Colourstrings by Minifiddlers
Pilot Cohort 2026-27
A school-year training pilot for teachers working with beginner students
Up to 20 El Sistema USA programs are invited to join a nine-month pilot, which gives teachers a structured introduction to the Colourstrings method, created by Prof. Géza Szilvay, while applying the approach directly with their own beginner students.
Teachers will follow Prof. Szilvay's real first-year teaching through recorded lesson videos, study the pedagogical principles behind the method, and meet regularly online with the Minifiddlers team and fellow participants.
October 2026–June 2027 · Up to 3 teachers per program · Applications close September 25
WHAT THE PILOT INCLUDES
Each participating teacher receives:
- 18 Minifiddlers video lessons, following Géza teaching his own beginner group
- Book A and Book B lecture courses in English and Spanish
- Monthly online check-ins with the Minifiddlers team
- Three extended online sessions with Prof. Géza Szilvay in October, January, and April
- Ongoing support throughout the pilot
- 365-day access to all pilot video materials
- Certificate of completion signed by Prof. Géza Szilvay
IS THIS PILOT FOR YOUR PROGRAM?
The pilot is open to El Sistema USA member programs as well as other El Sistema-inspired programs in the United States with teachers working with beginner students starting in autumn 2026, ideally around first- or second-grade age.
Programs may participate with 1–3 teachers, and no previous Colourstrings training is required.
ESUSA member price: $850 per program
Non-member price: $1,100 per program
The fee includes up to three teachers. Larger programs are welcome to discuss broader participation. Payment plans are available.
Colourstrings Violin ABC Books A and B are purchased separately.
PILOT SCHEDULE
September 2026
Applications and participant selection
October 2026
Onboarding · Teaching begins · Book A · First live session
October–June
18 lesson videos released every two weeks · Monthly online check-ins
January 2027
Book B · Second live session
April 2027
Third live session
May–June 2027
Final evaluation · Certificates
APPLY FOR THE PILOT COHORT
Applications close Friday, September 25, 2026.
Complete the short form below to express your interest. After you apply, a member of the Minifiddlers team will contact you personally to discuss the pilot and answer any questions.
The pilot is planned to go ahead with a minimum cohort of 10 participating programs. We will confirm the cohort shortly after applications close.
Would you like to ask something before applying?
You're very welcome to contact Leena Haverinen at leena.haverinen@minifiddlers.org
ABOUT COLOURSTRINGS AND MINIFIDDLERS
Colourstrings is a child-centered string teaching approach created by Prof. Géza Szilvay and developed over more than 50 years. It builds instrumental technique and musical understanding step by step from the child's first lessons. Colourstrings is used internationally, including at the El Sistema-inspired Boston String Academy.
Minifiddlers brings Prof. Szilvay’s teaching online through teacher-training courses and an extensive library of real lesson videos following Prof. Szilvay teaching his own students. Minifiddlers is produced by Caprice Oy in Finland, with Esa-Pekka Salonen as its patron.