The Art of String Teaching (Second Edition)

Michael Hopkins

• Publisher: GIA Publications
• Year: 2026
• eBook ISBN:
  9798896300243
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Music

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.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface to the Second Edition
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 - The Instruments
• Chapter 2 - Historical Overview: Orchestral Stringed Instruments, Influential Teachers, and String Education
• Chapter 3 - Conceptualizing, Planning, and Assessing String Instruction
• Chapter 4 - Foundations of String Playing: Posture, Instrument Position, and Left Hand Position
• Chapter 5 - Foundations of String Playing: Bow Hold, Bow Stroke, Foundation Repertoire
• Chapter 6 - The Developing Beginner: Part I
• Chapter 7 - The Developing Beginner: Part 2
• Chapter 8 - Intermediate Level Technique: Part I
• Chapter 9 - Intermediate Level Technique: Part 2
• Chapter 10 - Intermediate Level Instruction
• Chapter 11 - Advanced Level Technique
• Chapter 12 - Advanced Level Instruction
• Chapter 13 - Rehearsal Strategies
• Chapter 14 - Building and Maintaining an Orchestra Program
• About the Author
• General Index
• Index of Scales and Arpeggios