Elise Winters
The Balanced Violinist: Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Students, establishes the foundation of violin technique in a biomechanically grounded way. Features of the book include:Detailed instructions and with high-quality photos, ensuring that each postural element is clear;A unique method for setting the bowhold which customizes the bowhold to the unique shape of the student’s hand;Dynamic bowhold experiences to reinforce and stabilize the bowhold before applying it to the instrument;Proprioceptive exercises to build body awareness for the movements of bowing and full-body posture; andKinesthetic playing experiences to help to develop nuanced control of the angle, weight application, and movement of the bow.The Balanced Violinist is a valuable reference for the violin teacher or beginning student. Its comprehensive approach to posture and its focus on kinesthetic awareness distinguish it from other violin method books. It also serves as the technique companion and parent guide for Kaleidoscopes Book 1.About the Kaleidoscopes Method: Kaleidoscopes synthesizes Montessori, Suzuki, and Kodály philosophies into a flexible, robust and joyful approach. Folk songs encourage singing and connect children to their cultural heritage, while movable-do solfege builds musical understanding and by-ear skill. The method’s design separates technique and repertoire, allowing teachers to customize the sequence to each student’s pace and readiness. The guided discovery teaching process rewards students’ curiosity and builds their passion and autonomy. The Kaleidoscopes recordings are available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms. More about Kaleidoscopes can be found at discoverviolin.org.
