I am thrilled to be joining the faculty of the University of Michigan String Teachers Workshop again this summer. This year, my responsibilities will include teaching the beginning and intermediate violin and viola pedagogy classes along with some general sessions. My general session topics include my sessions on Computational Thinking, the Habit Loop, and Finding and Maintaining Fulfillment in your career in string education.
The University of Michigan String Educators Workshop, led by Dr. Michael Hopkins, is designed to meet the needs of the variety of educators who are responsible for teaching strings. The workshop contains two tracks in the morning to address participants’ varied experience with teaching strings. Participants come together in the afternoon for special topics sessions and to explore new music for strings.
The Experienced Track is for string principals and experienced orchestra teachers who want to continue to develop their secondary instrument, rehearsal and conducting skills, and expand their knowledge of string repertoire and pedagogy. The String Immersion (SI) Track is for those with a band or choral background and others with little background in strings that find themselves assigned to teach orchestra.
This year the teaching faculty includes:
Michael Hopkins
Chair of Music Education and Professor of Music, University of Michigan
Workshop Teaching Focuses: Double Bass, String Pedagogy, Repertoire, Program Development
Kristen Pellegrino
Professor of Music Education, University of Texas at San Antonio
Workshop Teaching Focuses: String Immersion Class for Band & Choir Directors, Teaching Artistry
Scott Laird
Fine Arts Chair / Instructor of Music, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
Workshop Teaching Focuses: Violin, Eclectic Styles, Rehearsal Techniques
Andrea Yun
Cellist, Detroit Opera / Teacher Trainer, Suzuki Association of the Americas
Workshop Teaching Focuses: Cello Technique & Curriculum, String Pedagogy, Teaching & Communication Strategies
