Beginning string books and materials: a study of string method books used in Fresno (California) city elementary schools and suggested supplementary material

The purpose of the following study is to examine the method books used at the present time as basic texts for beginning stringed instrument classes in the elementary schools of the Fresno City Unified School District. A further purpose of this study is to suggest supplementary materials that could be used for implementing these basic texts. The Tangle wood Symposium1 Committee on Implications for the Educational Process and for Evaluation maintains that "many group-teaching methods are not in keeping with current trends to humanize instruction." This committee recommends that music teachers should seek effective resources and inaugurate techniques that will render group instruct ion more relevant and valuable. This reevaluation of present practices is of utmost importance. One indication of its importance is the relatively small number of students that continue the study of string instruments in junior and senior high schools.