Essential Elements 2000 for Strings: Teacher's Manual, Book 1: A Comprehensive String Method

by Michael Allen, Robert Gillespie, Pamela Hayes

Now the best-selling band method is even better The same great method that directors have come to trust now includes a CD AND a DVD. Features include: * BOOK: Same great Essential Elements 2000 method * CD/CD-ROM FEATURES: Play-Along Tracks 1-71 (with a professional player for every instrument) * DVD FEATURES: Startup Video (learn the basics - 15 min.); ALL 193 Play-Along Tracks; More Duets and Trios; Music Listening Library * CD AND DVD EACH FEATURE: SmartMusic Software (practice, record, and e-mail a performance, plus on-screen assessment - includes Ex. 1-86 with special offer to continue); Finale NotePad Software; Tempo Adjustment Software (for Play-Along Tracks)

272 pages, Spiral + CD-ROM + DVD

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

My company is abandoning this book after teacher feedback. It's fairly slow-moving for students: It doesn't introduce more than two strings (sticking to A and D) or eighth notes and dotted rhythms until way far into the book. It also introduces bowing way late. Lots of songs are marked pizz., but I'd teach them with bowing. (I teach 8- to 11-year-olds.) This also contributes to the lack of rhythm diversity.

It also introduces notes backward: It introduces a string, like D, then teaches G THEN F#, THEN E, which all teachers found strange. It's just more natural to learn E, then F#, then G (1, 2, 3 fingers). So I always have to skip ahead and go back.

It does have some good songs and includes piano accompaniment on all the songs, which is nice.