Resources

Please enjoy searching this list of great resources for all orchestra members!

Here is a list of recommended items that will make your orchestra experience more enjoyable.   

Strings:

Your MBRSD string teachers recommend that you have an extra set of spare strings in your case, especially if you own your own instrument.

Make sure you order the correct size, and check to see if you need ball-end or loop-end strings.

Our recommended brands of strings:

Grades 4-6  Supersensitive Red Label (least expensive)   

Grades 7-12  Thomastik “Dominant”  The improved tone is worth the extra money.  

(We recommend that all students who own instruments at this age level get Dominant strings installed)                                                                             

Rosin:

Grades 4-6 Light rosin in a rectangular wooden holder is recommended.

Grades 7-12 Same as above (or dark) ~ For a higher quality consider purchasing a more fragile cake of either light or dark rosin. 

Bows:

We recommend that you rehair your bow once per year.

New Bows:

Least expensive bow option would be a fiberglass bow, get real horsehair.  There are many, many options for upgraded bows (remember bows give your instrument a “voice”)  You can purchase carbon fiber bows, and high-end hand carved bows.  Bows also come in a variety of styles and colors now, you can even get colored horsehair!  See the below resources for more information.

Suggested Accessories:

We recommend that every violin / viola player have a good shoulder rest.  Sponges help, but a proper shoulder rest will help improve instrument position, and playing ability.  Shoulder rests help with shifting and vibrato.  A good shoulder rest is an inexpensive way to really improve posture, comfort and ability.  The most widely used, and recommended shoulder rest is “Kun”.  Please be wary of cheap imitations.  (See image of Kun shoulder rest below left)

•a music stand will help promote proper posture, and good practice habits.

•Cello and bass students may want an end-pin stopper.   The xeros end-pin stoppers work very well.

•You may want to invest in an electronic tuner. (we use the Intelli IMT-500 clip-on tuners in grade 6 and at the middle school and high school)  Other items that may come in handy:  music stand, metronome (you can get tuner/metronome combinations)  sheet music, mutes, and more.   See the “Tuning” page on this website for tips.

    Please see the resources list below for shopping.

Instrument Care:

• Which violin is mine?  The MBRSD orchestra teachers recommend that each student puts some kind of removable “tag” on their case for easy identification.  A key ring, or string would work well.   

•Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey. . . Please remember to always loosen your bow when putting it back in the case.  This will prolong the life of the horsehair, and release the pressure on the bow.

•Rosin dust All students should keep a small rag in their case to clean the rosin dust off off their instruments. 

Most of the below are links, try clicking for information, online catalogs and more!

Places to shop for orchestra instrument items and services:

SHAR Music - a great store with a great catalog from Ann Arbor, MI

Southwest Stringed Instruments - another great store from AZ

Johnson Stringed Instruments - another great store from Newton, MA

Orion Music- formerly Sirius Music (rental provider for MBRSD Orch.)  Andy Buckland   491-7690 Click for Andy’s email

Larry Siegler - Instruments and repairs, Farmington, Maine  778-0735

Everyday Music -   778-3483

Frost Gully Violins - Freeport, Maine

Somerset Violins - Waterville, Maine

Jonathan Cooper Violins - Portland, Maine

Handy Online Tools:

*Free Metronome:   http://www.metronomeonline.com/

    *a metronome is crucial for good music practice.   It will:

        • keep a steady beat (tempo)  - handy for scales and music

        • help tell you how fast a piece should be played ♩= 100, set the 

            metronome to "100" and then play at that tempo.

        • help you gradually get fast enough (if you can't play ♩= 100 yet, 

            set it at ♩= 80, practice, and then ♩= 84, and so on, until you reach your goal

Tuning:

        Here's s website that gives you "reference pitches" so you can hear what your strings sound like:

            http://openorchestra.weebly.com/tuning-your-string-instrument.html

        There are many online "chromatic" tuners. . . (be careful that you're tuning to A = 440, and that you're getting

             the correct notes.

        Here's a free website that's very popular for tuning:  Tuner Ninja

        Also, please click this link for our MBRSD page on tuning instruments

Apps:

ios music apps that Mr. Muise recommends:   (many cost money, be sure to try out free versions if available to see if these are for you.  I work with ios (apple) (I don't know much about Android/Google, but I bet there are a lot of options there too. . .   do some research!)    Also, be sure to check if the app will work on your device, some apps require newer generation hardware.

        Here are some apps that I recommend that you check into if you're interested:

            Music Notation:    

                NotateMeNow (a free version of an expensive app) You can use your finger to draw notes and rests, and then the app will display your                  "writing" as real music, and let you play it back.   This app takes some practice / learning.

            Metronome:   

                    Tempo (an inexpensive good metronome that also has reference pitches - around $2.00?)

                    iMetronome (a free metronome, and traditional looking)

           Music Learning:     (some of these are advanced)

                    Tenuto   (a music theory app that will help with note identification (treble clef) key signature identification,                         scales chords, ear training, and much, much more.

                     Theory Lessons   (tons of categories to learn about, from simple to very advanced)    

                     Treble Cat - an app that teachers beginners how to read music (free on May 14, 2014. . ., there's also a "Bass                         Cat", no alto, sorry violas!)

             Slowing Music Down:     These apps are great for learning things "by ear" Franklin County Fiddlers style. . . they will slow down mp3 files, at pitch, so you can learn fast tunes slowly, and then gradually get faster.

                    Amazing Slow Downer (also available as a Mac OS app. . . expensive, the link is for a free "lite" version app)

                    AnyTune another app that slows down mp3's at pitch.  (I believe that there's a free or inexpensive version to try, also for Mac)

New free MBRSD Orchestra ebook:

Free MBRSD Orchestra ebook created by Mr. Muise in the spring of 2020

Do some research on your own, please email me if you find something that I can share on this site!   smuise "at" mtbluersd.org