:14)
First Lessons with a Complete Beginner
- Audio (3:52)
- Handout
- Lesson Footage
  - Note: Unlike the other Lesson Footage Videos, the lesson footage videos in this module are un-cut and unedited so that you can see how all the time in an initial lesson might be used. Some of these lessons contain clips that were used in previous videos, so now you can see how they fit into the whole.
  - Trial Lesson with a Complete Beginner: Young Student (23:58)
  - First Lesson with a Complete Beginner: Age 10 (37:30)
  - First Lesson with a Complete Beginner: Adult Student #1 (34:25)
  - First Lesson with a Complete Beginner: Adult Student #2 (35:49)
  - First Lesson with a Complete Beginner: Adult Student #3 (35:49)
4 Types of Students who Already Play
- Audio (1:27)
- Handout
First Lesson with a Student who Already Plays
- Audio (11:37)
- Handout
- Lesson Footage
  - First Lesson with a Beginning Student who Already Plays (School Instruction): Age 7 (30:01)
  - First Lesson with a Beginning Student who Already Plays (Private Lessons): Age 15 (39:07)
  - First Lesson with a Student who Already Plays (Private Lessons): Age 16 (50:12)
  - First Lesson with an Adult Student who Already Plays (Self-Taught) (42:57)
Mastery Assignment
- Audio (1:22)
- Worksheet 1
- Worksheet 2
- Blank Graph

Strategic Stringswith Emily Williams