thinkNS.com/connect

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Congratulations to NS Artist Brittany Frompovich who is a finalist in two categories in the 2021 Virtual Washington Area Music Awards, also known as “The Wammies.” Bassist and strings educator, Frompovich is nominated for Educator, and Best Blues Artist/Group,  as a part of The Ashleigh Chevalier Band.

The Wammies is a 32-year-old music award show that celebrates DC area artists and musicians, and is sponsored by The MusicianShip, whose work provides free music and educational programming to young people in the community. The event takes place Sunday, March 28 from 6-9:30PM at www.WammiesDC.org and tickets are available and provide full access to a range of interactive features, including Pre-Show, Red Carpet, finalist interviews, performances, Virtual Vendor Expo, networking, and after-party. With a VIP ticket, 50% of the proceeds go to supporting The MusicianShip’s work providing free music education programming.

For more information about Frompovich, her educator programs and the NS basses she plays, please visit her NS Artist page

https://thinkns.com/artists/ns-design-artist-brittany-frompovich/

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The Electric Strings Extravaganza from The American String Teachers Association 2021 National Conference is Wednesday, March 3rd from noon to 3PM, EST. with live Q&A and guest appearances from several acclaimed electric violin, viola and cello artists. Are you a music instructor? Make your plan this week to recharge, learn, connect, and make music together at the American String Teachers Association⁠ annual conference.⁠

You are invited to join NS Artist Educator Julie Lyonn Lieberman and friends to enroll early and participate in the The Electric Strings Extravaganza. A special cameo appearance by NS Cello Artist Educator Greg Byers is sure to be inventive and full of the joy and dynamism that he brings to all of his performances!

Byers is an award winning performer, educator and producer. Check out his NS artist page for more information and a selection of video performances.

Register directly https://www.astastrings.org/

The post NS Artist Greg Byers Featured during ASTA’s 2021 Electric Strings Extravaganza appeared first on NS Design.

Are you a music instructor? Make your plan in March to recharge, learn, connect, and make music together at the American String Teachers Association⁠ annual conference.⁠
⁠
The Electric Strings Extravaganza is Wednesday, March 3rd from noon to 3PM, EST, with live Q&A. You are invited to join NS Artist Julie Lyonn Lieberman and friends to enroll. Julie will co-present with Martha Mooke, Joe Deninzon, and Matt Bell.
⁠
Learn about amplification, tone-enhancement options, preamps, amps, special effects, and more. Learn how to use the looper as a tool to teach composition, rhythm, bass lines, and improvisation as well as applications for all of the above in the private studio and/or classroom or orchestra for practice as well as performance. ⁠
⁠
This 2021 ASTA conference promises to be a huge success and enrollment will be high so be sure to register soon!⁠ https://www.astastrings.org/NationalConference ⁠
⁠
Julie Lyonn Lieberman has performed on and presented workshops about Electric Strings over the last four decades throughout the United States as well as abroad to contemporize string education and serve her artistic vision. She has presented for IAJE: International Association for Jazz Education, TODA: Texas Orchestra Directors Association, ASTA: American String Teachers Association, ESTA: European String Teachers Association, as well as state string teacher sessions and school residencies. Check out her website www.julielyonn.com⁠ or https://thinkns.com/artists/ns-design-artist-julie-lyonn-lieberman/

The NS Electric Violins

The NS Electric Viola

The NS Electric Cello

⁠

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NS Design recently showcased an online series of informative and entertaining events including special performances, demonstrations, and live roundtable discussions among NS Artists, and NS founder Ned Steinberger, hosted by NS Artist Relations Manager Corey Redonnett. You can see a collection of videos and demonstrations at thinkNS.com/connect.

