Posted by Gabriel Villasurda on December 11, 2007 at 15:40:44:
In Reply to: Resources please! posted by Christine on December 11, 2007 at 13:55:19:
You have posed so many questions, it's hard to know where to begin.
When it comes to intonation building, I suggest you start with a small number of unison pieces (songs, tunes) that you play almost on a daily basis until such a point that everyone in the class can play them well in tune and with a good tone. I would choose one or two in each key up to 3 flats and 3 sharps. Insist on knowledge of finger patterns and extensions (for cellos). Get one octave scales and arpeggios in these same keys learned thorughly before going on to two octave versions. If they can't play one octave in tune, there's no hope for two. At some stage you might have to play every pitch 4 times so they have time to hear and slide their finger higher or lower. Good intonation in the end depends on their ability to SELF-CORRECT.
I would steer you towards my webpage (www.stringskills.com) for free materials for finger patterns, scales and shifting. There is a new section regarding rhythm I added recently.
Finally, your questions are much too complicated to try to help you long distance. You need to get some veteran master teacher to come watch your program in action for a day. He/she can make meaningful suggestions to get you headed in the right direction.
Perhaps you will give our members some idea where you teach. Perhaps someone will volunteer to mentor you. I've been doing some of this in my part of Michigan, but you might be in Texas or Alaska for all we know.
Good luck.
Gabriel Villasurda, Michigan
www.stringskills.com