Education & Experience
Cynthia Richards | Kodály Strings
Here you'll find a rundown of my previous education, teaching experience, research experience, and more!
Education
Violin Teachers: Sylvan Ward, John Hilgendorf, Lawrence Sardoni, David Dalton, Percy Kalt, Elaine Richey, Franz Samohyl
August 1970 Bachelor of Arts in Violin Performance, Magna cum laude
Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
June, 2000 Kodály Certification Levels I, II, & III
Intermuse Academy of Musicianship and Pedagogy,
Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Teaching Experience
1965-present Private Studio, teaching all levels of private students from beginning to college performance level.
1996-2005 Private violin instruction to college violin majors
String Pedagogy Course
Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
2005-present Private violin instruction to college violin majors
String Pedagogy Course
Utah Valley University, Orem, UT
2008-2012 After School Music School
Director, organizer and teacher, servicing families in the Provo Utah School District
2001-present Teacher at Intermuse Academy of Musicianship and Pedagogy
Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Training teachers of string instruments to implement Kodály principles of music education in their teaching.
2014-present Founder of the School for Strings
Research Experience
1996-present Development of a curriculum for teaching strings to elementary school-aged children, based on principles of music education developed in Europe and specifically the work of Zoltán Kodály.
Conference Presentations
March 2003 “The Complete Violinist: An American Kodály Solution”
29th OAKE National Conference, Minneapolis, MN
March 2004 “Violin Study According to the Kodály Concept”
30th OAKE National Conference, San Francisco, CA
March 2006 “Sing and Play, Read and Play”
32nd OAKE National Conference, Charlotte, NC
March 2007 “How to Get Your Child to Practice”
5th International Cedros-Panamericana Festival, Mexico City, Mexico
March 2008 “Rocky Mountain String Sounds”
34th OAKE National Conference, Denver, CO
International Experience
1969 Private student of Prof. Franz Samohyl, Akademie fur Musik und Darstellende Kunst, Mozarteum, Salzurg, Austria
1999 Travel to Hungary to observe teaching methods there
2001 Completion of the International Colourstrings Summer Course at the East Helsinki Music Institute, Helsinki, Finland
2018 Travel to Eastern Germany to accompany the Utah Baroque Ensemble
2019 Travel to Hungary to observe music teaching in the school system according to Kodály principles.
Performing Experience
Freelance Recording Studio Musician
Ballet West Orchestra, Utah Regional Ballet, first violin section
Substitute violinist for Utah Symphony
1981-1994, 2010- Concertmaster of Utah Valley Symphony
1981, 1988 Soloist performing major works with Utah Valley Symphony
Numerous recitals and concerts with my children
Instrumentalist for Utah Baroque Ensemble, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, and Temple Square Concert Series.
Awards
2002 Outstanding Private Studio Teacher, Utah String Teachers Association
2012 Utah Mother of the Year 2012, American Mothers, Inc.
Hobby Family History Research
Publications
1985 How to Get Your Child to Practice Without Resorting to Violence
2003 to present The Complete Musician Series: Graded books in 5 levels for Violin, Viola and Cello, in collaboration with Dr. Jerry L. Jaccard
Dec 2008 “History of Elijah Beach Gaylord and Elizabeth Frederickson”
Websites & Blogs Kodálystrings.com
Memberships American String Teachers Association
Organization of American Kodály Educators
Community Service
Chairman of local ASTA string festivals for approximately 10 years
Performing with Utah Valley Symphony
Adjudicator at string festivals in the community and public schools
April 2013 Interfaith Sacred Music Benefit Concert, sponsored by Utah American Mothers, Inc.