A message from NS Design founder Ned Steinberger⁠

I would like to express my special thanks to all the wonderful musicians who helped to make our NS Connect 2021 a success. Your knowledge, insight, and creative spirit, so freely shared for everyone’s benefit, was inspirational for me and I’m sure for all who participated in the event. I believe this is the beginning of a new level of connectivity for our growing and vibrant NS family. Thank you for making all this possible. I hope you have a great year! Ned⁠
⁠
Violinists and Violists⁠
Anna Blanton
Eliza James⁠
Ernest Bisong
Dr. Gregory Walker
Ion Zanca
Jason Yang⁠
Jonas Peterson
Jozef Nadj
Julie Lyon Lieberman
Ken Ford⁠
Matt Bell
Luis Montilla
Rebecca Schlappisch-Charles⁠
Rudof Haken
Scott Laird
⁠
Cellists⁠
Brian Webb
Calum Ingram⁠
Daniel Achebes
Greg Byers
Guy Michel⁠
Katie Larson
Kirsten Jones
Maddy Herdeman
Zack Clark⁠
⁠
Bassists⁠
Bakithi Kumalo
Brittany Frompovich  ⁠
Chance Onody  ⁠
Chris Wyse
Daniell Escortell
Derek Menchan
Donald Waugh  ⁠
Jake Moore
James “Hutch” Hutchinson
Lucas Steinberger ⁠
Marcos Varela
Michael Micucci
Nick Cañas
Nick Villalobos
Noor Che’ree
Pepe Hernandez
Yorgis Gioricelaya
Zach Rudulph

The post CONNECT2021 with NS Design – A Virtual Gathering appeared first on NS Design.

Sign up here

Be sure to check out his fun looping improvisation on his NXT Cello for the Berklee World Strings Department.

More on Eugene . . .

The post Eugen Friesen – Creative Cello Workshop 2020 appeared first on NS Design.

Ned Steinberger (center) meeting with Tommy Maloney (left) and V.J. Manzo (right) in the Electric Guitar Innovation Lab at WPI.

NS Design Founder and award-winning instrument designer, Ned Steinberger recently spent some time in collaboration on confidential research regarding electric guitar technology, with Tommy Maloney and V.J. Manzo of the Electric Guitar Innovation Lab at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worchester, MA.

The Guitar Innovation Lab explores opportunities for research, innovation, and education related to the electric guitar and the various components associated with the electric guitar including instrument design and modification, amplifiers, pickups, effects processors, and more. Check out the Lab’s website here: http://electricguitarinnovationlab.org/

The post Ned Steinberger Visits the Worchester Poly Technical Institute Guitar Innovation Lab appeared first on NS Design.

NS Design Educator Julie Lyonn Lieberman releases her new tutorial A FESTIVAL of VIOLIN & FIDDLE STYLES available for Violin, Viola and Cello. Julie is Artistic Director of the exciting Strings Without Boundaries seminars and is a storied author and teacher with of 12 Books and 6 DVDs distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation and 24+ String orchestra scores published by Alfred, Kendor, and Carl Fischer.

Available at: https://julielyonnmusic.ecwid.com/

Julie plays and performs with her NXTa Violin and uses  NXTa Violas and NXTa Cellos in her seminars, clinics and performances.

more about Julie . . .

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Scott Laird, nationally recognized string pedagogue and conductor (and NS Design Artist and Educator), has received The University of North Carolina Board of Governors 2019 Excellence in Teaching Award.

Established by the Board in 1993 to highlight the importance of teaching, the award recognizes the extraordinary contributions of faculty members System wide, honoring 17 outstanding faculty members this year.

“We take great pride in honoring these recipients. They all bring a high standard of excellence in the classroom through creative teaching methods that impact our students,” said UNC Board of Governors Chair Harry Smith.

Laird, who has served on the faculty of The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics is currently the Fine Arts Coordinator and Instructor of Music.

Beginning in 2001, Laird’s milestone achievements include promoting and developing a high standard of musicianship and pride in the Orchestra and initiating popular electives Classical Piano and Guitar, Audio/Digital Music Production, and History of Western Music. Taking on the new role of Fine Arts Coordinator in 2008, Laird has played an integral role in recruiting, hiring, and supporting all of NCSSM’s Fine Arts instructors with an eye toward developing a team that exemplifies excellence in teaching, scholarship, impeccable musicianship, care for students, and collegiality.

In his 18 years as NCSSM’s orchestra conductor, the string section has grown from only 12 members in 2001 to over 60 players this year. They have performed major works every year including symphonies by Beethoven, Dvorak, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Haydn, and this year, Brahms and have featured over 70 student soloists over the years as part of an annual Concerto Concert. He sponsors and supports students who are selected for the NCMEA Eastern Regional Orchestra, NC Honors Orchestra, and NAfME National Honor Orchestra.

“This award is an opportunity to acknowledge the great work that’s being done by some of the finest instructors in all of higher education,” said UNC System Interim President Bill Roper. “It represents the talent we have in the UNC System and the high-quality education our students receive.”

