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1. Music Stand - the classic Manhasset stand, available in any colour. These have definitely gotten pricey over the years, and although not as travel friendly as some music stands, it's the stand that will last a lifetime. It's worth the investment.
2. Instrument Stand - recommended for the older student (not the safest to have out around young ones or animals), but a great option if you don't want a permanent hook on your wall and great for travelling and performing.
3. Wall Mount Hook - such an amazing practice aid! The convenience of only having to pick up the violin and tighten the bow makes starting practice that much easier. No unpacking or putting on shoulder rests. Just tighten bow and play!
4. Block Timer - fun dice like timers that offer different blocks of time to work on practice spots or an entire practice.
5. Highlighting Tape & Mark-it Dots - I have loved these tapes for many years now. Even use them in my own pieces. There is nothing better than opening your music to see happy bright colours displaying your practice spots. Easy to spot in your music and easy to take off once the spot is mastered.
6. Bead Counter - such a fun way to keep track of repetitions. I also use this to play focus games. Ex. Put 5 beads on each side of the ring. 5 beads belong to the student and 5 belong to teacher/parent. Student plays a practice spot. If they play it correctly, they get to steal teacher/parents bead. If they stumble, teacher/parent gets to steal one of their beads. Normally, if the teacher/parent ends up getting to steal the students bead, a fire is then lit for the student and not many more get stolen! Whoever collects all 10 beads to their side wins.
7. Strings - I definitely don't replace strings as often as I should (who else is in the wait until they break club?). These have been my favourite strings since university (other than the No.1 E string). It never hurts to have some back ups in the case!
8. Metronome - apps are great, but so is holding one of these in your hand, especially for kids and especially the tick tock/crank variety of metronome.
9. Chromatic tuner - apps are great as well, but a chromatic tuner like this is so handy to have in your case (especially when your phone is dead, then you have no other excuse!).
11. Dice - doesn't have to be as fancy as this twinkle variation dice, although you can get dice or even make dice with anything on them. Just a simple 1-6 dice has so many ways of being incorporated in practice.
12. Visual Timer - for the young artist still learning about time. This is a great way to gain perspective on practice and other day to day activities.
13. Coloured Rosin & Magic Rosin - take a simple task and make it fun!
14. Bernardel Rosin - a more professional rosin, my favourite.
15. The Dance of the Violin - about the determination it takes to learn the violin
16. Mole Music - the story of how music can change the world
17. Jingle Bells - super fun music addition to your holiday collection of books. If you haven't heard of Iza Tripani books and you have little ones, check them out HERE. They are some of my favourite books to read in class and at home.
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