Interviews and Forewords

Interviews

Laurie Niles, Founder and Editor of Violinist.com, conducted a delightful interview about teaching duets with Martha a while back.
Read the entire in-depth interview.

Forewords and Endorsements

FOREWORD by William Starr

Esteemed Suzuki Pedagogue, Professor at University of Boulder and author

Christmas Melodies: Double Stop Solos and Duets for Violin (also available for viola) is an excellent resource for the study and performance of double stops. Mrs. Martha Yasuda, a former student of mine, has developed a very practical and helpful system to assist students in hearing what double stops should sound like. Having students play the duet parts first before playing the double stop solo arrangements further strengthens one of the key principles underlying the Suzuki method of violin instruction — that of listening to a musical piece first before playing it.

Students will enjoy learning to play double stops as they play something fun and familiar to them. For this reason, Mrs. Yasuda has chosen as her musical setting well known American patriotic and folk songs sung by most children. 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.

I believe very strongly that, like Christmas Melodies, this new collection, American Melodies, fills a major gap in the field of the study of double stops. Mrs. Yasuda’s idea of relating double stops to duets is very cleverly done and is clearly a demonstration of Dr. Suzuki’s idea of making learning enjoyable for the student. And like Christmas Melodies, I enthusiastically recommend American Melodies.

FOREWORD by William Preucil, Sr.

Professor of Music (Emeritus), The University of Iowa

American and Christmas Melodies: Double Stop Solos and Duets for Viola, Volumes I and II, offer interesting material for students at varying levels of advancement. Volume I has nice duets that later become double-stop solo versions, while Volume II, using the same pieces, presents the same concept with a higher degree of technical challenge and bravura. These arrangements are expertly written and carefully edited for the student and they delight with originality and flair.

FOREWORD by Christopher Rex

Principal Cellist, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

The seven-volume Yasuda violin and cello duo series includes well-crafted, carefully edited arrangements for all levels of players, from the novice to the advanced. Students and professionals alike will now be able to locate high-quality duo arrangements of familiar pieces from the string repertoire that are enjoyable to play!

FOREWORD by Barbara Barber

Finally, someone has written violin duet parts for many of the pieces in Solos For Young Violinists! They are the 2nd violin parts that I have been making up for years! I am so pleased that Martha Yasuda has compiled her new duet parts into Timeless Melodies For Two Violins, Volumes I and II. These accompaniments are perfect for teachers and parents who are not pianists or for performance when piano is not available. They are well-written and easy to read. Thank you, Martha!