Noted for his innovative approach to ensemble development and musicianship, Laird is a frequent conductor of honor orchestras and is a sought-after conference presenter. He has developed relationships with the Durham community by promoting the Fine Arts Series events to the community on area list-serves and our programs are now well known for their high quality, free admission, and family-friendly atmosphere.

He regularly performs on acoustic and electric violin and is known for his abilities in both the classical and improvisatory arena. We’re proud to add that his electric of choice is the NS Design CR Violin.

His blog: “Thoughts of a String Educator,” enjoys broad readership in the music education community.

More on Scott and the other esteemed recipients of this prestigious award:  https://www.northcarolina.edu/Board-Governors-Awards/Teaching-Awards-2019

The post 2019 The University of North Carolina Board of Governors Award winner Scott Laird appeared first on NS Design.

NS Design Bassist Noor Che’ree is embarking on the “I Believe You 2018 Tour” with Rock-Pop musician Emiko. The National Tour begins on March 21, 2018. Along with drummer Lee Piatelli, the trio will play a series of shows throughout the US. In May 2018, Emiko Asia Tour will play in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Bantam Border Stage Festival, The World Youth Jazz Festival (Kuala Lumpur), and Jakarta, Indonesia.

While on their US tour this spring, Che’ree and Emiko will hold the ‘Emiko LIVE! Songwriting & Instrument Demo Clinic Series’ at select Sam Ash Music Store locations around the country. Che’ree is representing NS Design, along with Emiko and her brand partner Hammond Organ USA. They will share their experiences and process in the music creation process, from concept to writing to performance and recording.

Along with sharing his insights and tips, Noor will demonstrate the versatility of the NS Basses and various types of available bass sounds from the RADIUS Bass Guitar. Attendees are welcomed to play the instruments and take part in the process during the clinic.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn and work with Che’ree and Emiko. Visit the Sam Ash Events Calendar at for a current list of locations, dates and times.

For tour dates and locations for the “I Believe You 2018 Tour” with Emiko visit her website: www.emikomusic.com

For more information about Noor Che’ree visit www.noorcheree.com

The post NS Artist Noor Che’ree Joins the Spring 2018 “I Believe You” Tour and Clinic Featuring Emiko appeared first on NS Design.

Welcome to the fifth edition of The Lyonn’s Roar, “Rhythmize Your Bow with Chop” by NS Violinist and Educator Julie Lyonn Lieberman.

For those of you returning to school this September, put fiery bounce in your bow by developing your “chop” percussion techniques on your violin, viola, cello or upright bass.

Starting as what was called the “chunk” technique and made popular by the father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, “chopping” has quickly become a fun and funky way for players to keep the groove moving. Bill Monroe’s fiddler Richard Greene (pictured below) further developed the “chop” technique into his own artful musical language.

Be sure to check out an excerpt from his guest appearance at the Strings Without Boundaries Summer 2016 Session in Seattle, Washington:

For lessons in how to develop this technique in your own playing, check out the Lyonn’s Roar – Fifth Edition “Rhythmize Your Bow with Chop”.

Go to Julie’s Strings Without Boundaries website page to learn more about contemporary and alternative string techniques or check out her book How to Play Contemporary Strings: A Step-by-Step Approach for Violin, Viola & Cello. Complete with video tutorials, backing tracks and a step-by-step approach including explicit notation, it will get you on your way to building new skills and techniques.

For more information about all of NS Design’s instruments including the NXTa Electric Violin that Julie plays and its eco-friendly, active yet battery-free features, and the affordable and road-worthy WAV Electric Series of instruments visit ThinkNS.com.

The post The Lyonn’s Roar by Julie Lyonn Lieberman – Edition Five – “Rhythmize Your Bow with Chop” appeared first on NS Design.

Welcome to the fourth edition of THE LYONN’S ROAR, “Electric Technique:  The Same . . .or?” by NS Violinist and Educator Julie Lyonn Lieberman.

Whether you’ve just unboxed your new NS Violin, plugged in your acoustic for the first time, or are just ready to unleash into new territory on the instrument you already love to play, these exciting iNSights will take your playing to another level and help you stand out in any performance setting.

Chord connection fills, textural ghost notes, chopping techniques, and incorporating guitar and horn like riffs to electrify your string sound, Lieberman highlights a range of suggestions for expanding your violin’s voice using several alternative techniques.

http://www.stringswithoutboundaries.com/string-resources/string-blog/electric-technique.html

This fourth edition includes a bonus interview with violinist Papa John Creach of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.  Papa John is an exciting and unique violinist and performer that understands how to truly stand out on a stage. In the interview, he talks about how to “Get Down, Get Dirty and Give it some Guts” on your electric.

