1st Edition

Holistic String Teaching A Guide to the Writings and Reflections of George Bornoff and Associates

Edited By Jacob M. Dakon, Benjamin D. McWhorter Copyright 2027
344 Pages 54 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

344 Pages 54 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Alongside Shinichi Suzuki and Paul Rolland stands George Bornoff, one of the most influential yet understudied figures in twentieth-century string pedagogy. Best known for his codification of finger patterns, Bornoff developed a pedagogical approach that integrated principles of Gestalt psychology into string class instruction, emphasizing holistic learning, pattern recognition, and tone... Read more

FEATURED WRITINGS          

INTRODUCTION       

CHAPTER 1: A PHILOSOPHY OF MUSIC EDUCATION AND STRING INSTRUCTION        

Every Child is Musical & Music for All

REFLECTION: DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSICIANS

REFLECTION: MUSIC IN SCHOOLS & ABILITY GROUPING

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

REFLECTION: MUSICAL CHILDREN, VIRTUOSITY, AND DEDICATED TEACHING

EDITORIAL: WHO SHALL PLAY?

Motivation

REFLECTION: INTRINSIC MOTIVATION

REFLECTION: MOTIVATION THROUGH ACHIEVMENT

PSYCHOLOGY OF STRING EDUCATION [Part I]

PSYCHOLOGY OF STRING EDUCATION [Part II]

PHILOSOPHY OF STRING EDUCATION [Part III]

LEARNING AND GROWTH

Gestalt Principles

REFLECTION: A MAESTRO’S PERCEPTION

EASTERN EDITORIAL

A MODERN PEDAGOGUE

PHILOSOPHY OF STRING EDUCATION [Part I]

REFLECTION: DIFFERENTIATION, CORRELATION, AND INTEGRATION

WHY TEACH DOUBLE-STOPS?

Efficiency

REFLECTION: EFFICIENCY AND PRAGMATISM

REFLECTION: SELECTING EFFICIENT MATERIALS

REFLECTION: ECONOMY OF MOTION

REFLECTION: TEACHING IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Spatial Before Aural Understanding

REFLECTION: DEVELOPING SPATIAL BEFORE AURAL UNDERSTANDING [Part I]

REFLECTION: DEVELOPING SPATIAL BEFORE AURAL UNDERSTANDING [Part II]

REFLECTION: FEELING THE INSTRUMENT THROUGH SENSORY LEARNING

Tone Production

FROM THE TOP

REFLECTION: TEACHING TONE FIRST

REFLECTION: TONAL APPEAL AS MOTIVATION

GENESIS

Behaviorism and Learning as Cognitive Transformation

REFLECTION: BORNOFF AND BEHAVIORISM

REFLECTION: DOCTRINE OF HABIT FORMATION

PHILOSOPHY OF STRING EDUCATION [Part II]

Meaningful Repetition

REFLECTION: MEANINGFUL DRILL

REFLECTION: MOTIVATION THROUGH MEANINGFUL ASSIGNMENTS

Early Instruction

REFLECTION: WHEN TO START STRING CLASS INSTRUCTION [Part I]

REFLECTION: WHEN TO START STRING CLASS INSTRUCTION [Part II]

BORNOFF PRE-SCHOOL

Group Teaching, Technical Reserve, and Orchestral Application

A QUESTION OF PHILOSOPHY

REFLECTION: TECHNICAL RESERVE

REFLECTION: ORCHESTRA AS A SECONDARY OUTLET

Collaboration

PHILOSOPHY OF STRING PEDAGOGY

STRING EDUCATION: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

EFFECTIVE STRING TEACHING MEANS A STRUCTURED PROGRAM

THE APATHY DISEASE

WHAT YOU CAN DO

STRING EDUCATION

Chapter 2:  Beginning Technique

Exploring Finger Patterns and Fun for Fiddle Fingers

THE BORNOFF PARADOX

THE BORNOFF APPROACH [Part I]

THE BORNOFF APPROACH [Part II & III]

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

THE BORNOFF APPROACH [Part IV]

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

WESTERN EDITORIAL

Note Reading

THE BORNOFF APPROACH [Part I]

THE BORNOFF APPROACH [Part II]

THE BORNOFF APPROACH [Part III]

PRAGMATIC STRING TEACHING (3rd installment)

