Susie Dantzig presents a new and clever approach to learning to play the violin that is unlike any other instructional manual. Using wit, wisdom, and charm, Susie Dantzig introduces us to Val the Violin, an engaging leader for young, budding musicians who are beginning to explore their hidden talents. The author's unique teaching method introduces students to reading music as well as playing techniques. An introductory guide incorporates images and photographs to help new players identify parts of the violin, learn how to hold the violin and bow, and understand musical symbols. Val the Violin guides students in studying the violin, starting with the lowest note, the open G, and progressing in a logical, step by step fashion through the highest string, the E string. Basic music theory concepts that are difficult to grasp, such as notes and tempo, are presented in a simple and whimsical style that is relatable and easily understood by young children. Fun facts and tips are included throughout each lesson, which ends with exercises that incorporate fun, popular songs. The book is structured so that the student learns one lesson each week and practices the exercises in that lesson 30 minutes each day. Val guides the student through each lesson with assistance from a parent or teacher. If the student is unable to practice during the week or is unable to move on to the next lesson, previous lessons can be reviewed and repeated. The author wrote this book with over 10 years of experience teaching private lessons to children as young as 2 years old. In those years of teaching, the author witnessed a lack of material geared for young children, especially material that teaches the student to read music as well as play. Consequently, the author developed methods to successfully teach these young students to do just that, as well as teach them concepts that she wished her teachers taught her. This book is meant to instruct pre-school and early elementary school aged children the basics of the violin and music theory. In addition to teaching students how to play the violin and basic music theory, Val the Violin is also a valuable resource that students can revisit for reference as they become more advanced musicians. The author includes a helpful reference guide that teaches the students how to figure out the key signature of a piece of music, a page of simple scales, and a glossary of all of the musical terms, symbols, and concepts introduced in each of the lessons. Always remember, music is a lifelong activity and this book provides a strong foundation for children as they embark on their musical journeys.

A wonderful introduction to the string family of instruments that shows young readers the power of music and of caring relationships. Come meet The Violin Family: Basil, the Bass; Celia, the Violoncello; "Bizzy", the Viola; and Val and Violet, the Violins! Together, they love to play music and then share a pancake breakfast, complete with local Vermont maple syrup--mm-mmmm! This picture book for children is an introduction to the family of stringed instruments with a delightful pairing of fact and fiction. In meeting The Violin Family, readers have the opportunity to learn about the anatomy as well as the personality of each of the strings. One day while the family is practicing their music, Violet falls and has to visit the luthier to be repaired. Will her sound come back so that her family can continue to play together as a quintet?

The Russian school of violin playing produced many of the twentieth century's leading violinists - from the famed disciples of Leopold Auer such as Jascha Heifetz, Nathan Milstein, and Mischa Elman to masters of the Soviet years such as David Oistrakh and Leonid Kogan. Though descendants of this school of playing are found today in every major orchestra and university, little is known about the pedagogical traditions of the Russian, and later Soviet, violin school. Following the revolution of 1917, the center of Russian violin playing and teaching shifted from St. Petersburg to Moscow, where violinists such as Lev Tseitlin, Konstantin Mostras, and Abraham Yampolsky established an influential pedagogical tradition. Founded on principles of scientific inquiry and physiology, this tradition became known as the Soviet Violin School, a component of the larger Russian Violin School. Yuri Yankelevich (1909 - 1973), a student and assistant of Abraham Yampolsky, was greatly influenced by the teachers of the Soviet School and in turn he became one of the most important pedagogues of his generation. Yankelevich taught at the Moscow Conservatory from 1936 to 1973 and produced a remarkable array of superb violinists, including forty prizewinners in international competitions. Extremely interested in the methodology of violin playing and teaching, Yankelevich contributed significant texts to the pedagogical literature. Despite its importance, Yankelevich's scholarly work has been little known outside of Russia. This book includes two original texts by Yankelevich: his essay on positioning the hands and arms and his extensive research into every detail of shifting positions. Additional essays and commentaries by those close to him examine further details of his pedagogy, including tone production, intonation, vibrato, fingerings and bowings, and his general approach to methodology and selecting repertoire. An invaluable resource for any professional violinist, Yankelevich's work reveals an extremely sophisticated approach to understanding the interconnectivity of all components in playing the violin and is complete with detailed practical suggestions and broad historical context.

Poet. Dancer. Immigrant. Artist. Son. Brother. There’s always more than meets the eye . . . Valentin “Val” Chmerkovskiy has captivated viewers with his striking performances on Dancing with the Stars since his first step, season after season. His raw talent, dashing looks, and genuine kindness have made him an instant, beloved star. Now, for the first time ever, viewers will have an all-access pass to Val’s life—and in I’ll Never Change My Name, Val bares his soul, illuminating the thoughtful person he is both on and off the stage. In this revealing memoir, Val opens up about his life and career so far—where he’s come from and where he hopes to go. He shows the reader some of the most notable moments from his childhood in Odessa, Ukraine, and his tight-knit family’s immigration to the United States—including his struggles learning English as a stranger desperate to fit into a different culture, how he worked to become a premiere ballroom dancer, and, of course, the collaborations and competitions with his brother and fellow DWTS sensation, Maksim “Maks” Chmerkovskiy. After years of practice and discipline, Val, along with his older brother Maks, have reached the pinnacle of success, but it took a great deal of hard work and gratitude to get there. Sharing at times intimate and at times entertaining moments with early dance partners all the way up through celebrity dance partners such as Laurie Hernandez, Zendaya, Kelly Monaco, and Rumer Willis on Dancing with the Stars, Val expresses his enduring gratitude for the opportunities America has afforded him and his family, and for everything this country represents—offering hope not only to fans, but everyone with a dream. Inspiring, heartfelt, and compulsively readable—including sixteen pages of never- before-seen photographs, as well as a foreword by brother Maks Chmerkovskiy—I’ll Never Change My Name is filled with Val’s honesty and insight, and moments that are sure to touch readers’ hearts and inspire us all to keep it moving.

The first book took Valerie through a demoralizing divorce, hate crimes, her mothers Alzheimers disease and being condemned by her daughter. Valerie kept her eyes on the future. She entered the university at the age of forty-four to study Comparative Religions and fell in love with Uriah Wexler, from Israel, her professor in Christian Ethics. She set out to educate against hatred and misunderstanding amongst the three major monotheistic religionsJudaism, Christianity and Islam. This is Vals story from devastation, to a career on the lecture circuit teaching tolerance and acceptance and finding the deep abiding love she thought would never be hers. This second book fills in the gaps and tells the rest of Vals story from beginning to end. Also included in this book are four short stories I hope you enjoy.