The following colleagues lent their expertise in preparing the materials offered on this site, in most cases totally without compensation.  They were asked to provide fingerings that they themselves, as professional level players, would use.  There is little value in teaching students the “kids’ way” of playing as opposed to the “adult way.”  To pursue the “Mother Tongue” paradigm,  teaching “baby talk” has limited shelflife.  Thoughtful parents address their infants in complete sentences with good grammar and syntax;  they will expect their young eventually to generate complex and compound sentences in return.  There is nothing to be gained from delaying learning the best way.  Thank you, panel!

•Lawrence P. Hurst is Professor of Music (Double Bass), School of Music at Indiana University and Chair of the  Department of Strings.  Hurst is the former principal double bass for the Dallas Symphony. He is a former faculty member of Southern Methodist and Eastern Michigan Universities and former faculty member, associate dean, and chair of the string department at University of Michigan School of Music where he was awarded the Alumni Award from the UM School of Music in 1998.  Professor Hurst is former director of the University Division of the National Music Camp and is a summer faculty member of the Interlochen Arts Camp and past president of the International Society of Bassists. His former students can be found in many prestigious orchestras, including Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Indianapolis, and Atlanta.  He edited the bass part for TWO OCTAVE SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS.

•Barbara Goodman Lees, cellist,  graduated from Brown University with a major in music.  She started teaching piano at age 13.  Her Interpretations Cello Studio   has been operating for over 40 years–first in Michigan and now in California.  She has performed professionally with several symphony orchestras and chamber music groups.  She has been a founding member of the Sterling Trio, The Gallery String Quartet, Trio Opus 8 and Two Part Invention.  Teaching, however, is her major passion. Lees now resides in San Luis Obisbo CA and plays in the San Luis Obispo Symphony.  She edited the cello part of TWO OCTAVE SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS.

•Frank Lestina,  bassist,  received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Roosevelt University in Chicago and his Master’s Degree in Administrationfrom the University of Illinois. Frank is very active as a clinician and
adjudicator in Illinois.   He has served as guest conductor for many of the IMEA District Orchestra Festivals and summer music camps at Blue Lake and ISYM.  Mr. Lestina’s  teaching career includes schools in Danville and Libertyville IL.  The Libertyville Orchestra gave performances at the MENC North Central Division Conference and the Mid-West Clinic. Mr. Lestina was selected as Illinois ASTA String Teacher of the Year in 1992.  He has also served as IMEA District VII Orchestra Chairperson and is curently the IMEA District 7 President.   He edited the bass parts for UNA CORDA.

•Alice Ann O’Neill, cellist,  teaches at the University of Dayton and lives in Cincinnati OH.    Alice Ann teaches cello to both children and adults and performs in concerts herself. She recently received her doctorate in cello performance and pedagogy from The Ohio State University.  She edited the cello parts for TUNES FOR SHIFTING.

• Bob Phillips, composer, string pedagogue, teacher trainer, and conductor,  is co-author of the String Explorer method books as well as Fiddlers Philharmonic and Jazz Philharmonic series all published by Alfred Publishing.  He has over twenty pieces published for string orchestra.  Bob taught twenty-seven years in the Saline Area Schools in Michigan.  Bob graduated from the University of Michigan with both Bachelor and Master Degrees in Music Education, where he studied with Lawrence Hurst, Elizabeth Green and Bob Culver. . He edited the bass parts for TUNES FOR SHIFTING.

•Jameson Platte, cellist holds the BM degree from the University of Alabama.  He  maintains an active career both as a performer and a teacher. He is currently principal cellist of the Glens Falls Symphony and assistant principal of the Allentown Symphony.  Mr. Platte works extensively with the New Jersey Youth Symphony as a guest conductor and cello coach, performs as a soloist and maintains a large private studio.  In summers, he teaches at the New England Music Camp.  Mr. Platte has been a member of the Tuscaloosa Symphony (under Louis Lane), the Huntsville Symphony and the Alabama Symphony. Mr. Platte also served as Professor of Cello at the Montclair State University Preparatory Division and the Stokes Forest Music Festival.   He edited the cello parts for UNA CORDA.

Gabriel A. Villasurda edited the violin and viola parts for this site.