PRAGMATIC STRING TEACHING (4th Installment)

Cello Technique

THE ADDENDA

CELLO PLAYING [Part I]

CELLO PLAYING [Part II]

BORNOFF ‘CELLO APPROACH (ELEMENTARY LEVEL) [Part I]

BORNOFF ‘CELLO APPROACH (ELEMENTARY LEVEL) [Part II]

BORNOFF ‘CELLO APPROACH (ELEMENTARY LEVEL) [Part III]

BORNOFF ‘CELLO APPROACH (ELEMENTARY LEVEL) [Part IV]

BORNOFF ‘CELLO APPROACH (ELEMENTARY LEVEL) [Part V]

BORNOFF ‘CELLO APPROACH (ELEMENTARY LEVEL) [Part VI]

BORNOFF ‘CELLO APPROACH (ELEMENTARY LEVEL) [Part VII]

Heterogeneous Class Teaching

BRIEF OUTLINE OF A HETEROGENEOUS PROCEDURE FOR STRINGS

BRIEF OUTLINE OF A HETEROGENEOUS PROCEDURE FOR STRINGS [Part II]

NEW PUBLICATION [BORNOFF STRING READER]

A CONDENSATION OF TUNE & PATTERN ACCOMPANIMENTS FOR STRING ORCHESTRA

The Violin Sings and Fiddler’s Holiday

VIOLIN SINGS AND FIDDLER’S HOLIDAY

VIOLIN SINGS AND FIDDLER’S HOLIDAY [Part II]

A QUESTION OF PHILOSOPHY

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

THE BORNOFF MATERIALS

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Chapter 3: Intermediate Technique

Patterns in Position

EXPLORING PATTERNS IN POSITION [Part I]

EXPLORING PATTERNS IN POSITION [Part II]

EXPLORING PATTERNS IN POSITION [Part III]

EXPLORING PATTERNS IN POSITION [Part IV]

EXPLORING PATTERNS IN POSITION

PATTERNS IN POSITION - FOR CELLO

Intermediate-Level Technique

REFLECTION: USING GESTALT PRINCIPLES IN SHIFTING

EDITORIAL: DIVIDE AND CONQUER

REFLECTION: USING GESTALT PRINCIPLES IN SHIFTING AND POSITIONS

REFLECTION: FROM SHIFTING TO VIBRATO

VIBRATO [Part I]

VIBRATO [Part II]

DEVELOPING OCTAVES

DEVELOPING HARMONICS

INTRODUCING HARMONICS OF A FIFTH AND UNISONS

Curricular Overview

GROWTH OF A FINGER PATTERN

EASTERN EDITORIAL: ALL SYSTEMS GO

Chapter 4:  String Teacher Training

Qualities of a String Teacher

SO YOU WANT TO TEACH!

ESSENTIALS OF STRING TEACHING

REFLECTION: TEACHER DEDICATION

REFLECTION: UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOLOGY

SO YOU WANT TO BE A STRING TEACHER? [Part I]

STRING EDUCATION [Part I]

STRING EDUCATION [Part II]

Principles of Lesson Planning

[NO TITLE: PURPOSEFUL PLANNING]

REFLECTION: RESPONSIVE TEACHING

REFLECTION: INSTRUCTIONAL EFFICIENCY AND GOAL SETTING

FROM THE TOP: AN EAR FOR MUSIC?

REFLECTION: DIFFERENTIAL INSTRUCTION

Classroom Pedagogy

THE BORNOFF SYSTEM [Pedagogical Principles and Practices]

HOW BORNOFF TEACHES

HOW BORNOFF TEACHES [String Pedagogy]

PROBLEMS IN CLASS TEACHING

REFLECTION: WHY ROTE TEACHING?

