Duets: Connecting pedagogy and performance: using duets in the teaching studio
Workshop
Tuesday, 26th March, 11am-11:45am
How do you incorporate duets into your teaching? Is it a refreshing break from exams, an occasional fun activity at the end of the term, or perhaps not a part of your teaching approach at all? Celia Cobb and Naomi Yandell are enthusiastic advocates of the value of duet playing in a student’s weekly lesson experience. In this 45-minute session, they will guide you through effective strategies for integrating duets into the teaching studio. Drawing examples from their new duet book, “Cool Beans” (published by Stainer & Bell), as well as other cherished sources, they will showcase the benefits of using duets, emphasize their pedagogical applications, and encourage participants to bring their instruments (violin, viola, or cello) for an interactive exploration of new pieces together.
About the speakers
Celia Cobb/Naomi Yandell, Violin and Viola/Cello
Celia Cobb and Naomi Yandell are string teachers based in Cambridge, UK. They collaborate at Stringmoves, a comprehensive string project for local primary-school children centered around Dalcroze Eurythmics, where Celia serves as the Director.
Celia, an alumna of the Royal College of Music, London, and the University of Cambridge, currently teaches violin and viola at St Faith’s School and St John’s College School, Cambridge. Naomi, a graduate of the University of York, has crafted a multifaceted career as a cello teacher, author, editor, and consultant. Naomi is also the author of “Introducing Theory of Music” and the Trinity College Theory of Music Workbooks.
Both Celia and Naomi are members of ESTA UK and frequently contribute to publications such as The Strad and other magazines, focusing on teaching and string technique.
Their collaborative efforts have led to several publications, starting with the String Notebooks series—a collection of tailored theory books for violin, viola, cello, and double bass.
These books aim to empower beginner string players, fostering strong note-reading skills and a solid foundation in basic music theory and notation.
For Trinity College London Press, they co-authored “Take Your Bow,” an album of their own performance pieces for beginner string players with piano accompaniment. Many of these pieces are featured in the Trinity Initial and Grade 1 syllabuses. Additionally, their 12-volume series, “Sight-reading: A Progressive Method,” presents a systematic approach to building confidence in sight-reading for string players.
Their latest publications, “Top Banana” (performance pieces with attitude for young string players) and “Cool Beans” (character duets for pupil and teacher), are published by Stainer & Bell.
Publications
Theory books
A first violin notebook, A first viola notebook, A first cello notebook, A first double bass notebook – published by Bridge Music publications
A further violin notebook, A further viola notebook, A further cello notebook – published by Bridge Music publications
Introducing Theory of Music by Naomi Yandell – published by Trinity College London Press
Trinity Music Theory Workbooks by Naomi Yandell – published by Trinity College London Press
Sight-reading books
Sight-reading: A progressive method. Available in three volumes each for violin, viola, cello and double bass – published by Trinity College London Press
Repertoire
For beginners:
Take Your Bow (20 concert pieces for beginner string players). Available for violin, viola, cello and double bass, with piano accompaniment – published by Trinity College London Press
For Grade 1 – 2+:
Top Banana (20 performance pieces with attitude for young string players). Available for violin, viola and cello, with piano accompaniment – published by Stainer & Bell
For beginners to Grade 2+:
Cool Beans (21 character duets for pupil and teacher). Available for violin, viola and cello – published by Stainer & Bell