I'm about 6 weeks into the program, and believe it's helping me in jams, improv, and listening. I'm at a Suzuki book 4 level classically, not young, and play bluegrass/ folk. Mr. Silverman clearly has taught a lot of students, anticipates needs, and builds skills up slowly. I admit to skipping lessons from time to time when I already have a certain skill, and I laugh at some of the funny phrases he coined. That being said, I have a great deal more confidence at picking out the salient rhythm features of a given tune. Executing said features is another matter. The strum bowing sound is not designed to supercede other techniques of course, but it can be a cool addition to a jam, and is appreciated. For $10 a month, for me it's a good deal.


--Mike Brewster

Mr. Tracy Silverman has enhanced my playing immensely through his strum bow method. From my lessons with him at Belmont University, i now play with such ease as I understand that each 16th note has a place. It’s incredible what he has done to help the silence stay silent but still feel it within the bow. Strum bowing creates a deeper connection to the violin and music. 

--Aria Stiles Fiddle, violinist/educator (Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan), former student

"Strum bowing It is necessary to stay relevant. With modern sounds and a rise in funk music, it just makes sense to have string players producing sounds that the modern ear is familiar with. SB It helps bowings in sheet music be pre-determinded to the "grid" and helps me to keep time even in classic music. I have all of my students learn this, whether it is to subdivide complex written rhythms, or trying to get a player to play in the pocket with a backbeat. 

If you want to make a career as a string player, learning this technique is the way to make you sound hip, and not like a stiff rigid classical player... There are so many attempts with players covering modern songs, but missing out on the key thing left out of classical music - the groove. Adding and learning this groove is what can take you from sounding like a 1600's violinist that people would picture in a powdered wig to a violinist of the future."

--Tim Kampen, cellist/composer/educator, former student

Strum Bowing is the method we’ve all been waiting for.  Tracy has notated trade secrets of groove widely used but never before broken down into digestible bits licks and sick tricks.  You want to chop?  Strum bowing is the answer.  You want to loop?  Strum bowing is the answer.  You want to play music with other humans?  Strum bowing is the answer.  You want complex rhythms to feel natural?  Strum bowing is the answer.  Upgrade your bow arm and stop trying to reinvent the wheel every song - all the answers you’re looking are right in the Strum Bowing Method.  Swim through the strum bowing River of Suck to reach the other side of magical groove, and your future youest you!

--Andy Reiner, violinist/educator, former student, Strum Bowing teacher

"Tracy Silverman is very engaging. He clearly explained to my students his Strum Bowing technique and he inspired them to continue exploring the possibilities of contemporary violin playing"

Jenny Grégoire
Associate Professor of Violin
String Area Coordinator
School of Music
The University of Alabama