Virtuoso Archives - Smart Music Teacher

Barshai Oistrakh playing without a shoulder rest

2 Jun 2016

How I Transitioned to Playing Without a Shoulder Rest (and how you can too)

The Shoulder Rest Experience It’s always a heated debate out there, whether or not to use a shoulder rest, and I am not intending to go there. I can only speak from my own experience which is, shoulder rests didn’t … Read More

Testimonials

Grace’s class is very focused and hands-on. It gives all of the tools one needs to be successful in the string classroom in a way that is engaging and… Read More

Will Snodgrass

This was a great opportunity to experience a step-by-step process for teaching beginner strings. Valuable insight from the perspective of both teacher and student! I was encouraged to see… Read More

Elizabeth Seo - Toronto

I’m decades older than most of Grace Law’s students, and adults who have been playing for a while are much harder to teach than kids. But her scale method… Read More

Pamela Young - Toronto

I teach middle school and high school beginners to advanced strings. I’m always looking for easier ways to present technique, and I find Grace’s system is better organised than… Read More

Giovanni Bobisse - Italy

I have taught strings for 30+ years. I currently teach 5th and 6th grade beginners in an Intermediate School. I have 135 students. I see them for 2 ensemble… Read More

Mardi Smith - Orchestra Director, Reed Intermediate School, Newtown, CT

Hello. I am a beginning Viola student and I wanted to take the time to tell you how wonderful your teaching system is. If I were to reorganize a… Read More

Rob Windsor

I am a non-strings player and I teach grade 9 to 12 strings in mixed grade and ability classes. Some students enter the program with playing experience in middle… Read More

Michael Jameer

I teach a mix of ability and mixed grade strings classes. As a band major, my lack of experience in playing stringed instruments makes it challenging to teach strings…. Read More

Lindsey Wen - Richmond Hill

Love SMT? Add your testimonial here…. Read More

Your Name

I love Smart Scales! I have been a private teacher for over 30 years and have found most scale systems to be visually overwhelming for my students. Many are… Read More

Cindy Bryan - Chesapeake, US

Smartmusicteacher.com is the one place you will find everything you need: blog posts, reviews, teaching materials, inspiration, and just great ideas that I’ve never come across before. Not only… Read More

Alessia D. - Toronto

I teach 6th 7th 8th grade strings as a non-string player. Before Grace’s class, my biggest challenge was teaching bow hold and left hand placement. This class has given… Read More

Melanie Johnston - Tempe Middle School

Among all the teaching materials I have used and collected so far, Smartmusicteacher.com is unique in the way it presents technique clearly, getting straight to the point yet remaining… Read More

Giovanni Bobisse - Italy

Smart Scales for Violin is a wonderful tool for any aspiring string student. The method is comprehensive, smartly organized and effective. The results are immediate and students enjoy this… Read More

Ivana Popovic - Toronto

Smart String Teacher’s Advanced Fingering Charts are invaluable for illustrating finger patterns. The charts are particularly useful when figuring out shifting arrangements. I refer to them constantly when learning… Read More

Sharon Scanlan

Working with Smart Music Theory has been of great benefit to me and to my students. With multiple split grade classes, the ability to provide students with clear units… Read More

Deborah Pady - Toronto

Smart Music Teacher contains a lot of very useful resources that Instrumental teachers can use in their classrooms. I have used Smart Fingering Charts for Strings with Middle School… Read More

Vivian Peng - Toronto

I used Smart Music Theory with my strings and vocal classes with great success. The lessons are sequential and worksheets are very nicely laid out to enhance students’ understanding…. Read More

Camilla Rayman - Toronto

Before Grace’s course I was having a hard time transferring my knowledge as a violinist to a beginner level explanation, without overwhelming the students with information. Grace’s… Read More

Julia Sullivan - Massachusetts

I teach privately only, beginner violin and viola. I live way out in the boonies so teaching online is going to be the only practical way to teach. Taking… Read More

Mac McCord - Louisburg, North Carolina

SMTheory’s method of teaching rhythm is one that addresses all the small details that we as educators might think are obvious to students. It also provides opportunities for students to… Read More

Leonidas Varahidis - Toronto

I am a woodwind player teaching elementary strings from grades 4-6. Before Grace’s class, my challenges were bow hold and positioning, which made me feel like I wasn’t better… Read More

Karen McKenna - New York

Virtuoso

How I Transitioned to Playing Without a Shoulder Rest (and how you can too)

First Position Fingering Charts for Beginner Strings

Check your bow! – Posters & Handouts

Smart Scales for Strings

Smart Bowing Exercises for Strings

A Mnemonic for Memorizing the Major Keys

Note-Reading for Strings Handout and Worksheets

Smart Fiddle Tunes for Strings

Smart Fingering Charts for Strings