Resources

Private Lessons

It is generally recommended for students – especially beginners – to continue their musical instrument education year-round.  There are many opportunities with orchestra camps and private lessons to stay involved especially during the summer months.  String camps and lessons programs provide students with an opportunity to maintain playing skills in a new environment for building relationships, exploring techniques, and growing through music education!

You can always check with your orchestra teacher for recommendations, and we also provide our customers with private teacher recommendations and matchmaking based on their location, age/playing ability, and other requirements.  Please complete the Private Teacher Request Form below and we will be in touch!

Private Teacher Request Form

ASA Private Teacher Request Form (#43)

ASTA – Find a Teacher

The American String Teachers Association (ASTA) maintains an active database of private teacher members on their website.

Founded in 1946, the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) exists to support string and orchestra teachers and players. ASTA members range from budding student teachers to artist-status performers. The organization provides teaching resources, professional education, local and national events, a career center, insurance programs, and access to a vibrant and collaborative strings community.

Find a Teacher

Suzuki – Find a Teacher

The Suzuki Association of Americas (SAA) maintains an active database of private teacher members on their website.

Shinichi Suzuki was a violinist, educator, philosopher and humanitarian. Born in 1898, he studied violin in Japan for some years before going to Germany in the 1920s for further study. After the end of World War II, Dr. Suzuki devoted his life to the development of the method he calls Talent Education.

Suzuki based his approach on the belief that “Musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed. Any child who is properly trained can develop musical ability, just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential of every child is unlimited.”

Dr. Suzuki’s goal was not simply to develop professional musicians, but to nurture loving human beings and help develop each child’s character through the study of music.

Find a Teacher

2023 Summer Camps & Clinics:

There are many wonderful opportunities for summer camps and clinics!  Please see below for a listing in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.  We do our best to update information each winter/spring – please contact organizations directly with any questions.