THE BEGINNING TEACHER [First Five Hours]

DRILL—A MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE

HOW BORNOFF TEACHES [Reading]

SO YOU WANT TO BE A STRING TEACHER? [Reading & Music Theory]

TEACHING NOTE READING USING BORNOFF MATERIALS

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON CLASS TEACHING

Assessment

REFLECTION: CONTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

REFLECTION: HOW TO TEACH AND ASSESS IN GROUPS

HOW BORNOFF TEACHES [Assessment and Progress Charts]

QUESTION AND ANSWERS

String Teacher Development

PHILOSOPHY OF STRING PEDAGOGY: THINGS TO COME FOR STRINGS IN THE SIXTIES

PREPARING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STRING TEACHING

REFLECTION: LEARNING MOTOR DEVELOPMENT ON THE FOUR STRING INSTRUMENTS

SO YOU WANT TO BE A STRING TEACHER? [Part II]

EDITORIAL: 4 OF A KIND

MADISON, WISCONSIN JUNE 10-15

String Program Administration

THE BEGINNING TEACHER

RELATING TO THE MAINSTREAM [Scheduling]

RELATING TO THE MAINSTREAM [Building an Orchestra]

RELATING TO THE MAINSTREAM [Quantity vs. Quality]

RELATING TO THE MAINSTREAM [Quality String Programs]

REFLECTION: ESTABLISHING A HEALTHY CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT

Observations of Bornoff Classes

OBSERVATIONS OF FIVE STRING PROGRAMS IN NEW ENGLAND [Part I]

OBSERVATIONS OF FIVE STRING PROGRAMS IN NEW ENGLAND [Part II]

OBSERVATIONS OF FIVE STRING PROGRAMS IN NEW ENGLAND [Part III]

OBSERVATIONS OF FIVE STRING PROGRAMS IN NEW ENGLAND [Part IV]

OBSERVATIONS OF FIVE STRING PROGRAMS IN NEW ENGLAND [Part V]

OBSERVATIONS OF FIVE STRING PROGRAMS IN NEW ENGLAND, [Part VI]

Chapter 5: Influence

Colleagues and Contemporaries

GARY KARR – BIOGRAPHY

A MEETING OF MINDS

THE PODIUM: THE BASS AS A SOLO INSTRUMENT

LARGE ENSEMBLES: AT WHAT PRICE?

HOW ABOUT PRIVATE STRING TEACHERS?

UKULELES?!

THE COMPLETE MUSICIAN [J. Chalmers Doane]

Regional Influences: Florida

THE PODIUM: BORNOFF IN FLORIDA

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MIAMI, FLORIDA

HEADLINE: MIAMI

THE PODIUM: BORNOFF VISITS POMPANO BEACH JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRAS

THE PODIUM: FLORIDA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION CITES BORNOFF

Regional Influence: Iowa

THE PODIUM: THE SISTERS ORCHESTRA OF DUBUQUE, IOWA – 1965

Regional Influence: Washington

A LARGE GROUP OF STRING TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

BORNOFF METHOD AIRED AT SEATTLE CONVENTION

National Influence:  The National String Workshop and Other Clinics

SECOND LEVEL STRING WORKSHOP: BOSTON – JUNE 1966

REPORT FROM UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WISCONSIN-AND POINTS EAST AND WEST!

THE PODIUM: 1,000 ATTEND BORNOFF DEMONSTRATION AT EASTERN M.E.N.C. CONVENTION

Waning Influence

SIX CITY STRING FESTIVAL

SIX CITY STRING FESTIVAL: THE PARENTS’ PERSPECTIVE

Lasting Influence

WHAT IS FASE?

MARCH STRING FEST

THE BORNOFF STRING WORKSHOP [HANSON, MA]

BAY STATE STRING CAMP

Annotated Bibliography of Theses, Dissertations, and Original Research

Bibliographic Sketches

Journal Articles

Books & Chapters

Interviews

Conclusion

Epilogue: Now We’re Ready

Appendix A: Textbook Publications

Appendix B: List of Associates

Index

Biography

Dr. Jacob M. Dakon is Director of Orchestras at Hillgrove High School in Cobb County, Georgia. Prior to this appointment, he served as Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Kansas, where he developed an interest in the work of George Bornoff. He holds a B.M. from the University of South Carolina, an M.M. from Appalachian State University, and a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, with specialized training in the pedagogical approaches of Bornoff, Paul Rolland, and Shinichi Suzuki.

Benjamin D. McWhorter is Orchestra Director at Tates Creek High School in Lexington, Kentucky. A double bassist, Mr. McWhorter earned a B.M. from the University of Louisville and an M.M.E. from The Ohio State University. He has studied the Bornoff Approach with Debbie Lyle, Executive Director of the Bornoff Foundation for the Advancement of String Education, and actively contributes as both an instructor and administrator at the National Bornoff Workshop.