Georgia's Recommendations
The Best Instruments
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Instrument Rentals
Georgia recommends renting through SHAR Music. Shar provides a high quality instrument at a reasonable price. They offer several options for each instrument to fit the student's need and price range. Several of Georgia's students play on Shar instruments and each one has a beautiful rich tone that outshines local music store rental instruments. Each rental is a brand new instrument which makes the experience more exciting for the player knowing that they are the first one to play that instrument.
Georgia recommends renting through SHAR Music. Shar provides a high quality instrument at a reasonable price. They offer several options for each instrument to fit the student's need and price range. Several of Georgia's students play on Shar instruments and each one has a beautiful rich tone that outshines local music store rental instruments. Each rental is a brand new instrument which makes the experience more exciting for the player knowing that they are the first one to play that instrument.
String Necessities
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Hill Dark Rosin
Hill Rosin is the only rosin that Georgia uses. The extra sticky formula allows for a great grip without much work from the player. Hill rosin is affordable for all players with a low price of $9.99.
Hill Rosin is the only rosin that Georgia uses. The extra sticky formula allows for a great grip without much work from the player. Hill rosin is affordable for all players with a low price of $9.99.
Everest Shoulder Rests
Everest shoulder rests are great for beginning players. The curved design fits to the shoulder while an extra squishy cushion allows for a comfortable fit while on the shoulder. The Everest shoulder rest is available in regular and collapsible designs as well as fun colors to make playing more exciting for any aged student. Everest offers fractional and full size shoulder rests to fit any instrument and any size. The Everest shoulder rest is reasonably priced ranging from $12.99 to $21.99. |
Bonmusica Shoulder Rest
The Bonmusica shoulder rest is great for the advancing player looking for a more comfortable fit. The Bonmusica shoulder rest is 100% adjustable and can be bent, twisted, taken apart, lowered, raised, curved, straightened etc. This shoulder rest molds to the player's shoulder for a completely personalized fit. The Bonmusica is available for 1/4 to full size instruments and is available for violin and viola. Prices are higher but well worth the cost. Violin rests are $44.99 and viola rests are $49.99. Georgia personally plays with a Bonmusica shoulder rest and couldn't imagine playing without it.
The Bonmusica shoulder rest is great for the advancing player looking for a more comfortable fit. The Bonmusica shoulder rest is 100% adjustable and can be bent, twisted, taken apart, lowered, raised, curved, straightened etc. This shoulder rest molds to the player's shoulder for a completely personalized fit. The Bonmusica is available for 1/4 to full size instruments and is available for violin and viola. Prices are higher but well worth the cost. Violin rests are $44.99 and viola rests are $49.99. Georgia personally plays with a Bonmusica shoulder rest and couldn't imagine playing without it.
Xeros Cello Endpin Anchor
Cellos like to slip and slid while on smooth surfaced floors making practicing and performing an adventure for even the most poised player. The Xeros cello anchor slides under the foot of the chair while leaving a space to place the end pin in. Players can lengthen or shorten their anchor with a simple slide allowing for the perfect fit for their cello. The cello anchor is much more reliable than a regular rock stop as it hooks to the chair. Because of this feature the cello will not move unless the player moves the chair making for a seamless performance and practice session every time. Xeros cello anchors and completely worth the price of $12.99.
Cellos like to slip and slid while on smooth surfaced floors making practicing and performing an adventure for even the most poised player. The Xeros cello anchor slides under the foot of the chair while leaving a space to place the end pin in. Players can lengthen or shorten their anchor with a simple slide allowing for the perfect fit for their cello. The cello anchor is much more reliable than a regular rock stop as it hooks to the chair. Because of this feature the cello will not move unless the player moves the chair making for a seamless performance and practice session every time. Xeros cello anchors and completely worth the price of $12.99.
Dominant Strings
Dominant strings, as stated on the back of the package, have a great combination of brilliant and warm sound. Dominant strings provide a richer sound than most strings of their price range providing a beautiful warm sound even from student instruments. Dominant strings have easy playability producing a great sound for even the newest musician. Dominant strings also have a fairly strong tuning stability rating keeping the instrument in tune longer requiring less time tuning and more time playing. Dominant strings have three gauges allowing the player to pick the thickness that suites their needs best. Full sets of strings range from $53.99 to $193.99.
Dominant strings, as stated on the back of the package, have a great combination of brilliant and warm sound. Dominant strings provide a richer sound than most strings of their price range providing a beautiful warm sound even from student instruments. Dominant strings have easy playability producing a great sound for even the newest musician. Dominant strings also have a fairly strong tuning stability rating keeping the instrument in tune longer requiring less time tuning and more time playing. Dominant strings have three gauges allowing the player to pick the thickness that suites their needs best. Full sets of strings range from $53.99 to $193.99.
Required Books
Suzuki Method Books
Georgia teaches all students from the Suzuki method books. Suzuki offers a variety of songs from easy to difficult. Books range from beginner to advance and everything in between. Students will use Suzuki for their Spring Recital pieces and to start building their musical repertoire.
Georgia teaches all students from the Suzuki method books. Suzuki offers a variety of songs from easy to difficult. Books range from beginner to advance and everything in between. Students will use Suzuki for their Spring Recital pieces and to start building their musical repertoire.