How else do you achieve these techniques? Attend a summer program that will help you build new skills, there are quite a few to choose from.  Check out Julie’s book, How to Play Contemporary Strings: A Step-by-Step Approach for Violin, Viola & Cello, with its video tutorials and backing tracks, it’s a sure way to gain skills and have some fun.  Visit her website for more information on all her books, DVDs and courses. http://julielyonn.com/

For more information about all of NS Design’s electric violins and electric violas and the new eco-friendly, active yet battery-free NXTa Electric Violin, or the affordable and road-worthy WAV Electric Violin visit ThinkNS.com.

The post The Lyonn’s Roar by Julie Lyonn Lieberman – Edition Four – “Electric Technique: The Same . . .or?” appeared first on NS Design.

Welcome to the third edition of THE LYONN’S ROAR, “Get The Best Tone On Your Electric,” with highlighting iNSights into Choosing an Electric Instrument, Amplification and Effects, and Strings and things by Julie Lyonn Lieberman.

This edition features a special interview with Fan Tao, Director of Research and Development for D’Addario Orchestral Strings. 

Check out this informative article and the many videos of Julie demonstrating the use of multiple effects units and changing strings on the NS Violin.

Learn more about all the amazing electric bowed string instruments NS Design offers at ThinkNS

The post The Lyonn’s Roar by Julie Lyonn Lieberman – Edition Three -“Get The Best Tone On Your Electric” appeared first on NS Design.

NS Design’s founder and instrument designer Ned Steinberger was invited as a featured speaker at the Skidompha Library “Chats With Champions” series this past month in co-sponsorship with Sherman’s Bookstore in Damariscotta, Maine.

In the talk titled “Trial, Error and Invention” Ned discusses the evolution of his life’s work from his childhood passion for woodworking, early career as a furniture designer interested in ergonomic design challenges and the path that ultimately unfolded for the state-of-the-art innovations he brings to the musical instrument world.

Ned describes his forays into business, his early collaborations with Stuart Spector, meeting Les Paul for the first time, and the trials and tribulations of his process for finding the optimal sound potential of an instrument as it relates to its design and construction.

Guest guitarist, David Martin provides examples of the sonic variations and technological advances that make Ned’s instruments so exciting and versatile for players and listeners alike.

For more interviews and discussions with Ned, please visit the Interviews link on our website or go to the NS Design YouTube channel linked here.

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Welcome to the second edition of THE LYONN’S ROAR – “String Drumming” filled with iNSights into how to inject fire into your bow by Julie Lyonn Lieberman.

While many bowed string players focus on traditional techniques, Julie will show you how to be iNSpired to take flight, how to move and groove.  There’s a world of exiting possibilities you can add to your technical grab bag.  Check it out at: http://www.stringswithoutboundaries.com/string-resources/string-blog/rhythmizing-bow.html

Don’t forget to practice these tips using our great collection of CR, NXTa and WAV series violins at  www.thinkns.com.

The post The Lyonn’s Roar by Julie Lyonn Lieberman – Edition Two – “String Drumming” appeared first on NS Design.

Welcome to the first edition of THE LYONN’S ROAR – “Special Effects” by Julie Lyonn Lieberman.  Julie focuses on using effects with electric bowed instruments, including multi-effects processors, and how they can add “spice” to your playing and sound.  To see a video demonstration of some of the sounds you can achieve, visit Strings Without Boundaries http://www.stringswithoutboundaries.com/string-resources/string-blog/special-effects.html.

Fiddler Markus Fahrenberger’s effects and tools on the road.

For more information on the full line of NS stringed and bowed instruments, visit www.thinkns.com.

The post The Lyonn’s Roar by Julie Lyonn Lieberman – Edition One – “Special Effects” appeared first on NS Design.

NS Design is pleased to announce that NS Artist and String Educator JULIE LYONN LIEBERMAN will be featured in a new series that we affectionately call the “Lyonn’s Roar!” Every month readers can look forward to education and advice on how to improve as a player, performer and musician and get the most out of your electric stringed instruments.

