My guest writer today is ‘cellist Kay Tucker who is the founder of Stringbabies®.
Stringbabies® students learn to sing and play simple songs based around the tuning and technical progression on their instruments. At the same time they learn a notation system based around shapes which progresses very naturally into conventional notation. An important part of the learning process involves the children in making their own compositions and taking part in fun games, often using soft toys to add to the fun.
Stringbabies® was initially devised for cello and later adapted for violin and viola. Books outlining the approach were first published in 2006 and have since received favourable reviews from the European String Teachers Association, the American String Teachers Association and the Australian String Teachers Association. In October 2010, the cello books received the Review of the month accolade from Music Teacher Magazine, who later in 2012 ran a feature on Stringbabies.
The approach was originally devised with the 3 to 6 year age range in mind, but it has not stayed in its ‘box’ and has been used to help older children with remedial note reading issues and special needs. It has also been used with none musically literate adults! Subsequently, Stringbabies® as an approach has been adopted by teachers in schools and private practice throughout the UK and abroad and it is currently being delivered as a first access programme in two major music services; Surrey Arts and Music Cornwall.
For more information and updates visit www.stringbabies.com
Kay Tucker AGSM ARCM LTCL PGCE PGCA
Director, Stringbabies Ltd.
