Géza Szilvay
Géza Szilvay was born in Budapest in 1943. He studied the violin at the Béla Bartók Conservatory and violin pedagogics at the Budapest Music Academy, where he graduated in 1966. He also studied law and political science at the ELTE University in Budapest and took his Doctor's Degree in 1970.
Géza Szilvay taught the violin at the East Helsinki Music Institute since 1971, and he was also appointed Principal of the institute. Szilvay was also teacher at the Sibelius Academy from 1978 to 2010. The renowned Helsinki Junior Strings (later the Helsinki Strings) was founded by Géza Szilvay and his brother, cellist Csaba Szilvay in 1972, and together they conducted the orchestra until 2010.
The Szilvay brothers have gained international recognition both as string pedagogues and as conductors and educators of children’s and youth orchestras. The Colourstrings approach developed by them has gained an international reputation and is now taught all over the world. A large number of Colourstrings institutions – schools, centres and societies – have been established in several countries in order to implement and further this child-centred teaching concept. Distance teaching is widely used: Szilvay gives online video lessons to violin teachers in China, Australia and other countries and videos can be purchased via Minifiddlers. Géza Szilvay has been active throughout years in giving courses and lectures at several international teacher training courses.
Géza Szilvay has been awarded several times; among the recognitions he has received for his work is e.g. the Culture Prize of Finland, the Hungarian State Award for Cultural Activity, the Pro Musica Award and the International Kodály Prize. He was recently chosen as the president of ESTA (European String Teachers’ Association), following such predecessors as Max Rostal, Yehudi Menuhin and Bruno Gurianna.
Colourstrings starter pack #1 and #2
Get the essential first publications and subscription to video lessons for one year! The starter pack #1 contains Minifiddlers videos for 1 year, Colourstrings Violin ABC Book A and Duettini. The starter pack #2 contains Minifiddlers videos for 1 year, Colourstrings Violin ABC Book A and Handbook for Teachers and Parents (new 2018 edition).
Starter pack #1: 55011-600-9, € 189,30 Buy now
Starter pack #2: 55011-601-6, € 193,00 Buy now
Books also available on Google Play:
More about the method
Géza Szilvay in Australia 1 (YouTube)
Géza Szilvay in Australia 2 (You Tube)
Géza Szilvay in Australia 3 (You Tube)
Yuri Djachenko's report on Szilvay's teaching tour in Australia
About - Violin ABC (in English)
Colourstrings - Violin ABC (in German)
Colourstring-Violin ABC (in Chinese)
Colourstrings continues to inspire (in English)
Colourstrings fortsätter att inspirera (in Swedish)
Colourstrings – Das Geheimnis des Nordens (in German)
