Teaching From the Balance Point

by Edward Kreitman

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Education

118 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book for violin students which I found very insightful and inspiring, though it does get highly technical in the final chapters.

[Meowlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teaching from the Balance Point by Edward Krietman is a book on the Suzuki method for violins. A method which teaches a ton of different musical instruments, by ear mainly. This book has twelve chapters and at least two sections within each chapter but for most chapters it is closer to eight sections. This book starts at the beginning, the philosophy and curriculum of the method, and from there talks about everything from posture to vibrato. Which respectively are a very fundamental part, and then a very longed after part.
Kreitman uses easy to understand language, common sense, pictures, and examples even someone with no musical talent could use and learn from. This book was written for teachers so they may better understand not only why they teach something a certain way but how to better teach that way. This book was also written with the students in mind, this is evident throughout the book because it speaks about students for students and many examples were by students. Another group this book was designed to help is the parents, he speaks extensively on how a parent may better help their child along the journey of music.
I had never heard of the Suzuki method before this book and as such do not know how helpful it is to Suzuki parents and teachers. Personally Teaching from the Balance Point has given me an insight into my own way of playing my instrument. Be it my practicing, posture or even the way I listen to the pieces I am learning. This book has been very insightful and I would recommend it to any who wishes to learn more about the Suzuki method and/or the violin.
Once I had read the book I came to the conclusion that it would be a very good idea if I implemented some of these techniques to my own practice.

[Emily Berlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long time musician, I was mostly expecting pointers for my new violinist sons. But this book broadened my view of music and musicianship! It's affected my own playing and mindset.

I loved the broad and positive view of children and music. That the goal is not to produce musical geniuses, but beautiful souls.

And the end about patience being a lack of expectation, and then balancing that with vision. Ideas I'm definitely going to have percolating in my brain for a while! Highly recommend to any musician or teacher/ parent of a musician 😍

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a violin/viola pedagogy class and while it was definitely interesting and informative, there were points made that I didn't agree with. I also wasn't quite sure what his target audience was, which he addressed towards the end of the book. Overall I think it's an important read for a budding string teacher because it really makes you think!

[Cieran Twinbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enormously useful, very clear, probably the most concise and helpful pedagogy book I've ever read. Does a good job of incorporating the author's views of the Suzuki philosophy with practical application.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a string pedagogy class. I thought it was very informative perspective on the Suzuki method and I'm excited to have the chance to meet Ed Kreitman in a workshop soon!

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thoroughly engaging look into the Suzuki curriculum. I am inspired to be as meticulous and thoughtful as Mr. Kreitman!

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent resource for any parent of a Suzuki violin student. The author uses an easy, conversational style and shares the best of what he has learned through his 20+ years of teaching experience. Plus, I just plain learned lots about the violin, such as the fact that the instrument has no frets (!). As a former guitar player that really stresses me out -- why make life harder than it needs to be ?!? But I digress. I will definitely use this book as a reference guide through the years as everything from the basic bow hold through shifting and vibrato are covered and I will be able to check the specifics of each technique as it becomes applicable. The book's strength is not necessarily in the technical, however, as the author's main focus is on helping the student to become a skilled, balanced player overall and ensuring that they not only learn how to play the instrument but learn how to play it well.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Edward Kreitman has achieved with this concise tome is offer clear explanations of some of the most fundamental aspects of the Suzuki Method to learning violin in particular and other instruments for which the Method has been adapted. If it has a weakness, it is simply that it can only operate as a kind of overview to all of the much more detailed and yet still critical aspects of teaching music according to Suzuki Method principles. Still, its impact on my early training as a Suzuki teacher has been significant and I would heartily recommend it to all teachers and parents involved with Suzuki music education.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a Suzuki teacher or if your child plays the Suzuki Method on any instrument, this is a fantastic read. It is written from the violin's perspective, but 75% of the book applies to everyone.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful teaching ideas. It would be fabulous if all my students' parents could read this book. I will refer often to my notes and incorporate many of these ideas in my teachings, as I already have done throughout the reading.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so helpful to me as a teacher and violinist. I appreciated the way he gave detail clearly and succinctly. This book will serve as a reference guide now even though it's not written as such.

[Megan Titensor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very interesting ideas about string pedagogy and concise descriptions of the Suzuki method. I laughed about the outdated audio recording discussion points.

[Anja]

This motto is not only true for learning how to play the violin!