Exploring Styles and Creative Practice for Strings

Join us for an engaging workshop meant for violin/fiddle/cello/guitar/bass/other string students and teachers of all levels and backgrounds. With hands-on work and creative exchange in mind, the group will offer approachable, inspiring ideas and exercises to enhance your creativity and musical personality.

The workshop will cover improvisation, composition, and practice philosophy. You'll also get the chance to deepen your perspective on many styles, particularly Jazz, American Folk/Fiddle, and Chamber music, where all elements will be connected in the context of universal strings and fingerboards.

Though the workshop is a one-time experience, you can expect to leave with tangible resources via print/PDF/QR code.

Topics to be covered include:

• Making practice more personal, efficient, and playful
• Rhythmic Precision and Flexibility (for pizz, picking, bow arm, and more)
• Tonal Fluency (scale studies, harmonic concepts, chromaticism)
• Stylistic Vocabulary (tunes, transcriptions, the importance of language/character/phrasing)
• Etude Writing (be your own coach)
• Instrumental cross-training and switching roles
• Eliminating self-consciousness from your playing