Julie has been at the forefront of the string evolution/revolution for 35+ years as a performer, author, composer, and producer. Her most recent of eight string books on eclectic styles and creative musicianship is titled “How to Play Contemporary Strings” (Hal Leonard). She is the Artistic Director for the summer program, Strings Without Boundaries and is an NS Design Artist/ Educator as well as a D’Addario Premiere Clinician.

Julie is the proud recipient of the 2014 ASTA: American String Teachers Association Kudos Award, over two-dozen ASCAP Plus Awards, eight Meet the Composer awards and three ASTA National Citation for Leadership & Merit awards. She has written and produced two National Public Radio Series: The Talking Violin, hosted by Dr. Billy Taylor, and Jazz Profiles: Jazz Violin hosted by Nancy Wilson, and has composed over two dozen alternative styles string orchestra scores for Kendor and Alfred Music.

Also, Julie is the creative genius behind Strings Without Boundaries (SWB). SWB is a Summer Program For Traditional  & Contemporary Strings, where 21st century technique meets tradition, creativity and style. The SWB upcoming session will be in Omaha, NE on July 23-27th 2017.  Each day attendees can choose from two dozen classes in American and world styles, creative musicianship, technology for strings, and more…

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We are excited to hear more from Julie and her expansive knowledge and iNSights into all things strings and more.

To learn more about Julie, visit JulieLyonn.com. For more about the NS instruments she uses, visit www.thinkns.com

The post Introducing Julie Lyonn Lieberman’s “The Lyonn’s Roar!” appeared first on NS Design.

Music instrument aesthetics are rarely, if ever, considered from a scientific point of view. Yet for industrial designers and architects, form must meet function. And there is a lot of science and technology to apply in this way.

While technique for playing bass is often the subject of passionate discussion, and there are varying theories (plectrum, fingers, slap, tap, Simandl method, one note per fret method, etc.) the design of the instrument itself has a lot to do with the overall playability of the bass and the ability of the player to successfully use those techniques. When the very first electric bass was created it was just a squared, slab of wood with no cuts or rounded/beveled edges. Ergonomics took a backseat to sound production. And while there were changes over the years, they were an answer to specific player issues and ideas rather than a look directly at design. Even today, most of the emphasis and science in the music instrument industry goes into the materials and electronics of the instruments. Guitar and bass aesthetics are merely a function of what is pleasing or challenging to the eye.

Ned Steinberger is synonymous with innovative headless instruments. Yet it is not as well known that Ned designed the body of one of the most iconic basses of all time, the Spector NS-2 bass. Yes, the NS stands for Ned Steinberger. As a furniture designer and builder specializing in chairs, Ned understood that function and form are all essential to an aesthetically pleasing, yet functional piece of furniture. And it was in that Brooklyn co-op that he shared with some up and coming guitar and bass builders where he first applied those principles to music instruments. In collaboration with Stuart Spector, he designed something radical for the time, a rounded, radiused bass body with cuts and carves that naturally fell against the body of the player, making the bass exponentially more comfortable and easier to play. His body shape has been copied numerous times over the years, by some of the world’s largest guitar manufacturers.

With the NS Design Radius Bass, Ned uses ergonomic science and technology and has taken the body contour to a whole new level. While maintaining and refining the back body curve cut so that the bass lies on the player’s body comfortably, the front of NS Diradial™ Body has a 20 inch radius, which, in combination with the general wedge shape of the body, shifts it into more comfortable orientation for the right and left hand. The slight wedge shape of the body tilts the body and neck slightly inward so the fingerboard is more visible to the player, and the concave curve on the back of the body creates a more stable platform. The radius of the bass is continued along the entire body, to include pickups and bridge, to optimize the playability and comfort of the bass.

The pictures show how the radius has been built into the bass. Built in based on technology.

Simple, yet intuitive. Form, science, and engineering meeting function.

The post NS iNSight – A Perfect Fit appeared first on NS Design.

There’s a reason why professional bass players love the big, punchy low end and the glistening highs & harmonics of an NS Bass. Here’s what’s going on:

Human hearing is naturally strong in the mids (roughly between 1 and 5 kHz, the vocal frequency range), but drops off at higher and lower frequencies. Most instruments, including basses, have a matching problem producing sound: strong in the mids but tapering off at both ends of the sound spectrum where a great deal of important tone content resides. This is usually compensated for with equalization, boosting the highs and lows, suppressing the mids. However, that signal processing comes at a price: loss of quality and clarity.

