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Learning Activity #2: Method Book Review
Method Book Analysis 1

Essential Elements for Strings
1. Essential Elements for Strings 2000 by Michael Allen, Robert Gillespie, and Pamela Tellejohn Hayes
2. The first ten pages includes information such as a brief string family history, the different names for
the many parts of the cello and the bow, a guide on how to hold the cello, different tunes to play on
the D and A strings, and guides for finger placement.
3. The commons keys are D Major, G Major, and C Major. They are introduced going through the circle
of fifths, starting on D Major, and removing a sharp every time they move to the next scale.
4. Quarter values are introduced first. Then eighth values, half values, dotted half values, and whole
values. They are introduced in this order because quarters are easiest to count because their value is
equal to one. Then eighths because they require you to play every note of the subdivision that the
student has practiced counting when playing quarters (1 & 2 &…). Then half values because students
can count four subdivisions before playing again. Then same idea with dotted half values (6
subdivisions). Then same idea with whole values (8 subdivisions).
5. Only simple meters are included. These include 4/4 (quadruple), 2/4 (duple), and 3/4 (triple). 4/4 is
the most common in music that the students have likely been exposed to, so that is the easiest and
first to learn. 2/4 has a very similar feel the 4/4, so that is next. 3/4 is last because it has a different,
uneven feel than the other two even meters learned so far.
6. Six articulations are introduced. Pizzicato, arco, bow lift, down bow, up bow, and staccato.
7. Dynamics are one of the last things introduced in the book. They go over forte and piano.
8. Some songs I might want to teach based on teaching culturally responsive ideas are Frére Jacques,
Dreidel, Jingli Nona, and Teke Lomeria. I might not teach Big Rock Candy Mountain because of its
initial inappropriate nature for children.
Method Book Analysis 2

Sound Innovations
1. Sound Innovations for String Orchestra by Bob Phillips, Peter Boonshaft, and Robert Sheldon.
2. The first ten pages include an instrument history, a label photo of the different cello parts, pictures
of how to hold the instrument, a labeled picture of many key notation elements, and different tunes
to play on the D and A strings.
3. The commons keys are D Major, G Major, and C Major. They are introduced going through the circle
of fifths, starting on D Major, and removing a sharp every time they move to the next scale.
4. Quarter values are introduced first. Then half values, eighth values, dotted half values, and whole
values. They are introduced in this order because quarters are easiest to count because their value is
equal to one. Then half values because students can count two quarters before playing again. Then
eighths because they require you to play every note of the subdivision that the student has practiced
counting when playing quarters and halfs (1 & 2 &…). Then same idea with dotted half values (6
subdivisions). Then same idea with whole values (8 subdivisions).
5. Only simple meters are included. These include 4/4 (quadruple), 3/4 (triple), and 2/4 (duple). 4/4 is
the most common in music that the students have likely been exposed to, so that is the easiest and
first to learn. 3/4 is next because it is one less beat per measure than 4/4. Then 2/4 is last because it
has one less beat per measure than 3/4.
6. Seven articulations are introduced. Accent, arco, bow lift, down bow, pizzicato, staccato, tenuto
(legato), and up bow.
7. Dynamics are introduced about ¾’s of the way through the book. They go over mezzo forte, forte,
piano, and forte-piano.
8. Some songs I might want to teach based on teaching culturally responsive ideas are Luz de la
Mañana and The Great Gate of Kiev.
Reflection
Essential Elements for Strings by Michael Allen, Robert Gillespie, and Pamela Tellejohn
Hayes and Sound Innovations for String Orchestra by Bob Phillips, Peter Boonshaft, and Robert
Sheldon are both books that set out to accomplish the same task; to introduce the beginner
information required to play a string instrument, cello in this case. They both follow similar
paths when trying to accomplish this goal, but sometimes choose slightly different ways to
convey this information to the reader or student, whether that be explaining the concept with
different words or having the student practice a new concept in different ways.
One of the similarities these books share is the common keys that they teach the student.
Both books teach the keys of D Major, G Major, and C Major. They are learned in very similar
ways in both books, and in the same order, going through the circle of fifths, taking away a
sharp accidental with every new scale. The same note values are also taught. They both teach
quarter, eighth, half, dotted half, and whole note values. These groups of notes are very
important for students starting to play familiar tunes. The books also teach the same meters,
4/4, 2/4, and 3/4. These are the most basic meters for familiar tunes that students might want
or need to play. They both also teach dynamics. Both teach forte and piano, while Sound
Innovations also teaches mezzo forte and forte-piano. One other main concept taught is
articulations. They teach accents, arco, bow lift, down bow, pizzicato, staccato, and up bow.
Sound Innovations also teaches tenuto (legato).
These two books also have slightly different teaching styles in terms of the order of learning
some concepts and how in depth each concept is taught. Essential Elements tends to teach in a
manner that is pretty in depth about a subject and continues to add different concepts to the
student’s technique and playing repertoire as the book continues. Sound Innovations uses a
similar teaching style but tends to be a little bit more fast paced and will revisit concepts after
some time in the book. Both are great examples of similar and different teaching methods that
teachers can use to convey the same ideas and concepts to students.

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Learning Activity #2: Method Book Review

Method Book Analysis 1

Method Book Analysis 2

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