Practice tips and resources
StringAcademyOnline Steven Sjobring’s youtube channel
lisas-studio.com the link to the best note reading curriculum for string players. Developed by our good friend and colleague Lisa Hirschmugl.
Stringpedagogy.com is a great site that provides a wealth of information about violin and viola technique. Mimi Zweig’s curriculim is very similar to that of our teachers, and it is recommended that students and parents use this resource to supplement lessons. You can download video clips of lessons and demonstrations.
violinmasterclass.com is a free site that has many video clips of lessons from master violin teachers. We found this wonderful website through a professor teaching classes during the Starling-Delay Symposium at Juilliard. This site has practical information for beginning to advanced violin playing. The site includes clips about how to practice well and how to master specific violin techniques such as spiccato, legato, and richochet. Please look around this site!
ToddEhle.com is site that has resources for violin students including 53 short video clips posted on u-tube about basic string technique. This site is especially helpful for college/adult students. The video clips are very clear and easy to understand. Todd Ehle is an accomplished violinist and experienced teacher.
musicracer.com free online music games for note reading and musical terms
Online music stores
SharMusic.com
swstrings.com
Luck’s Music Library
Local sheet music stores
Wheaton College Book Store, 418 N. Chase St., 752-5119 (They carry Suzuki books and CD’s in addition to a small selection of other music books.)
String instrument shops (important tip: always call ahead of time)
Gregory S. Sapp Violins, Ltd (630) 423-1334 124 N. Main St. Unit B Wheaton, IL
Kenneth Stein Violins (630) 782-0273 172 N. York Elmhurst, IL 60126
Austin Violins (630) 466-7562 316 Wheeler Rd. Sugar Grove, IL 60554
William Harris Lee (312) 786-0459 410 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605
Bein and Fushi (312) 663-0150 410 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60701
Becker Carl & Son Ltd. (773) 348-5698 1416 W. Belmont Ave. Chicago, IL 60657
Warren Kenneth & Son Ltd. (312) 427-7475 407 S. Dearborn Chicago, IL 60605
Michael Darnton (312) 933-3158 220 S. State St. Suite 2014 Chicago, IL 60604
Fritz Reuter & Sons (847) 677-7255 3971 W. Toughy Ave. Lincolnwood, IL 60712
Performances
CSO.org (the official site for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
College-Church.org (Look for the Concert Series Brochure under the Media heading. Local and free!)
GrantParkMusicFestival.com (free summer concerts in downtown Chicago)
Ravinia.org (Great summer festival- Lawn tickets are only $10!)
Civic orchestra
Wheaton College Artist Series
Youth Orchestras
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra
Youth Symphony of DuPage
Aurora Youth Symphony Orchestra
Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra
Summer Camps
Credo Chamber Music Camp (located at Oberlin College in Ohio)
Point Counter Point Chamber Music (Great camp in Vermont)
Chautauqua Music Festival (Located in upstate New York)
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
Other links of interest
ChicagoClassicStringQuartet.com (Great string quartet for hire!)
ArtistaTrio.com
KenyaChildrensFund.org
MeetingKenyasKids.org
Children’s Hope International
Coming soon:
- Practice tips
- Materials list (linked with repertoire page)
- Other helpful web links