Differentiation
Room Layout | Choosing Solos | Modifying Parts | Altering Bow Holds |
Room Layout
Choosing Solos
For our school solo festival I use the Suzuki method books. I let the students choose a solo from these selected books. This allows me to set parameters yet still gives the students choices.
Why only Suzuki? Our school owns all the CDs so the student can hear every solo. I can also use software such as Amadeus to change the speed of the solos for students to practice with.
Modifying Parts
We have all had instrument sections that are strong or weak. To compensate for this I have rewritten parts or even exchanged parts. This year my cello section is weak while my bass section is very strong. I gave the cello part to the bassists and the bass part to the cellists.
Other than a few minor tweaks to the music, this worked well and everyone was happy.
Altering Bow Holds
I have altered students bow holds to allow for physical variations. For upper string players I may have them put their thumb on the ferrule. This is not new – Suzuki would start his young players like this. But, if a student doesn’t need this step I put their thumb in the traditional location.
I also have a student whose bow hand is perfect but his hand is comfortable about 4 inches up from the frog – so we go with it.
For a cellist with a tight bow hand I will have them hold the bow gamba style – similar to a German bow hand on the the double bass. This may sound like heresy at first, but this is how gamba players hold the bow, and it many cases it seems to relax their hand when going back to the ‘normal’ technique.
