United towards the goal
"Michaelas Musikhaus", the violin teaching book for children aged 4 and over by Gwendolin Masin, has now also been published in German in a revised version.
"If an athlete is to come out well, the whole village has to help!" - With this statement, Gwendolyn Masin summed up the meaning of the recently published German edition of her violin teaching book for children aged 4 and up at a performance in Bern. The pupils between the ages of 12 and 20 who performed proved with their skills that Masin has taken the right path: confident, memorized, well-structured playing. And the parents showed their active support with their visibility. The German translation consists of four handy little volumes in contrast to the thick ring binder of the English edition nine years ago (cf. Review in the Swiss Music Newspaper 11/2009, S. 35).
Masin describes her intentions and goals in detail both for parents, whose intensive cooperation is required, and for teachers, who receive many suggestions. Accompanied by cheerful illustrations, she tells her imaginative stories for the introduction of new movement sequences and reports on discussions with Michaela and her mother in diary form. She attaches great importance to encouraging pupils to form their own well-founded opinions and independence, as well as learning to read music step by step in an age-appropriate way. Many vivid photographs of her pupils are helpful in understanding the technical requirements. Footnotes explain unfamiliar terms. The exercises and pieces from all the lessons, some of which have been new since 2009 - often arranged as duets - are combined in the accompanying booklet, which also includes a piano part.
Gwendolyn Masin: Michaelas Musikhaus - Der Zauber der Geige, illustrations Colm Mac Athlaoich, photos Martin Möll , calligraphy Rhea Fay ; booklet 1: lessons 1-7, booklet 2: lessons 8-16, booklet 3: lessons 17-24, Fr. 38.50 each; accompanying booklet Fr. 26.50, Müller & Schade, Bern 2018
