resources
RESOURCES
WEBSITE LINKS (for purchasing music, strings, equipment (like shoulder rests, cello end stops, rosin) etc.
Shar Music
Johnson Strings
Southwest Strings
J.W. Pepper If you want to listen to orchestra music or find some small ensemble or solo pieces to buy
**Amazon does have strings, shoulder rests and rosin etc. use caution! I strongly recommend NOT purchasing an instrument from Amazon or Ebay or similar site!!**
PRACTICING TOOLS:
FREE online metronome - set the tempo, hit start, and get practicing (fun fact: most music has a metronome marking on it at the beginning)
Tuner ninja - tune your instrument's strings to the correct pitch
WEBSITES TO FIND EXTRA/FUN MUSIC:
8notes - FREE music to have fun with
Musescore
Sheetmusicplus
Musicnotes
PURCHASING & RENTAL & REPAIRS INFO
TIPS/RECOMMENDATIONS/GUIDANCE:
Websites/stores/brands to AVOID for purchasing string instruments:
Ebay
Amazon
any website/store that sell instruments with different color paint = not good quality instruments
Mendini by Cecilio brand instrument (I have had LOTS of issues come up with students who have this brand of instrument)
Good quality options for purchasing, repairs and bow re-hairs:
Local - Robert Miller Violins in South Portland, ME http://robertmillerviolins.com/ (this is where I bring my personal instrument)
Local - Frost Gully Violins in Brunswick, ME http://frostgullyviolins.com/
Purchase or rentals (not local):
Shar Music
Southwest Strings
Johnson String Instrument
Local rental option:
Cricket Music LLC website
*Under new ownership as of 9/1/23
FAQ:
What is a good brand for a violin or viola shoulder rest?
Kun is my favorite brand! There are others out there that are good quality like Everest for example.
You can also find shoulder rests on Shar Music, Southwest Strings, JohnsonStrings and Amazon. Be sure to choose the correct size for you instrument. Ms. Hoag always has soft sponge shoulder rests to use with a rubber band - available free of charge :). Sometimes she even has Kun or Everest shoulder rests available for you to borrow for the year and sign out - ask and see! I STRONGLY encourage a more supportive shoulder rest like a Kun or Everest rather than a sponge.
How long do strings last for?
It all depends on how often you play. If you are playing more days during the week than not - after about 6 months strings typically loose their sound and are "dead." New strings will take a couple days and lots of playing to "break in" and stretch so that they settle and remain in tune. Strings come in all price ranges but I have found that they are most affordable when you buy a set of 4. You should always have a set of backup strings handy! I am happy to re-string your instrument for you and/or teach you how during an enrichment block at school!
Where can I find affordable extra "fun" music?
Check out Sheet Music Plus, Music Notes, Musicnotes, 8notes 8notes is free!
You can search by instrument and/or song title as well as by genre. Most music is easily downloadable after payment and the majority of pieces are less than $10. Shar Music is also a good place to buy music and you can search by level.
What is a good tuning app? What is a good metronome app?
Cleartune - chromatic tuner is one I have used for awhile that is always on my phone. Pro Metronome is my favorite metronome app.
What are some ways that I can practice being able to read notes faster?
Go to: Musictheory.net, click on "Exercises" and then "Note Identification" or ask Ms. Hoag for a set of flashcards to practice with!
**to make the following fingerboard practice less confusing - the only sharps you should have selected (blue) are C# and F#. Keep all letter names blue and all other # and b gray:
Violin fingerboard practice link HERE
Viola fingerboard practice link HERE
Cello fingerboard practice link HERE
Bass fingerboard practice link HERE
What resources could I use if I want to learn more about music theory?
Go to: Musictheory.net, click on "Theory Lessons" and watch some of their free theory lesson videos.
Famous Performers to Watch and Listen:
Violin
Hilary Hahn
Janine Jansen
Joshua Bell
Itzhak Perlman
Anne-Sophie Mutter
Rachel Barton Pine
Jascha Heifetz
Yehudi Menuhin
Pinchas Zukerman
Viola
Antoine Tamestit
William Primose
Nobuko Imai
Lionel Tertis
Carl Stamitz
Cello
Yo-yo Ma
Jacqueline du Pre
Pablo Casals
Mstislav Rostropovich
Janos Starker
Mischa Maisky
2Cellos (duo)
Bass
Edgar Meyer
Gary Karr
Oscar Zimmerman
Francois Rabbath
Famous String Quartets to Watch and Listen:
Portland String Quartet
Guarneri Quartet
Kronos Quartet
Emerson String Quartet
Cleveland Quartet
Vitamin String Quarte (pop/rock)
Turtle Island Quartet (jazz)
Julliard String Quartet
Takacas Quartet
WEBSITE LINKS (for purchasing music, strings, equipment (like shoulder rests, cello end stops, rosin) etc.