How are we different? One of the features of every NS bass is the Polar™ pickup system. Unlike an ordinary pickup, the Polar pickup doesn’t lose sensitivity above or below the midrange. The piezo technology embedded at the base of bridge harnesses the entire range of frequencies your strings produce – with full fidelity, and full force. And your ears can definitely hear the difference.

The post NS Insight: Highs & Lows appeared first on NS Design.

SUMMER PROGRAM FOR TRADITIONAL  & CONTEMPORARY STRINGS:

ATLANTA — WISCONSIN — SEATTLE
June 22nd     July 27th           August 17th
Where 21st century technique meets tradition, creativity and style
Darol Anger (WA), Paul Anastasio (WA), Matt Turner (WA & WI), Lisa Liu (WA), Randy Sabien (WI),Judy Hyman (WI), Gregory Walker (WI), Martin Norgaard (GA), Andy Reiner (GA), Aaron “Von Cello” Minsky (GA), Katherine Irwin Thomas (GA), Bert Ligon (GA), Charles Yang (GA), and Julie Lyonn Lieberman (GA, WI, & WA)…

Artwork by Christos Karapanos
Strings Without Boundaries creates a sharing environment for amateur through professional players as well as students and teachers of all ages and backgrounds.
We focus on string technique and repertoire from American and world traditions, creative musicianship in all styles, and technology-enhanced approaches. In addition, we offer teacher-training and optional clock-hour and Graduate credit.

Learn more about these exciting sessions at:
http://www.stringswithoutboundaries.com/

The post Strings Without Boundaries – Summer Sessions appeared first on NS Design.

By Mindy Rochwerg

December 3, 2014

Twenty-four year old Chance Wilder Onody is starting to get noticed, and deservedly so.  Primarily self-taught, Onody, has been described as a “virtuoso bassist” and “classical crossover instrumentalist.”  Chance recently sat down with FBPO’s Jon Liebman to talk about his musical upbringing, unique style and what lies ahead.

Onody, whose mother, Tara Wilder, was a country pop artist, first took up the bass when he moved with his family from British Columbia, Canada, to California. Upon transferring to his new school, Chance had the choice of two electives – Orchestra and Introduction to Marine Biology. Not wanting to have more homework than necessary, Onody (pronounced “ON-ID-DEE”) chose orchestra, though was quickly surprised to find out that the “stringed instruments” in the course description did not include guitar. When advised so by the musical director, Chance took a look at the instruments, saw the bass and said to himself, “It’s big, I’m big, it only has four strings – how hard can it be?”

With no prior experience other than some piano lessons and having played ukulele for a short time, Chance, who says he has a “keen sense of pitch,” told the musical director he could play the upright bass and proceeded to intently watch the other bass player in the orchestra. From that limited exposure, Onody was able to pick up enough to play the new instrument with the rest of the orchestra, even though he had never before held a bow. He says he “fell in love with the instrument.”

read more here at For Bass Players Only. . .

Download Chance’s first single feeling good here. . .

The post Chance Wilder Onody likes to make his own rules – FBPO interview appeared first on NS Design.

On October 25, 2014, I headed down to Rock Hill, SC, to work with the orchestra students at Northwestern High School.  Their teacher is Marsha Gross and she had recently invested in a quintet of electric stringed instruments to use as part of her recruiting and retention efforts for the orchestra program at the school.  This is especially cool because she really didn’t have a background in electric strings and simply wanted to branch out and do something different and cool for her students.  She also picked up a bunch of Digitech effects processors to use with the groups as well.   I took a couple of NXT and CR violins, violas, basses, and cellos to the session, along with a ton of sound equipment so that everyone would have an opportunity to get hands on instruments during the day.

The day ended up to be really an amazing day of playing and learning.  I headed out of Durham, NC around 6:00 AM in order to get started at 9:00 in SC.  I started with a quick performance for the kids, so they could see how I perform on my CR violin, using loops and efx processing.    I wanted them to understand that the key to being an electric violinist is to be a solid violinist and musician.

Next, we talked about optimum set up for hearing yourself and getting comfortable with the sound coming from an amp rather than the instrument.  We also discussed tone controls and listening for the best tone possible.  Once everyone was set up with a great tone quality and a comfortable playing environment, we played for a while as an ensemble and discussed the experience as well as ways to optimize intonation, dynamics, and monitoring.