Summer Camp Location Dates Website Phone
American Fiddle Method (Fiddle Pal) Stillwater, MN June 20-23, 2023 Fiddle Pal Camp N/A
American Suzuki Center - Aber Suzuki Center Stevens Point, WI July 16-22, 23-29, 2023 ASI - ASC 715-346-3033
Athena Music & Leadership Camp 2023 TBA Soon 2023 TBA Athena Camp & Leadership N/A
Birch Creek Symphony - Academy Session Egg Harbor, WI July 2-15, 2023 Birch Creek Academy 920-868-3763
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (5-12) Twin Lake, MI June, July, Aug '23 Sessions Blue Lake fine Arts Camp 800-221-3796
Bravo! Summer Music Academy Faribault, MN June 11-24, 2023 Bravo Summer Music Academy N/A
Brevad Music Center Summer Institute Brevard, NC June 23-August 6, 2023 Brevard Music Center Summer institute 828-862-2100
Dorian Summer Music Camps (Luther College) Decorah, IA June 11-17, 2023 Dorian Summer Music Camps 563-387-1389
GTCYS Summer Camps Twin Cities, MN July 17-21, 2023 GTCYS Summer Camps 651-602-6800
International Music Camp - Orchestra Dunseith, ND July 23-29, 2023 INTL Music Camp - Orchestra 701-838-8472
International Cello Institute (ICI) Northfield, MN (St. Olaf College) July 8-29, 2023 International Cello Institute N/A
Itasca Orchestra & Strings Summer Program Grand Rapids, MN 2023 TBD Itasca String Camp (218) 327-5781 (Itasca Orch #)
Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp & Music Festival Olathe, KS (MNU) July 9-15, 2023 Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp 516-767-6677
MNSOTA Upper Midwest String Camp TBD July 23-28, 2023 MNSOTA Summer Camp 320-363-5389
MN Sinfonia Youth Outreach Week Minneapolis, MN 2023 TBD MN Sinfonia Youth Outreach 612-871-1701
MacPhail String Chamber Music & Orchestra Camp Minneapolis, MN July 31-August 4, 2023 MacPhail Summer Camp 612-321-0100
MacPhail on Madeline Island Adult Strings Retreat Madeline Island, WI August 5-8 MacPhail on Madeline Island 612-321-0100
Minnetonka Summer Orchestra & Quickstart Minnetonka, MN August 2023 Minnetonka Community Education - Orchestra 952-401-6800
Monticello Community Strings Orchestra Monticello, MN 2023 TBD Monticello Community Strings Orchestra 763-272-2030
MYS Summer String Ensembles Saint Paul, MN June 19-23, 2023 MYS Summer String Ensembles 651-699-5811
Mounds View Schools Summer Orchestra Mounds View, MN July 10-Aug 3, 2023 MV Summer Orchestra '22 651-621-7070
Northern Lights Music Festival - Young Artists Program Hibbing, MN June 30-July 22, 2023 NLMF Young Artists Program 218-780-2292
Roseville Area schools Summer Orchestra Camps Roseville, MN July 31-august 4 2023 Roseville Area Schools summer orchestra Camps 651-604-3770
Rushmore Music Festival Rapid City, SD June 17-July 31, 2023 St. Mary's University String Festival 605-646-3146
St. Olaf College Summer Music Academy Northfield, MN June 25-July 1, 2023 St. Olaf Summer Music Academy 507-786-3031
St. Mary's University String Festival Winona, MN 2023 TBD SPCM Music Camp N/A
St. Paul Chamber Music Institute St. Paul, MN June 26-July 1, 2023 St. Paul Chamber Music Institute 651-224-2205
St. Paul Conservatory of Music Summer Music Camp St. Paul, MN July 10-21, 2023 SPCM Music Camp 651-224-2205
Stillwater Schools Summer Instrument Explosion Stillwater, MN August 2023 Stillwater Schools Instrument Explosion 651-351-8300
Stringwood Chamber Music Festival & Young Artist Program Lanesboro, MN August 5-20, 2023 Stringwood 651-587-7595
U of MN Summer Orchestra Minneapolis, MN 2023 TBD U of MN Summer Orchestra
University of South Dakota - Summer Music Camp Vermillion, SD July 9-14, 2023 USD Summer Music Camp 605-658-3467
Walker West Summer Music Camps - Grow Through Music, Jazz Intensive, Jazz Violin Workshop Saint Paul, MN Mid July-Mid August 2023 Walker West Summer Camps 651-224-2929

MNSOTA Listing of Summer Camps:

Minnesota String & Orchestra Teachers Association (MNSOTA) – List of Summer Camps for Students & Adults in 5-State Area (Click To View PDF)

ASTA National Camps

Music Academies

All Strings Attached does not offer music lessons as we are exclusively focused on providing the highest quality strings instruments in the Twin Cities.

We are fortunate to have an excellent selection of private teachers and music academies throughout the Twin Cities.  Please feel free to research below and speak with your child’s teacher for recommendations.  We are also available to assist our musical families and guide you in this process by providing several options for professional string teachers.  Please keep in mind that all teachers set their own schedules, rates, and studio policies.

MUSIC ACADEMY LOCATION PHONE WEBSITE
Augsburg Suzuki Institute Minneapolis -
Bach to Rock Plymouth 763-208-7847
Hastings Arts Center Hastings 651-437-4320
K & S Conservatory of Music Woodbury 651-739-7848
Kramer's Schools of Music Eden Prairie & Plymouth 952-392-4812
MacPhail Center For Music Minneapolis, Apple Valley, Austin, Chanhassen, White Bear Lake 612-321-0100
Minnetonka Music Academy Minnetonka, Excelsior, Shorewood, Chanhassen, Minnetrista, Wayzata, Victoria, Eden Prairie, Tonka Bay, Deephaven, Greenwood and Woodland 952-401-6846
Mount Calvary Academy of Music Excelsior 952-474-8893
Mount Olivet School of Music and the Arts South Minneapolis 612-767-2262
Ovation Academy of Music Plymouth 763-559-9690
Rubinstein Music Academy Plymouth, Woodbury, St. Paul 612-707-6668
St. Joseph's School of Music St. Paul 651-690-4364
St. Paul Conservatory of Music St. Paul 651-224-2205

Youth Orchestras

Professional Orchestras

Anatomy of a Violin

Instrument Care Guide

Protection

Always keep your instrument and bow in its case or bag when it is not in use. Make sure that the bow hair has been loosened before putting it in the proper protective compartment.

