September 2012

Teaching kids has made me a better conductor

September 24, 2012 15:39

I've recently started conducting a lively amateur orchestra in north London. Whilst I have always harbored an interest in conducting, what I never imagined was that teaching large groups of beginner violinists would provide such useful training. I've never been one to talk down to children, so moving to working with adults has proven a simpler transition than I first imagined. Both need motivating, help and lots of patience. Conducting is essentially educating, only with the use of a baton, fancier words and ruder jokes. If you can motivate a roomful of kids with little or no musical training to play together, a room full of keen amateurs is a breeze.

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Sample a fun, accessible beginner string book without paying a cent (iPhone required).

September 13, 2012 03:00

Any string teachers looking for fun, accessible material for beginners please have a look at Vamoosh Book 1 on the iPhone/iPad. You can see and hear the material without having to buy a copy. Books are posted from the UK at no additional cost so long as you buy from the Vamoosh website using Paypal. Thanks for reading!

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Violin Book on the iPhone! First of its kind, will it be the last?

September 5, 2012 16:21

Delighted to announce that after a long wait, the iPhone version of Vamoosh Book 1 is now available for free from the app store. This will give people a chance to sample the pieces and backing tracks in advance of spending any hard earned cash. The iPad version is more useful still as it offers films of the pieces being played and a 'film yourself' option, ideal for parents with no prior training.

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More entries: August 2012