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| Degrees Available | About
the String Pedagogy Program |
| String Pedagogy
Faculty |
Degrees Available
- Master of Music in Performance and String Pedagogy
- Master of Music Education and String Pedagogy
About the String Pedagogy Program
String pedagogy studies at Northwestern are designed to add
an important dimension to Bienen School degree programs in
string performance and music education. Students may select
from nine string pedagogy courses, or design an independent
study tailored to their individual needs. Both
undergraduate and graduate students may add such courses to their regular
program, with graduate students also able to pursue masters
degrees in String Performance and Pedagogy, and Music Education
and Pedagogy.
Key to string pedagogy studies is Northwestern’s Music
Academy – a
pre-college division serving young musicians in the greater Evanston area.
Through the Academy, students receive hands-on teaching experience
and guidance from experienced pedagogues. From this experience
and the coursework offered, students are exposed to a variety
of proven methodologies as well as hands on teaching experience.
For complete information on the String Pedagogy offerings and
curricula, please contact musiclife@northwestern.edu.
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Testimonials
Excerpt from "String Project Success Stories: Lessons to be Learned" by
Gregory C. Hurley
American String Teacher, volume 48, no. 8
November 1998
The String Division of the Music Academy at Northwestern University was
reactivated in 1995 after a period of dormancy. It provides
Northwestern string students with the opportunity for authentic
teaching experiences in both individual and group settings.
Pedagogy classes offered in the program are part of the requirements
in the Master of Music in string performance and pedagogy and
the Bachelor of Music programs. In addition to serving the
needs of the students in these degree programs, the academy
also serves the surrounding community by providing
violin, viola, and cello lessons. Although there is virtually
no age limit, participants in the program are primarily of
elementary and middle school age.
James Kjelland, coordinator of string pedagogy, serves as
liaison between the School of Music and the String
Division of the NU Music Academy, the preparatory division
of the School of Music. Kjelland teaches four of the nine
pedagogy courses in the curriculum. Stacia Spencer is the
coordinator of the String Division of the Music Academy and
teaches three levels of violin and viola pedagogy; she also
mentors apprentice teachers. Other academy teachers also
mentor Northwestern University students who teach in the
program.
The Academy is primarily self-supported through lesson fees, and university
facilities and administrative support are provided by University.
Northwestern students who are selected for teaching assistant
positions in the Academy are offered a tuition reduction as
compensation for their teaching duties.
The Northwestern Music Academy does not offer large heterogeneous
ensemble experiences, but future plans involve a chamber
music program. The program is designed to serve the degree
requirements of string performance majors at the undergraduate
level and the Master of Music in string performance-pedagogy
at the graduate level. Undergraduate music education students
may opt for the course work, although not specifically
required of their degree program.
What people are saying...
I took
various string pedagogy and education classes during
my DM Degree in Cello Performance at NU. At first I wasn't
aware to how much is there in this field. Eventually, I realized
I got an enormous and very practical knowledge like
how to teach beginners to college level students, mixed string
classes, technique classes, various string methods and much more--all
that with the best faculty I could have hoped for.
My performance career coupled with a broad string pedagogy background
proved the smartest choice I could do in my professional life.
-- Racheli
Galay-Altman, Cello teacher, Chicago Music Institute
I had a wonderful experience at NU and I wouldn't have traded
it for anything else! I received very personal attention
and all the professors were quite knowledgeable. I thoroughly
recommend anyone interested in string pedagogy to have their
education at NU.
-- Elaine (Yen) Lee, Middle school string teacher
"I
certainly enjoyed my experience at Northwestern.
Having a masters ... holds a lot of weight when applying for
college teaching jobs. [My pedagogy classes] prepared me well
for teaching the younger private students I have now
and they also assist me when doing recruiting sessions at high
schools."
-- Nick Curry, Cello teacher, University of South Dakota
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Sample Courses
For complete information on the String Pedagogy offerings and
curricula, please contact musiclife@northwestern.edu.
STRINGS 311-0 Suzuki Pedagogy
Introduction and in-depth study of fundamental principles of Suzuki philosophy
and materials. Available to violin, viola, cello, and double bass players with
emphasis on violin. (Open to all string players, required of all MM String
Pedagogy majors, waived with prior experience)
STRINGS 312-0 String Class Pedagogy
Teaching strings in heterogeneous groups. Covers group teaching strategies,
program administration, materials, techniques and pedagogy for all four instruments.
Offered for the performance/pedagogy major to learn about secondary instruments,
group teaching, and college level techniques classes. (Open to all string players)
STRINGS 313-0 History of String Pedagogy
Historical survey of the major violin, viola, cello, and double bass pedagogues
from the early Baroque through 20th Century, including publications and contributions
to contemporary schools. Seminar format. (required of all MM String Pedagogy
majors, open to all string players)
STRINGS 314-0 Comprehensive String Pedagogy
Comparative study and application of the principles of successful string teaching.
Includes communication skills, observations, comparison of contemporary approaches
of Suzuki, Rolland, Havas, et al. Lecture, discussion, and demonstration format.
Open to all string players. (Required of all MM String Pedagogy majors, open
to all string players)
STRINGS 315-1,2,3 Beginning Violin & Viola
Pedagogy
Developmental approach to individual and group teaching of elementary level
violin and viola students. Includes Rolland and Suzuki approaches, apprenticeship
teaching, and observations. (Open to all string players, one quarter required
of violin and viola majors in MM String Pedagogy)
STRINGS 316-1,2,3 Beginning Violoncello and Double Bass Pedagogy
Developmental approach to individual and group teaching of elementary-level
cello and/or double bass students. (open to all string players, one quarter
required of cellists and double bassists majoring in MM String Pedagogy)
STRINGS 317-0 Principles of Advanced/College Level Studio Teaching
In-depth analysis of individual instrument pedagogy for violin, viola, cello
or bass—according to major instrument. Taught by artist faculty. (Open to
all string players)
CONDUCTING 345-0/445-0 Orchestral Bowing: Style and Function
In-depth analysis of bowing function, styles, and performance practice. Open
to string and non-string players. Includes rehearsal protocol, individual
projects, hands-on applications. Final project: Bowing analysis of major
work. May count as required pedagogy course.
Contact for further information:
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String Pedagogy Faculty
James Kjelland
Associate Professor, Music Education/String Pedagogy
kjelland@northwestern.edu -
847-491-4769
PhD, University of Texas at Austin
Instrumental music specialist. Instructor and coordinator of
string education and pedagogy. Active conductor, clinician, adjudicator,
and consultant. Contributing author to: Teaching Stringed
Instruments: A Course of Study, comprehensive string class
method Strictly Strings, The Science and Psychology of Music
Performance, and Teaching Music Through Performance in
Orchestra. Author of Orchestral Bowing: Style & Function and
numerous journal articles on string pedagogy in The American
String Teacher, The Instrumentalist, and Council for Research
in Music Education. Member, American String Teachers Association,
Music Educators National Conference, and Pi Kappa Lambda. Former
faculty member: University of Southern California, R. D. Colburn
School of Performing Arts, and University of North Texas.
Paula Kosower
Lecturer, String Pedagogy
p-kosower@northwestern.edu
Biographical information to come.
Stacia Spencer
Lecturer, String Pedagogy
stacia-s@northwestern.edu - 847-467-6514
Biographical information to come.
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