Press Quotes on Julie’s recordings, books and videos…

“Innovative jazz violinist/vocalist Julie Lyonn Lieberman is striking out into new territory once again, taking fellow string players on a global odyssey…Lieberman has always been a step ahead of the curve.”
- Fiddler Magazine

Recordings
Alternative Strings: The New Curriculum
Rhythmizing the Bow
The Creative Band and Orchestra
Techniques for the Contemporary String Player
The Contemporary Violinist

You Are Your Instrument
Violin In Motion
Improvising Violin
Planet Musician

Rockin’ Out With Blues Fiddle

 

Mixing America (CD) and earlier recordings…

“Lieberman wraps it all up into an expansive musical tapestry that incorporates both standard and exotic timbres, excellent compositional devices, and some of the strangest vocal affectations I've ever heard…. I haven't heard many modern composers outside of film that are able to develop thematic material like this over such a varying stylistic palette. It really showcases her versatility and knowledge of the compositional process.”
- Matthew Bowman, Northeast performer

“Julie Lyonn Lieberman is a musical blacksmith who brings to her forge many tools to create beautiful, solid pieces of art. Styles vary from Broadway to world music…. The performances on this album are exceptional. All of the musicians and vocalists on this album deserve an immense amount of credit for their work. As most great albums, Mixing America improves the more you hear it. The melodies and harmonies grow more enchanting with repeated listening.”
- Stephen McClurg, The Harbinger

“Singer and violinist Julie Lyonn Lieberman has put together an eclectic collection of art songs ranging from dramatic commentaries on society's ills to several fine tributes to modern jazz. The lyrics are powerful and thought provoking; no surprise, coming from this prolific author of instructional books and tapes covering the history and practice of violin improvisation in the areas of folk, blues, swing, jazz, and New Age music…. There is some fine jazz work here…. Lieberman's singing is at its best when she's singing wordless vocals in unison with her violin artistry or performing a painful social commentary with dramatic overtones.”
- Jim Santella, L.A. Jazz Scene

“This experienced jazz musician, teacher, and author has created a fine CD that delivers some unusual written lyrics, powerful vocals, and violin playing that is incredible…would be ideal movie soundtrack material.”
- Demo Review

“…creates a forceful texture in a dance between her voice and her violin…. Her compositions combine her poetry with the sounds of English madrigals, Welsh ballads, Eastern mantras and modern jazz.”
- The Montclair Times

“…molds her fellow acoustic musicians into undulating and spacious contours of string music, shining with good spirits. It's a kind of a new music.”
- New Age Journal

“…achieves some extraordinary sounds with her violin.”
- Show Business

“…is an accomplished violinist.” - Soho Weekly News

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Alternative Strings: The New Curriculum

“Julie Lyonn Lieberman can help you incorporate new approaches into your curriculum better than anyone I know. I highly recommend this book.”
- Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras, Artistic Director, Opus 118 Harlem Center for Strings; inspiration for the Academy Award–nominated movie, Music of the Heart.

“This book further establishes Lieberman, already the consummate performer, composer, and educator, as an undeniably intelligent, perceptive and articulate individual well ahead of the curve in string music education…. I do not think it is possible to read this book or listen to this CD and not be energetically motivated and full of confidence in your ability to learn about, perform, and teach alternate styles.”
- J.F.R., American String Teacher, August 2004.

“Written by expert music teacher Julie Lyonn Lieberman, whose programs have aired on National Public Radio, Alternative Strings: The New Curriculum…[is] an excellent supplement to the music instruction or even self-instruction of any string player.”
- Wisconsin Bookwatch, July 2004

“Julie Lyonn Lieberman…has written the sum of her career experience in Alternative Strings: The New Curriculum. Her guide is a completely novel one…. Any kind of string enthusiast will be able to appreciate the breadth of Lyonn Lieberman's work…. In total, Lyonn Lieberman's guide is a trove of carefully compiled and presented data for anyone interested in string music and its modern formulations.”
- International Musician, July 2004

Alternative Strings is a landmark publication for string education…. This book has an absolutely fantastic companion CD…. I can't think of a faster way to upgrade string educators than to read this interesting book and to listen to its compact disc…. This book is a source of inspiration for both students and educators alike for a new curriculum…. And even better, this book is a source for unifying the entire string education movement regardless of one's background and musical interests.”
- Dr. John Kuzmich, Jr., Jazz Education Journal, published by International Association of Jazz Education (IAJE), June 2004.