After lunch, I gave them an extensive tour of effects processing, covering EQ, reverbs, time based effects, filter effects, distortion, and pitch shifters.  Then, we ended the day by getting everyone set up with an in-line effects processor and turning them loose to get creative.  I was also able to give the kids pens, lanyards, stickers, and other cool stuff from NS Design,, the Electric Violin Shop, and D’Addario Orchestral.  (There is nothing like free stuff to get everyone interested real fast!)

In then end, it was a fun day, full of learning and playing.  I think that everyone left with a new set of tools for real creativity with bowed electric strings.   Congratulations to Marsha Gross for her innovation and forward thinking approach.   Congratulations to the students for great attitudes and preparation, as well as a real openness to my ideas.  The students could not have been any nicer and attentive. And, big thanks to all at NS Design for supporting this type of work in so many ways.

The post Electric Strings Seminar at Northwestern High School, Rock Hill, SC appeared first on NS Design.

Last week, I had the pleasure of performing with the Intermediate Jazz Ensemble at Interlochen, under the direction of David Kay, on the David Sanborn/Bob James tune, Maputo.  The performance was a ball and the reaction to the NS Design CR4 violin in that setting was magnificent.

There were a ton of young violinists in the audience to see the performance and I was particularly pleased that a member of the National Symphony (Washington DC) was there to hear her son perform with the band on trumpet. Following the performance she and many of the students were interested to hear more about the instrument, specifications, the strings (D’Addario NS Design Electric Strings always!), what bow I use (Coda Joule always!), amps, and other details about improvising and performing.  The pics tell the story in many ways.

Peace.

Scott

The post Maputo and Interlochen appeared first on NS Design.

There were about 50 folks in attendance and the energy in the room was great.  There were lots of questions and ideas throughout the session.  I had a ton of video to show and every suggestion that I made, was something that I have done in the past.  We had vibrant conversations about harmonics and overtones,  performance ideas, the exceptional tone quality of NS Instruments and their blend with acoustic instruments, practical assessment, and a variety of other topics.  In all, the day was a great success and NS Design continued to shine as the worlds leader when it comes to education and electric bowed strings!

Here is the outline from the session: 

10 Practical Strategies for Incorporating Electric Strings intoYour Classroom 

Scott D. Laird

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

laird@ncssm.edu

ASTA Conference

March 2013 

1. New twist on traditional repertoire
   1. Try playing Bach Partitas on your CR 5 String!
2. Enhance other ensembles
   1. Double Bass with band or jazz band
   2. Cello as bassoon
   3. Pit Orchestra – amplify your string section

3. With rock bands
   1. talent shows, extra-curricular, FUN!

4. Violin quartet  – (2 violins w/ traditional strings and tuning, one violin with viola strings, on violin with viola strings and a dropped octave pitch shift to cover cello parts)

5. Direct recording (assessment and creativity)
   1. Audacity
   2. Other Wave Editors
   3. Step Sequencers – I love FLStudio as a sequencer and then add electric violin

6. Technology education  (National Standard)
   1.  frequency, equalization, amplification, efx processing

7. Composition (National Standard)
   1. Writing with  5 string
   2. Triads
   3. Melody and pedal tone

8. Rockestra
   1. ASTA Curriculum Scope and Sequence 2A and @B: Tonal and rhythmic Aural skills and Ear Training
   2. Students listen to pop and rock music and create arrangements exclusively by ear

9. Simple amplification (Use them for National Anthem at sporting events and other school-wide functions)

10. Improv education   (National Standard)
    1. With jazz orchestra
    2. Looping or delay
    3. Band in a box
11. Silent practice (with CR Instruments)
12. Transposed for covering wind parts

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Just  a quick note to remind everyone how handy it is to travel with a CR Violin for practice in hotel spaces.  I am on the road with my family – heading up to Interlochen, MI to conduct for a few weeks and my 14 year old son will be attending the camp.  We spent a night in a hotel in Ann Arbor last night and he wanted to take a few minutes to run over his audition piece for orchestra and seating placement at the camp.  We didn’t want to disturb the other guests with his acoustic instrument, so I told him to plug his Ipod headphones into my CR violin. He practiced for about 45 minutes without bothering a soul and felt really good about his preparation.

It is easy to overlook this important feature of the CR series instruments.  They sound fantastic in headphones and don’t require any other hardware.  All you need is a set of earbuds or headphones with a mini-plug and you are good to go!

I will be posted updates periodically from Interlochen over the next few weeks.  So, look for more posts in the near future!

Peace.

Scott

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