Developing Your Musical Mental Map - by Dr. Melissa Gerber Knecht

Break Through From Intermediate to Advanced String Playing!80% of violin and viola students drop out by the end of their first year of private study. Of the remaining 20%, three out of four feel stuck at the intermediate level and frustrated by lack of improvement. Dr. Melissa Gerber Knecht has devoted herself to researching and devising a method in which the string player's mind can grasp the necessary understanding of music and his/her instrument pedagogy in order to move forward into advanced repertoire. This development of a “Musical Mental Map” as Dr. Melissa Gerber Knecht describes, “is designed for use in private or group violin lessons for teaching application of music theory directly towards the instrument." The book is made up of 18 lessons, divided among 4 units, which offer options for self-directed learning or instructor-led teaching. The self-directed learning option is useful for practicing at home, with audio clues and instructions available at MusicalMentalMap.com. While the research and motives behind each lesson is very technical and even scientific, the directions are clear and simple to understand, freeing the student from verbose explanations. The lessons help developing instrumentalists grasp the rudiments of music theory in a way that relates directly to their instrument and written music, using methods like “chunking”, “mental mapping”, and aural skill testing. “The book, Developing Your Musical Mental Map, is a truly fantastic addition towards helping students develop essential skills to become well rounded musicians!” – Dr. Emily Rolka, President of the Suzuki Association of Minnesota."Single-line players need to be able to scan, recognize and anticipate patterns ... Basically, reading words instead of letters." - Dr. Melissa Knecht