TEACHING BIOGRAPHY:
Liz Meredith is an active composer, improviser, string player, and chamber musician. She holds a B.M. in String Performance and Film Music from The Berklee College of Music, and a M.A. in Music Composition from Mills College. Liz studied viola performance with Hank Dutt of The Kronos Quartet, and music composition with Fred Frith. She has 9 years teaching experience.
TEACHING SUBJECTS:
Violin/Viola Performance
classical, fiddle, improvisation, and modern styles
Music Theory & Musicianship
music theory, music notation, and musicianship skills
Music Composition
music-making, collaboration, and composition techniques
STRINGS CURRICULUM:
Beginner – Violin/Viola
Beginning string students will focus on the basic elements of string playing such as posture, instrument hold, bow hold, and finger placement. Students will work on ease of playing and develop a relaxed performance approach. Students will learn how to read music while being introduced to one-octave scales, arpeggios, short etudes, and other technical exercises. Students will begin performing a wide-range of music including classical compositions, folk music, and/or popular songs.
Intermediate – Violin/Viola
Intermediate string students will focus on developing increasing levels of bow control and accuracy of pitch. Students will be familiar with playing in 1st through 3rd positions and with shifting technique. Students will study two-octave scales, arpeggios, etudes, and other technical exercises. Students will begin performing longer more extended works including classical compositions, folk music, and/or popular songs.
Advanced – Violin/Viola
Advanced string students will focus on the subtleties of musical expression and tone development. There will be an increasing level of concentration on building consistency, dexterity and speed. Students will study three-octave scales, arpeggios, etudes, and other technical exercises. Students will be comfortable with playing in all 12 keys and in any position on the instrument.
• Advanced string students interested in performing classical music will focus on building repertoire, solo pieces, ensemble performance, sight-reading, audition preparation, and concert organization.
• Advanced string students interested in performing contemporary and/or popular music will focus on working with alternative rhythmic, harmonic and melodic structures, chord-scales, improvisation , solo material, sound reinforcement, ensemble direction, and concert organization.
• Advanced string students interested in performing within several different musical styles will have a dual focus.
*Note: curriculum revised September 2009
CONTACT:
Liz Meredith can be reached via e-mail:
violizzie@gmail.com