Shar Music
Johnson Strings
Southwest Strings
J.W. Pepper If you want to listen to orchestra music or find some small ensemble or solo pieces to buy
**Amazon does have strings, shoulder rests and rosin etc. use caution! I strongly recommend NOT purchasing an instrument from Amazon or Ebay or similar site!!**
PRACTICING TOOLS:
FREE online metronome - set the tempo, hit start, and get practicing (fun fact: most music has a metronome marking on it at the beginning)
Tuner ninja - tune your instrument's strings to the correct pitch
WEBSITES TO FIND EXTRA/FUN MUSIC:
8notes - FREE music to have fun with
Musescore
Sheetmusicplus
Musicnotes
PURCHASING & RENTAL & REPAIRS INFO
TIPS/RECOMMENDATIONS/GUIDANCE:
Websites/stores/brands to AVOID for purchasing string instruments:
Ebay
Amazon
any website/store that sell instruments with different color paint = not good quality instruments
Mendini by Cecilio brand instrument (I have had LOTS of issues come up with students who have this brand of instrument)
Good quality options for purchasing, repairs and bow re-hairs:
Local - Robert Miller Violins in South Portland, ME http://robertmillerviolins.com/ (this is where I bring my personal instrument)
Local - Frost Gully Violins in Brunswick, ME http://frostgullyviolins.com/
Purchase or rentals (not local):
Shar Music
Southwest Strings
Johnson String Instrument
Local rental option:
Cricket Music LLC website
*Under new ownership as of 9/1/23
FAQ:
What is a good brand for a violin or viola shoulder rest?
Kun is my favorite brand! There are others out there that are good quality like Everest for example.
You can also find shoulder rests on Shar Music, Southwest Strings, JohnsonStrings and Amazon. Be sure to choose the correct size for you instrument. Ms. Hoag always has soft sponge shoulder rests to use with a rubber band - available free of charge :). Sometimes she even has Kun or Everest shoulder rests available for you to borrow for the year and sign out - ask and see! I STRONGLY encourage a more supportive shoulder rest like a Kun or Everest rather than a sponge.
How long do strings last for?
It all depends on how often you play. If you are playing more days during the week than not - after about 6 months strings typically loose their sound and are "dead." New strings will take a couple days and lots of playing to "break in" and stretch so that they settle and remain in tune. Strings come in all price ranges but I have found that they are most affordable when you buy a set of 4. You should always have a set of backup strings handy! I am happy to re-string your instrument for you and/or teach you how during an enrichment block at school!
Where can I find affordable extra "fun" music?
Check out Sheet Music Plus, Music Notes, Musicnotes, 8notes 8notes is free!
You can search by instrument and/or song title as well as by genre. Most music is easily downloadable after payment and the majority of pieces are less than $10. Shar Music is also a good place to buy music and you can search by level.
What is a good tuning app? What is a good metronome app?
Cleartune - chromatic tuner is one I have used for awhile that is always on my phone. Pro Metronome is my favorite metronome app.
What are some ways that I can practice being able to read notes faster?
Go to: Musictheory.net, click on "Exercises" and then "Note Identification" or ask Ms. Hoag for a set of flashcards to practice with!
**to make the following fingerboard practice less confusing - the only sharps you should have selected (blue) are C# and F#. Keep all letter names blue and all other # and b gray:
Violin fingerboard practice link HERE
Viola fingerboard practice link HERE
Cello fingerboard practice link HERE
Bass fingerboard practice link HERE
What resources could I use if I want to learn more about music theory?
Go to: Musictheory.net, click on "Theory Lessons" and watch some of their free theory lesson videos.
Famous Performers to Watch and Listen:
Violin
Hilary Hahn
Janine Jansen
Joshua Bell
Itzhak Perlman
Anne-Sophie Mutter
Rachel Barton Pine
Jascha Heifetz
Yehudi Menuhin
Pinchas Zukerman
Viola
Antoine Tamestit
William Primose
Nobuko Imai
Lionel Tertis
Carl Stamitz
Cello
Yo-yo Ma
Jacqueline du Pre
Pablo Casals
Mstislav Rostropovich
Janos Starker
Mischa Maisky
2Cellos (duo)
Bass
Edgar Meyer
Gary Karr
Oscar Zimmerman
Francois Rabbath
Famous String Quartets to Watch and Listen:
Portland String Quartet
Guarneri Quartet
Kronos Quartet
Emerson String Quartet
Cleveland Quartet
Vitamin String Quarte (pop/rock)
Turtle Island Quartet (jazz)
Julliard String Quartet
Takacas Quartet