National Bornoff Workshop

Training & Workshops

The Bornoff Approach – "It's THE game changer!"

The Bornoff Approach is a comprehensive skills-based pedagogy that scaffolds seamlessly from students' first sounds to collegiate level techniques. Accessible frameworks help students organize concepts and master skills more quickly, producing confident string players who can apply their learning to any style of music. Our workshops focus on merging this high quality string pedagogy with inclusive classroom practices so that ALL students can thrive and succeed, even without private lessons.

Join the thousands of teachers using the Bornoff Approach to create positive change for their students!


2024 National Bornoff String Teachers Workshop

Hosted by Loyola University New Orleans
JULY 13-20, 2024

Welcome Event: Saturday evening, July 13!
Sessions: Sunday morning, July 14, through Friday evening, July 19.
Bornoff Certification Activities (optional): Begin Saturday afternoon, July 13, with in-person testing on July 20.
Full schedule TBA.

Click here to register >>

Tuition & Fees

Participation will be limited – we had a full house last year!

Deposit (Optional)
You can reserve your place with a $50 non-refundable tuition deposit, which will be applied to your total costs. Balances for deposits will be due March 1, 2024, after which your spot will be made available to others if unpaid.

What's Included?
Tuition includes access to the workshop; materials and instruments to use during sessions; light refreshments throughout the week; and access to our new virtual platform which will house schedules, materials, recordings, and a networking platform for all attendees and faculty. It is recommended, however, that participants purchase the Primer Score and other books for their primary instrument. Those materials will be offered at a 25% discount after registration. Participants are also encouraged to bring their personal instrument if possible; secure storage will be available.

Other Fees (Optional)
Campus housing, meal plans, Bornoff certification applications, and graduate credits will be available separately once tuition is received in full. Dorm room rates (includes linens): Single @ $52 per night / Double @ $39 per night. See below for additional Campus Information – details will be communicated once they are finalized.

Teacher PD GRANTS!
Available to ANY teacher, applications are accepted for help with expenses. Partial scholarships are available and priority is given to those for whom basic travel expenses are cost-prohibitive. To apply for grants, visit www.fase.org/grants/.

Cancellation and Refund Policy
To cancel your registration, email before May 13. Up to $400 will be refunded if a request is received before May 13; no refunds will be given after. Any new registrations after May 13 will be considered non-refundable due to costs incurred with our host university.

Campus Information

Campus housing and meal plan options are still being finalized with Loyola University New Orleans (LOYNO). We will be reaching out to all registered attendees to sign up for these options as we get closer to the workshop. In the meantime, here are some preliminary details:

  • HOUSING will be available to attendees who would like to stay on campus. Rooms will be suite-style, available in singles and doubles, with a shared bathroom (2-4 people per bathroom). Rooms will be air conditioned and basic linens are provided for each attendee.
    • Available starting July 11 for attendees interested in arriving early for sightseeing; last night of housing will be available July 20.
    • Single Rooms $52/night; Double Rooms $39/night
  • MEAL PLANS will be available and can be customized to include as many breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are you would like. LOYNO offers a continental breakfast with additional meal stations throughout the day featuring traditional New Orleans cuisine and other popular staples.
    • Breakfast $11; Lunch $13; Dinner $13
    • Meals will have to be planned/purchased ahead of time. No refunds available for unused meals.
    • We will be providing two catered meals for the opening and closing events, as well as a daily coffee/refreshment bar throughout the week.
  • Parking and transportation details will be made available as soon as possible. The entire LOYNO campus can be crossed in 5 minutes, which means the music facilities, housing, and dining hall will all be in close proximity. The LOYNO School of Music is on the southeastern corner of the campus, directly beside the New Orleans light rail, which attendees can use to access various attractions throughout the city, including the historic French Quarter.
  • Nature and Recreation is available right across the street from LOYNE School of Music in Audubon Park. The park connects LOYNO's campus directly to the Mississippi River, with various attractions including a jogging trail, the Audubon Zoo, Bird Island, Golf Club, and the "Tree of Life" – an enormous old oak planted circa 1740! Time will be built into our schedule to allow ALL attendees to enjoy this amazing city!
  • ADDITIONAL HOUSING OPTIONS
    For those interested in staying off campus, the nearest hotels are the Parkview Historic Hotel and the Alder Hotel Uptown. The following hotels are also accessible via the St. Charles Avenue light rail: The Columns, the St Charles Inn, and the Hampton Inn New Orleans St. Charles. Various other hotels and private rentals are available, too. You can view AirBnb listings for our workshop dates here: AirBnb NBW 24.

Bornoff Certification

*NEW*

The Bornoff Certification Program, Level 1 (optional – $40 additional fee) will be offered on Saturday afternoon, July 13, with in-person testing on July 20. The $40 fee is a special discounted rate for workshop attendees, including additional activities that will take place outside of the NBW. We are proud to offer the Bornoff Certification program at a very reasonable price compared to other certification offerings available!

 

Level 1 will cover the Bornoff Approach Primer and Primer Plus materials, including:

  • Introductory Courses: (1) Who was George Bornoff and what is FASE? (2) Gestalt Principles and Core Frameworks of the Approach; (3)The Science and Psychology behind Bornoff; and (4) Access, Equity, and Inclusion.
  • Bornoff Approach Primer: Open String Cycles, Bowing Techniques (Détaché, Spiccato, Staccato, Combo Bows, Double Stops), Finger Patterns 1-3 (incl. preparatory sequences), Early Unison Repertoire in Major/Minor Keys, Introduction to Improvisation
  • Finger Patterns Book, Section 2: Five-Note Finger Patterns 1-5
  • Finger Patterns Book, Sections 3-11: Rhythmic and Slurred Bowing Variations
  • Finger Patterns to Scales
  • Harmonics and Introductory Shifting
  • Music Literacy Sequences and Strategies
  • Additional Early Unison Repertoire

 

Certification will be offered in two formats:

  • STUDIO Certification – Candidates will study and perform demonstrations on one primary instrument. Ideal for private teachers or those working with homogenous instrumentation in group classes.
  • CLASSROOM Certification – Candidates will study and perform demonstrations on one high and one low instrument. Knowledge of all fingering and bowing nuances for each instrument, as well as deeper understanding of cross-instrument scaffolding, will be required. Ideal for classroom string teachers working with heterogenous instrumentation.

 

Anyone who has completed a standard certification level can then apply for a "Presenter Certification" and, after completion thereof, will become a part of the FASE Teacher Trainers Network. Teacher trainers will receive access to all FASE materials so that they can facilitate presentations, regional workshops, and school professional development. Teacher trainers will be listed and promoted via FASE's website, social networks, and professional contacts. Additional terms and conditions will apply.

Professional Development and Graduate Credits

Contact Hours
Attendees must complete the post-workshop survey to earn a certificate valued at 48 professional development contact hours.

Graduate Credits
The National Bornoff Workshop will be available for 3 graduate credits, which can be applied toward teaching license renewals, salary advancement, or college/university degree programs. Registration and pricing details will be posted and communicated once finalized.