
Band Meets Strings
Welcome to Band Meets Strings: A Podcast Exploring the String Classroom. Bay Area music educators Tiffany Ou-Ponticelli and Patrick Dandrea discuss their approach to pedagogy in the large ensemble string classroom. Tiffany has taught orchestra almost exclusively since 2012, and Patrick has worked mostly in band education since 2009, but now teaches orchestra. Listen as they discuss the successes, failures and everything in between as they look to improve their own practice to best set their students up for success.
Latest episodes

Oct 21, 2022 • 59min
1-3 Method Books and Approaching the Fingerboard
We check in after our first performances of the year, and then share the method books we use, how they are organized, and how we use them in the classroom. The second part of our conversation focuses on our approach with fingerboard geography, finger patterns and left hand technique, as well as the strategies we use to reinforce awareness and skill development in this area.
Method Books and Resources we discussed:
Essential Elements
Habits of a Successful Middle Level String Musician
Habits of a Successful String Musician
High Tech for Strings
Daily Warm Ups for String Orchestra
Daily Warm Ups for Full Orchestra
Expressive Sightreading for Orchestra
Sound Innovations for String Orchestra: Sound Development (Advanced) Warm-up Exercises for Tone and Technique for Advanced String Orchestra
String Player’s Guide to Orchestra
stringskills.com

Oct 13, 2022 • 56min
1-2 Posture and Position
After a quick check in, we focus on getting our students set up with posture and position. We discuss how we establish and create awareness of good posture habits on each instrument, share some of the top bad habits we see in our classes, and discuss how to establish healthy habits for left hand position.

Oct 12, 2022 • 58min
1-1 Introductions
Welcome to Band Meets Strings: A Podcast Exploring the String Classroom! In our first episode, we share some of our bios, discuss how our school programs are set up, and share about some teachers who have helped shape our own philosophy about how we work with students.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.