Expanding Horizons: Violin Book

Name: Expanding Horizons: Violin Book
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-29960
Price: 20.99 USD
Availability: InStock

The Suzuki-Trained Violinist Grows Up

By Mark Bjork

Item: 00-29960

$20.99

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In this long-awaited publication, Professor Mark Bjork draws upon his distinguished 40+-year career with the Suzuki Method to offer insights into the unique strengths and needs of the Suzuki-trained student. Directed towards parents and advanced students as well as teachers, this book discusses not only technical development (scales, etudes, and exercises) but also the process of working independently and the preparation for life beyond Book 8 (including orchestra, chamber music, competitions and college auditions). As a special bonus, an annotated list of repertoire explores in depth, the spectrum well beyond that of the beginner, culled from the experience of a teacher who has successfully taught students from the age of 2 1/2 years to the university graduate level.

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Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 152

ISBN10: 0-7390-5109-1

ISBN13: 978-0-7390-5109-2

UPC: 038081323916

SKU: 00-29960

More about this title

About the Composer: Mark Bjork

Mark Bjork has shaped generations of string players through four decades immersed in Suzuki pedagogy. His experience teaching violinists from early childhood through university level gives him a rare vantage point on what students actually need as they grow beyond the core Suzuki repertoire.

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Why we love this

This book speaks directly to the anxiety that comes after Book 8: what now? Bjork grounds his guidance in lived classroom experience rather than theory, offering parents and teachers a realistic roadmap for independent study, audition preparation, and the transition to orchestral or chamber contexts. The annotated repertoire list alone is worth the investment, curated by someone who has actually seen these pieces work with real students.

What to expect

Reading this book feels like sitting down with a mentor who knows exactly where your students are stuck and what they're ready for next. It's thoughtful and encouraging without being prescriptive, offering options and perspectives rather than a single rigid path.

Who it's for

Suzuki violin teachers navigating advanced students, parents of Book 7-8 students wondering what comes next, and ambitious violin students ready to take charge of their own musical growth. This works equally well for those preparing for orchestral auditions, chamber music collaborations, or formal competitions.

How to get the most out of it

Use the annotated repertoire list as a roadmap for selecting pieces that challenge specific technical or musical goals rather than jumping randomly between composers
Have advanced students read the sections on independent work and self-assessment before expecting them to practice effectively outside your studio
Reference the technical development sections when your students plateau, especially if they're struggling with scales or etudes that bridge their current level to college-prep material

How to use it

Use this as a planning tool with advanced students and their families during milestone conversations (end of Book 6, transition to Book 8, post-Book 8). Teachers can reference specific sections when recommending supplementary scales, etudes, or repertoire that matches a student's technical needs and artistic goals.