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Augment student engagement and interest
Augment ear training for musicality across genres
Gain knowledge about harmony
Learn how to use scales to improvise
Acquire special groove-based techniques like the chop and shuffle bow
Madstrings is a step-by-step online violin course designed to augment and supplement a student’s classical violin music education.
Using call and response, students get a masterclass learning experience with Mads’ beautiful sound, virtuosic phrasings, and unique grooves.
Madstrings tunes are specifically designed to be integrated with any violin curriculum, lesson plan, or string orchestra program, including Suzuki Method (Madstrings tunes are linked up with Books 1-5).
There are independent sections for tunes and techniques - with tunes ranging from jazz, pop, folk, rock n roll and more.
Access 40+ violin lessons, including playalongs, practice plans and sheet music.
A World-Class Instructor
Mads Tolling is an internationally renowned violin virtuoso and composer from Copenhagen, Denmark, now living in San Francisco. As a former nine-year member of both bassist Stanley Clarke’s band and the celebrated Turtle Island Quartet, Mads won two Grammy Awards. Mads has performed with The Who, Andrea Bocelli, Chick Corea, Ramsey Lewis, Kenny Barron, Paquito D’Rivera, and Leo Kottke.
Mads is a current member of Bob Weir’s Wolf Bros/Pack Band, and he leads his own groups. Mads is a Yamaha artist and has taught countless masterclasses and seminars, reflective of his passion for teaching and empowering others with music. Madstrings brings his 30+ years of violin experience right to your fingertips.
Who is Madstrings for?
If you have taken violin lessons for a few months and are eight years or older, Madstrings is for you. It is a supplemental course to your primary teacher, so if you are learning violin without a teacher consider enrolling in The Ultimate Violin Course. Madstrings tunes are linked with Suzuki Tunes Book 1 through 5, but the techniques, tunes and practice methods are helpful to any violin student looking to expand into groove-based styles.
Why Madstrings was created?
The inspiration for this course was developed out of Mads’ experiences combining classical training with cross-over methods in jazz, pop and folk music, earning him two Grammy Awards. These methods are the foundations of what he continues to use (and teach to students in workshops), whether it’s playing with Turtle Island Quartet, Stanley Clarke, Bob Weir, or performing his violin concertos with symphony orchestras.
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Pilot with Madstrings and get a group rate for your teaching studio. Please inquire about rates, workshops/ masterclasses by emailing info@madstrings.co.
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Pilot with Madstrings and get a group rate for your school. Please inquire about rates, and possible workshops/ masterclasses by emailing info@madstrings.co.
Flexible Pricing Options
No matter your situation, we’ve got you covered. We want everyone to have access to Madstrings, so we have set up three pricing options for the All Access Pass. Whatever option you choose, you will get access to all course features and materials. You can get started with Madstrings today with a 2-week free trial!
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Violinist in the Making
$29/month
A monthly plan perfect for casual violin students with a 2-week free trial.
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Concert Ready
$279/year
The best plan for committed violin students (discounted to $23.25/month) with a 2-week free trial.
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Virtuoso
$599/one-time payment
Lifetime access to all current and future Madstrings content. Money back guarantee up to 2 weeks.
What You'll Learn at Madstrings
Comprehensive Curriculum
Madstrings is a great way to supplement your violin education and to widen your musical knowledge into jazz, pop, folk and rock n roll.
Multiple Camera Angles
Madstrings uses multiple camera angles to make learning fast and easy. We’ve created supplementary graphics to make learning a breeze.
Improvisation & Rhythm
Improvisation is the art of jamming and being free as a musician, and Mads is an improvisational master. Using call-and-response, you will learn how to improvise, jam and groove.
Custom Playalongs
Mads has arranged unique playalongs for every song that include harmony, bassline, melody and rhythm technique. You’ll be able to practice every song with Mads!
Groove-based Genres
You will learn songs from multiple genres such as jazz, folk, pop, rock n roll, and much more.
Sheet Music and Practice Plans
Although call-and-response is the key way of learning in Madstrings, you will have access to sheet music. Practice plans will help keep you on track.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Madstrings covers 4-5 years of learning groove-based styles. You will find 3 different sections: The Tune Section, the Technique Section and the Bonus Section. Madstrings is designed to be a supplement to a private violin teacher.
How much does Madstrings cover?
This will depend on what your teacher would like you to do. In general you will progress on Madstrings with as little as 15-30 minutes a day to see steady progress. The key is to practice consistently and with a solid lesson plan, which we provide to you at Madstrings.
How much do I have to practice?
You are welcome to try out Madstrings with a 2-week free trial to see if it is for you.
What if I just want to try Madstrings?
The video lessons vary in length. On average, they are about 15-20 minutes long, with shorter episodes being less than 10 minutes, and longer lessons being 30+ minutes.
How long are the video lessons?
Not at all! A violin kit with everything you need can be purchased for less than $150 on Amazon. You can also rent a violin for less than $20 a month if you just want to try it out. Check out these equipment recommendations.
Is it expensive to buy a violin and bow?
Jazz was invented in the US, and it combines European harmony and African rhythms into a truly unique style of music. Jazz is great for creative development, because improvisation and composition both are key elements.