Piano Method Books

1. Faber: My First Piano Adventures—this is the series of books in which elementary-school-age children start lessons. The Writing Book is not required for Book A (yellow book), but please get both the Lesson and Writing books for Books B-C (blue and purple books).

2. Faber: Basic Piano Adventures—students start in Level 1 (pink book) and continue with every book through Level 5 after completing the My First Piano Adventures series.

3. Faber: PreTime to BigTime Piano Library—these books offer fun supplements to the Basic Piano Adventures series with arrangements of pop songs, Disney songs, hymns, and more. If your child wants to have some fun familiar songs to learn, it is a great idea to get one of these books! We will work on these songs in lessons.

4. Faber: Adult Piano Adventures—these books are recommended for adult beginning piano students.

5. Scales, Chords, and Arpeggios by James Bastien—this book is recommended for students in the Faber Basic or Adult series.

Strings – Bow Straightening Tools

Bow straightening tools are required for all beginning violin and viola students, and strongly recommended for intermediate students as well. I recommend these tools because it simplifies the process of learning to play with a straight bow (resulting in quicker progress and less frustration for young children), shows students how to keep the bow straight while changing the angles of the right wrist and knuckle joints, reduces tension in the bow arm, and magnifies and calls attention to errors of contact point, pronation, and so on for intermediate and advanced students.

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Fractional violin and viola sizes are the same (i.e. a ½ size viola is the same as a ½ size violin). The 4/4 size bow straightening tool unfortunately only fits 14" violas; there are currently no bow straightening tools manufactured for full-size violas larger than 14". When students go up a size, parents are welcome to sell the bow straightening tools to me for the original price; these tools will be reused by future students. 

Below are links to each size of bow straightening tool.

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Please contact me if you have any questions!​

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• ⅛ size bow straightening tool (fits 1/10 size violins as well)

• ¼ size bow straightening tool

• ½ size bow straightening tool

• ¾ size bow straightening tool

• Full size (4/4) violin or 14" viola bow straightening tool

Violin Method Books

1. Essential Elements: Violin Book 1—this is the recommended starting book for all new violin students, including adult students. It provides practice with basic finger patterns in first position, as well as useful material for learning to read music on violin.

2. Suzuki Violin Book 1—this is the book to which violin students will progress after completing several pages of songs and exercises in Essential Elements Book 1.

3. Introducing the Positions for Violin, Volume 1 (for Suzuki books 3-6)

4. Introducing the Positions for Violin, Volume 2 (for Suzuki books 4-7)

Viola Method Books

1. Essential Elements: Viola Book 1—this is the recommended starting book for all new viola students, including adult students. It provides practice with basic finger patterns in first position, as well as useful material for learning to read music on viola.

2. Suzuki Viola Book 1—this is the book to which viola students will progress after completing several pages of songs and exercises in Essential Elements Book 1.

3. Introducing the Positions for Viola, Volume 1 (for Suzuki books 3-6)

4. Introducing the Positions for Viola, Volume 2 (for Suzuki books 4-7)