Instrument

Regular attention to the following details will help keep your instrument in the best playing condition.

Temperature

Never expose the instrument to direct sunlight, sudden changes in temperature, or changes in humidity. When it is not in use, store it in a place with moderate humidity, away from radiators or hot air vents. Also, keep the instrument away from doors or areas where there are sudden drafts. Never leave an instrument in a car in extremely hot or cold weather.

Humidity

Stringed instruments generally need 30-50% relative humidity to maintain their adjustments and integrity. Use of a home or room humidifier is strongly recommended.  You may also use a case or instrument humidifier (i.e. Dampit, Oasis, Boveda) to ensure that sudden changes in humidity do not crack your instrument or cause it to go out of adjustment. The humidifiers should be monitored on a regular basis whenever the heat is on in your house and especially during the winter months it is cold and dry.

Cleaning

Rosin dust should be removed after each playing. Always keep a special cleaning cloth to wipe down the strings and the body of your instrument in your case. Periodic polishing with special string instrument polish will help maintain the luster. DO NOT USE ALCOHOL. It is a solvent and can damage the varnish.

Pegs

The proper fit and operation of the pegs is important to both the health of the instrument and the convenience of the player. A common complaint is the sticking or excessive slipping of the pegs. Humidity often plays a large part in causing this problem. If this is a consistent problem, have our shop adjust the pegs for a better fit.

Strings

Even the finest instruments in the world cannot sound their best with old or poor quality strings. Strings will usually go bad long before they ever break. Look for changes in appearance on the surface of the string, such as being able to see under the tightly wrapped top, or “dents” in the textual consistency of the string. Avoid using cheap steel strings when you have a quality stringed instrument for it can seriously compromise the quality of sound the instrument makes.

String Tuners

If your tuner has a lever under the tailpiece, guard against the lever touching the top of the instrument this can seriously bruise the wood under the tailpiece. To reduce the depression of the lever, merely turn the tuner screw to the left (counter clockwise). If you wish to use more then one tuner, consider having us install a WHITTNER tailpiece with the built-in tuners for ease of tuning.

Bow

A fresh hank of bow hair can be expected to last for 120 playing hours. This means your bow should be re-haired once every six months if you play 1/2 an hour a day, five days a week. Loosen the bow when it is not in use, and always keep fingers and polish away from the bow hair.

Bridge

THE BRIDGE MUST BE KEPT IN A PERPENDICULAR POSITION. TUNING THE STRINGS TENDS TO PULL IT FORWARD. Check its position frequently. If neglected, the bridge may warp, even break. If it requires adjusting, please see our shop’s repairmen.

Chinrest

If the chinrest is loose or is touching the tailpiece, it may produce a buzzing sound. See our repairmen for an adjustment so that the chinrest is firmly secured.

Sounds-Post

Unless the post is fitted properly, the tone of the instrument will be disturbed. If it moves, falls, or changes shape, loosen the string tension slightly and ask our repair shop to reposition it correctly.

Periodic Inspection

An instrument demands continuous care. Players should inspect the strings, bridge, and bow at least once a week. Also, carefully look for any signs of cracks or open glue joints on the wood.

Open Edges

Check your instrument regularly to note whether the top or back has become unglued from the ribs at any point. If so, do not neglect this; see our repairmen as quickly as possible. The longer this is unattended to the worse the situation becomes for the instrument. Check periodically for cracks that may develop, especially during cold, dry weather. Keep all polishes away from open cracks, and bring the instrument to our shop so that the cracks will be glued as quickly as possible.