Product Description

Mark OConnor, arguably the greatest and most famous fiddler of all time, is an American original in every way. Currently at the pinnacle of his remarkable career, Mark has created a new American School of Violin Playing that promises to quickly take its place among the great works of violin pedagogy. While utilizing classic methods of violin technique and theory, the Mark OConnor Violin Method boldly adds uniquely American elements such as jazz, Latin, rock, folk, ragtime and improvisation. This eventual 10-book series for teachers and students assures success by taking an orderly and gradual approach using appealing and memorable tunes. Each volume seeks to instill a deep appreciation of Americas musical history with background stories of all those that contributed to this rich heritage: Immigrants, African-American slaves, soldiers all contributed mightily to what has become the new American Classical Music. But simply creating fine players is not the goal of this method. Like any great movement, the Mark OConnor Violin Method seeks a loftier goal: That young people everywhere will fall in love with playing music.Currently, the Mark OConnor Violin Method includes Volumes 1 and 2, including CDs with Mark playing all tunes. The CDs also contain piano accompaniment tracks. Piano accompaniment books for Volumes 1 and 2 also available now. Volumes 3-10 are in the works, as are volumes for viola, cello, double bass and string orchestra. The O'Connor Violin Method employs classic violin technique and theory to teach students to become skilled violinists. But more than that, the O'Connor Violin Method uses familiar traditional American music to engage and motivate the young student. The lavishly illustrated books focus on well known traditional American tunes such as Oh! Susanna, Amazing Grace, Appalachia Waltz and Soldier's Joy. The method seeks to instill a deep appreciation of America's musical history with background stories of all those that contributed to this ri