Evaluation of Books on String Theory

A String Method Book Evaluation

Three different methods books; “Muller Rusch String Method,” “Action with Strings,” and “ Essential Elements for strings,” revealed three very different approaches to learning. The influence of time is greatly noticeable in comparing and contrasting these three approaches. “Essential Elements for Strings” was published in 1994 and the other two books in the 1960’s. After many years of studying education the approach to teaching students how to play an instrument has greatly improved. The increased knowledge in educational psychology is evident through comparing “Essential Elements for Strings” to the other two. The student learns best through a step by step guide to this new endeavor. The student gets frustrated and upset with the mass amount of knowledge expected to understand in the books published in the 1960’s.

We will begin by examining the methods approach of “Muller Rusch String Method” by Muller and Rusch. The book opens with the fundamentals of music all listed on one page (i.e. note names, time signature, repeat signs, note values, etceteras). This first page also illustrates the instrument with identification of the open strings’ names. The book moves on to teach the parts of the instrument and then the student begins to play on the open strings (with no definite instructions of pizzicato, bowing, or holding techniques). The notes on the D string are defined and a written explanation of how to finger E and F# is shown. There is no illustration of fingers or how the finger pattern should be held on the string. The child is then instructed to play these new notes but the book doesn’t represent the notes in staff yet, it uses indications underneath quarter not...

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...le making for a more effective and productive classroom. “Essential Elements for Strings” by far surpasses the outdated material of the other two books. The clear and definite instructions provide for the most effective teaching for student and teacher. Included with these evaluations are copies of the first music introduced in each of the three books in order of worst to best. The introduction of music is difficult and the most effective way is to include the note names on the staff with the notes to clearly explain and to quickly progress.

Works Cited

Klotman, Robert H. “Action with Strings” Southern Music, 1963.

Muller, J. Frederick and Rusch, Harold W. “Muller Rusch String Method” Neil A.

Kjos Music Co. 1961

Allen, Michael; Gillespie, Robert; and Hayes, Pamela. “Essential Elements for

Strings” Hal Leonard. 1994.