Now more than ever there is a need for outfitting string players with all sorts of cutting-edge tools to enhance their playing style. In a world where there are so many different types of music to choose from, the modern day string player must be familiar with as many alternative techniques as possible so as to enable him or her to broaden their musical path. Developing improvisational techniques will strengthen your students’ ability to market, network, and "plug in" to the modern world!

This is a unique opportunity to work with Mark Wood - international recording artist, electric violinist, Emmy-winning composer, and inventor of the revolutionary Viper electric violin - and your students are sure to benefit from the inspiring and motivational techniques he has developed through years of research and experience. Through Mark's association with many of the industry's most successful artists, including the platinum-selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Celine Dion, and Billy Joel, he can bring a level of expertise and knowledge that is sure to build on the foundation you've created for your students.

A sampling of some of the venues that have hosted this extraordinary program are listed below. Please be sure to click on the ones highlighted in yellow to find out more:

• the prestigious Juilliard School (New York)
• the annual Mark O’Connor Fiddle Camp and Conference (Nashville, TN and San Diego, CA)
• Lakewood High School (Cleveland, OH)
• Bellefontaine High School (Bellefontaine, OH)
• Dartmouth High School (Dartmouth, MA)
• Sycamore Schools (Cincinnati, OH)
• Aurora Schools (Aurora, OH)
• Oneonta University (New York)
• Cinnaminson Schools (Cinnaminson, NJ) - click here to read some wonderful e-mails we received after the program!
• Berklee School of Music
• Greenwood Music Camp (Cummington, MA)
• the Vanderbilt School of Music (Nashville, TN)
• the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland, OH)

This course has been receiving overwhelming praise from diverse groups of students ranging in age from 8 to 80!

"Thank you so much for motivating my students and inspiring me to become a better teacher and person by trying new things . . . You possess a gift with students."
Beth Hankins - Orchestra Director
Lakewood High School - Lakewood, OH

"If you are a string teacher you NEED to do this!!! It has opened my eyes to so many possibilities! It also has shown me a different way to go about teaching music! The excitement that Mark brings is contagious! My classes are still pumping from his visit and hopefully I can keep this energy going!"
Laura Mitchell - String Educator

"I am always amazed at what our students can achieve when the energy is focused in the same direction. It was one of the highlights of my career!"
David Smarelli - Orchestra Director
Sycamore Schools - Cincinnati, OH

"You've made a huge difference in the students' lives and in the way our community views music education."
Jason Burdett - Administrator
Aurora Schools - Aurora, OH

"Thanks, Mark, for teaching at camp. You are a wonderful teacher! You are talented and gracious. I consider it an honor to have met you!"
Miki Causey - Student

"You are an insightful person and your enthusiasm for your work and art is contagious! After years of looking for something that really moves me, I found it in what you do."
Allegra Tortolano Havens - Concert Violinist with Virginia Symphony, Virginia Opera & Glimmerglass Opera

"[We] are still talking about our experience. . . We tell of a wonderful man who let children and amateurs play on his instruments. . . We tell what a wonderful teacher he is and how fond of him we grew as we got to know him . . . We brag about what a great performer he is!"
Corrine & Sara Pearson - Parent & Student - Mark O'Connor Fiddle Conference

"I think you’re the coolest violinist that ever lived!"
Macgregor Murrill - Student

"When you came to Greenwood you changed my whole perception of music. You introduced me to something new and changed my life!"
Sarah Charness - Senior Program at Greenwood Music Camp

"Thanks for being such a great teacher!!!! I just want you to know that you are the one that made Mark O'Connor Fiddle Camp great for my daughter, Katie Beth."
Courtney & Katie Beth Makin - Parent & Student - Mark O'Connor Fiddle Conference

There's a great article that recently appeared in "Strings" magazine about Mark's involvement with the Juilliard School - click here to read!

Cick here for a phenomenal review of Mark's visit with students at Dartmouth High School in Dartmouth, MA.

As an outgrowth of Mark’s course, string educator Beth Hankins and Mark Wood have formed a unique collaboration by creating the world’s first High School Rock Orchestra! "The Lakewood Project" commissioned Mark and his company Wood Violins to custom-build a selection of electric string instruments (violins, violas, and cellos) and to compose a special piece specifically for the world premiere performance of the rock orchestra. This highly anticipated event made its extraordinarily successful debut at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio and is still going strong!

Here’s what Beth Hankins had to say after Mark’s first visit to the school:

"The city of Lakewood has been changed forever. The kids are sooooo excited. Here are a few stories. 1. Cellist #1 who never practices went home and spent two hours transposing your handout into bass clef, because he felt that it was important for all of the cello players to have the music as well. 2. Cellist #2 finished her homework at 11:00 p.m. Thursday evening and went downstairs to say goodnight, she spotted her cello and said what the heck. So she started practicing. While she was practicing scales her father a jazz musician stopped in shocked "hey you are playing a blues scale" "yes I know" "I can improvise too" So she showed him. They jammed until 1:00 am together that night and had a blast. 3. Middle School 6th grade: CAN WE PLAY AN A MINOR PENTATONIC SCALE TODAY FOR WARM UP. Then one girl yelled, can we play it in D....yes but you tell me the notes...no problem and they just yelled them out. It was amazing. We (6th graders and me) talked about the electric orchestra and how we had to wait for grants. Then [someone] said I have an idea...... My sisters really wanted to buy an automatic kitty litter box because they hated cleaning it. SO they collected all of the loose change around the house and bought the litter box. John continued by saying that if every orchestra student in Lakewood collected loose change around their house for one month he bets that we would have $40,000. The kids cheered and one yelled I have a nickel let's start now."

WOW - these kids grabbed onto this concept and haven't let go!! If this is how excited one group of students can become, imagine how projects of this sort can affect music programs throughout our entire country!

Here are some of our most requested programs and services…

One-hour assembly
A live performance, lecture, and demonstration of Mark Wood’s cutting-edge electric violins, with one or more student volunteers being chosen beforehand to join Mark onstage to learn and demonstrate various improvisation techniques. A question and answer period follows.

Introductory 1-day Clinic
Focusing on the art of improvisation for electric and acoustic strings, classes will include involving your students in demonstrating and applying these techniques. Mark will bring a selection of electric violins for them to experience for themselves. Part of this introductory visit would include a short live presentation to your students to “fire them up!”

2-Day Workshop
An expanded version of the 1-day clinic. Additional topics include in-depth segments on improvisation and discussions of musical ideas, along with a composition portion in which the students will apply what they learn to create their own piece of music. This will culminate in a live concert by your students (accompanied by Mark) and will include music arrangements as follows: Mark will supply your school with two pieces of music, including full score and all parts, which can be incorporated into your existing curriculum and used to prepare for a possible concert by the students.

Special Instrument Purchase
To enhance the ongoing nature of this program, your school may wish to purchase an assortment of electric violins, violas, and/or cellos from our company, which offers substantial educator discounts!

For prices and info on bringing this incredible course to your school or venue,
please e-mail us or call us at 516-767-6677.

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