This is a National News Release issued on behalf of Martha Yasuda and The Yasuda Music
Company by PRNewswire on November 6, 2002.
Seasonal Melodies Volumes Provide
Teaching Tool for Musicians
VETERAN VIOLINIST PUBLISHES HOLIDAY MUSIC VOLUMES
ATLANTA, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Playing holiday music on the violin will be slightly
easier this year with the publication of a new music series by concert violinist and
seasoned music teacher Martha Yasuda, who uses a remarkable new double stop teaching
method.
Christmas Melodies: Double Stop Solos and Duets for Violin, Volumes I and II, by Yasuda
provides students with a simpler way to learn an advanced playing technique and is available
online at www.YasudaMusic.com.
"Through these volumes, students learn a complex violin technique in a fun, engaging way," said
Yasuda, who began learning to play the violin at age ten.
"I wanted to give students a pathway for learning the daunting double stop technique. Using
the Christmas theme gives them an opportunity to learn with songs and melodies that are familiar
to them," said Yasuda.
"I believe very strongly that this collection fills a major gap in the study of double stops,"
said internationally recognized Suzuki authority William Starr, who authored the Forward to
Christmas Melodies. "Yasuda's idea of relating double stops to duets is cleverly done and is
clearly a demonstration of Suzuki's idea of making learning enjoyable for the student. I
enthusiastically recommend Christmas Melodies."
Yasuda presents double stop solo arrangements of traditional Christmas carols on one side of
the page and duet versions using identical notes of the same solo arrangement on the opposite
page.
"This gives students the advantage of allowing them to hear what double stops should
sound like as they play the duet version first with fellow students and teachers," Yasuda said.
The concept of hearing the music prior to playing advances the tradition of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki,
founder of the Suzuki method.
Starr further notes that "Younger students can also join in the fun as they play the duet parts
in these fine arrangements. Students will be challenged as the duet parts alternate back and
forth between the melody and the harmony."
Yasuda has taught students privately for the last twenty-two years. She has played in a number
of major symphonies including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and is currently the Principal
Second Violinist with the Greenville Symphony. To order these volumes or receive additional
information, visit www.YasudaMusic.com.
