FOA presentation victor fernandez 2019
Channel: Bring_The_Music
Date: 09/10/2019

This letter was published in the Florida Music Director publication prior to my presentation on September 26th, 2019.  The letter is also located on the presentation materials found here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RWb04tbczpdndoj4EHQTXdMKEyFqBck5-fZFh2Yn4FE/edit?usp=sharing

And here:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14SQfi2GRcHxuWfnndImnvdycm1RjxtCHVN9taJj9IPw/edit?usp=sharing

A letter from FOA member Victor Fernandez, shared recently through the Florida Music Director Publication

During the FOA Fall Conference, I will be presenting on the critical role ear training plays in beginning and intermediate strings during a presentation titled “Through the ear and not the eye: The fundamental role of Ear Training in string playing”. My aim during this session is to  shift our perception of the role of ear training from one of an activity of secondary importance to being the core center around which all beginning and intermediate string learning revolves. Elementary, Middle and High school string directors should find it beneficial. 
 
For a bit of historical background, let me rewind a few years. I experienced this paradigm shift (importance of ear training) when I took over the string program at The Conservatory School @ North Palm Beach in 2013. I had the unique opportunity to start children on violin in Kindergarten, at the age of 5. The program originally only went to 4th grade, but over the subsequent years, it expanded, giving me the opportunity to teach strings to the entire K-8 spectrum. What an opportunity for reflection and growth! 
 
Since 2013, I have had to really stretch myself as an educator to successfully meet the needs of such a diverse age group. It has been a journey filled with immense challenges but also musical rewards I could not have ever dreamed were possible. By far, the insights I gleaned from years of experience teaching 5, 6 and 7 year olds has been responsible in how my approach to teaching middle school and high school has fundamentally and radically changed. This transformation is what I wish to share in my presentation: how ear training should have a primary role in every musical activity our string players engage in. I will speak about the role of harmony in developing tonal awareness, the critical role of singing, sight singing, sight reading and its natural impact on intonation. These are just a few of the areas I will cover. 
 
To support my presentation, I will share my conversations with Mr. Itzhak Perlman on the importance of independence of the left hand fingers as a prerequisite to vibrato, my experiences and reflection of his work with the Perlman Music Program, my musical upbringing in Cuba in a conservatory of music founded on Russian pedagogy and the teachings of my friend, colleague and mentor, Mr. Herbert Gardner with his 60 years of string teaching experience.
 
If you wish to get in touch with me, feel free to email me at victor.fernandez@palmbeachschools.org. Additionally, you can follow me on twitter with the handle @Bring_The_Music. I look forward to seeing my colleagues from throughout the state, and make many new ones! 

Victor Fernandez      
Orchestra Director 
The Conservatory School @North Palm Beach