Essential Elements
The Essential Elements series is used in two different ways in Georgia's lessons. Books one and two are used occasionally with students who need a different starting point. Books one and two start with very basic concepts and move forward. They allow the student to learn concepts at their own pace with multiple opportunities to practice each concept. Not all students will use books one and two. Books three and four are part of the "Technique Series" and are required for all advancing students. Once a student reaches Suzuki Book Two they will begin in Essential Elements Book Three:Intermediate Technique. Essential Elements Technique Books cover positions, shifting, scales, style and bowing and rhythm studies. The books move through concepts slowly with multiple opportunities to practice the new skills acquired within the books.
The Essential Elements series is used in two different ways in Georgia's lessons. Books one and two are used occasionally with students who need a different starting point. Books one and two start with very basic concepts and move forward. They allow the student to learn concepts at their own pace with multiple opportunities to practice each concept. Not all students will use books one and two. Books three and four are part of the "Technique Series" and are required for all advancing students. Once a student reaches Suzuki Book Two they will begin in Essential Elements Book Three:Intermediate Technique. Essential Elements Technique Books cover positions, shifting, scales, style and bowing and rhythm studies. The books move through concepts slowly with multiple opportunities to practice the new skills acquired within the books.
Wohlfahrt Etudes
Violins and violas only. Wohlfahrt etudes give the student practice on speeding up their fingers, different finger combinations, key signatures, bowings and more in long exercises. All the concepts of the Essential Elements Books elongated into etudes giving the student more of a challenge in their technique studies.
Violins and violas only. Wohlfahrt etudes give the student practice on speeding up their fingers, different finger combinations, key signatures, bowings and more in long exercises. All the concepts of the Essential Elements Books elongated into etudes giving the student more of a challenge in their technique studies.
Adventures In Violinland
Students complete one book out of the Adventures In Violinland series, Meet Vibby Vibrato. Vibrato is introduced in a laid back, easy to understand way. The book starts with students in fourth position to keep their hand locked in order to keep the correct movement. Throughout the book short songs incorporate vibrato and the hand slowly works its way back down in to first position. Lots of pictures make this book an amusing way to learn a difficult concept.
Students complete one book out of the Adventures In Violinland series, Meet Vibby Vibrato. Vibrato is introduced in a laid back, easy to understand way. The book starts with students in fourth position to keep their hand locked in order to keep the correct movement. Throughout the book short songs incorporate vibrato and the hand slowly works its way back down in to first position. Lots of pictures make this book an amusing way to learn a difficult concept.
Master Theory
Students complete the first three books of the series moving from beginning to advanced theory. The Master Theory books are take home assignments to be completed for the next week's lesson. Theory can be compared to learning to write. One can not write a paragraph until they learn to spell the words and how to form sentences. Theory are the basics of music including note reading, rhythm studies, accidentals, musical notations and more. Master Theory works in a "one size fits all" concept with all students learning from the exact same books.
Students complete the first three books of the series moving from beginning to advanced theory. The Master Theory books are take home assignments to be completed for the next week's lesson. Theory can be compared to learning to write. One can not write a paragraph until they learn to spell the words and how to form sentences. Theory are the basics of music including note reading, rhythm studies, accidentals, musical notations and more. Master Theory works in a "one size fits all" concept with all students learning from the exact same books.
Extras
SHAR 3 - in - 1 Clip Metro - Tuner
The SHAR 3 - in - 1 Clip Metro Tuner allows the student to tune and keep a steady tempo all at their fingertips. The clip on tuner has the option to tune your instrument using vibrations (no more outside noise issues while tuning!) or keep your tempo with its metronome feature. This small but mighty tool is everything you need to make your practice sessions count!
The SHAR 3 - in - 1 Clip Metro Tuner allows the student to tune and keep a steady tempo all at their fingertips. The clip on tuner has the option to tune your instrument using vibrations (no more outside noise issues while tuning!) or keep your tempo with its metronome feature. This small but mighty tool is everything you need to make your practice sessions count!
GelRest Stick - On GelPad
The GelRest Stick - On GelPad is a great solution to "the mark" that violinist and violist get after playing for long periods of time. The GelPad simply sticks to your chin rest to make for a more comfortable fit. The GelPad cuts down on the friction from the chin rest on the players neck allowing for a more enjoyable experience while playing. The GelPad is available is several colors.
The GelRest Stick - On GelPad is a great solution to "the mark" that violinist and violist get after playing for long periods of time. The GelPad simply sticks to your chin rest to make for a more comfortable fit. The GelPad cuts down on the friction from the chin rest on the players neck allowing for a more enjoyable experience while playing. The GelPad is available is several colors.
Tourte Orchestra Mute
A necessity for all string musicians. Tourte Orchestra Mutes are cheap and can be stored directly on your instrument when not being used. Orchestra mutes can be called for at any time and it's always better to be prepared than to be without a mute!
A necessity for all string musicians. Tourte Orchestra Mutes are cheap and can be stored directly on your instrument when not being used. Orchestra mutes can be called for at any time and it's always better to be prepared than to be without a mute!
Ultra Practice Mute
The Ultra Practice Mute is perfect for those times when you want to practice without disturbing your family, neighbors, classmates etc. Practice mutes suppress the sound to give just enough for the player to hear and silence for those around. Perfect for late night or early morning practice sessions or any time you don't want to be heard practicing.
The Ultra Practice Mute is perfect for those times when you want to practice without disturbing your family, neighbors, classmates etc. Practice mutes suppress the sound to give just enough for the player to hear and silence for those around. Perfect for late night or early morning practice sessions or any time you don't want to be heard practicing.