“For exploration and discovery, this is a must-have resource book…. Whether readers want to learn a new style, be ready for anything that comes up in a jam session, or meet the demands of new orchestral scores, Alternative Strings will help them develop the necessary skills.”
- SirReadaLot.org, March 2, 2004

Ambitious.... There is an impressive amount of information in this well-organized book.... An attached CD recording contains more verbal wisdom from prominent alternative performers. [It] is a valuable resource and a ‘springboard’ for teachers who want to pursue this new trend in string education.”
- American Music Teacher’s October/November 2004 issue

“I would recommend this volume to players and especially to classroom teachers. Given the increasing pressure to include non-classical styles in the classroom, no string educator should be without a copy of this book.”
- AUSTA Stringendo, Journal of the Australian Strings Association, Vol. 26, No. 2

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Rhythmizing the Bow

“This DVD takes a common sense approach to rhythmic mastery by isolating the ‘rhythm muscle’ from the ‘pitch muscle’ and ‘pumping up’ the former before pairing it with the latter…It will benefit players of any age or ability level who want to hone their rhythmic skills, either to move into the alternative styles with confidence, or just to ‘tone’ their mental/physical rhythmic muscles!”

- American String Teacher Journal

“Here’s another hit from Julie Lyonn Lieberman—does she ever miss? Her tips here are as solid and basic as rhythm itself. This rhythmic primer for violinists, violists, and cellists offers rhythmic warm-up games, over two dozen rhythmic ear-training exercises, rhythmic skills such as wows, pings, and the placement of slurs, inflections, and slices of silence. She talks about the best type of and use of a metronome. She demonstrates four or five methods of executing continuous up bows. She examines how to enter, sustain, and complete a note with subtlety or emphasis—nothing escapes her.

This video is well organized and meticulous in detail. The ever-graceful Lieberman is a pleasure to watch, listen to, ponder, and mimic.”

- Fiddler Magazine

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The Creative Band and Orchestra

“This text could spice up any sagging music program with tips on how to enliven ensemble interaction, introduce improvisation, improve students’ listening skills, stimulate learning, develop new scores, and present healthy playing techniques.”
- Strings 2003

“…presents a new model to musical ensembles of all sizes, styles, and instrumentation for playing within an ensemble, practicing, and performing a concert.”
- School Band and Orchestra 2003

“I like how the text challenges the traditional role musicians play within an ensemble, how it incorporates and uses instructional materials with new insight, and how these materials can benefit concerts.”
- IAJE Jazz Journal 2003

“Lieberman offers diverse ideas and unconventional approaches for inspiring students to listen, improvise, and compose.”
- MENC Journal 2003

“…aimed at directors, conductors, and educators, it suggests some modifications on the traditional teacher/student relationship, including the physical relationship of the classroom, and rehearsal space, and offers strategies, techniques and games designed to encourage students to develop the ability to improvise.”
- Allegro 2003

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Techniques for the Contemporary String Player:
Part I, The Bow Hand, Part II, The Left Hand

“Lieberman covers a lot of territory not just in the world but on the instrument — four essential bow control techniques, ten approaches to rhythmizing the bow, stylizing vibrato, working with chords, ten approaches to ornamentation, and much more. However, what struck me in the end was how inspirational her approach is. Balance reigns here, as evidenced in her emphasis on principles rather than rules. I admire and respect what she has achieved in these videos and enthusiastically recommend them both. “
- Hollis Taylor, Fiddler Magazine

“These videos will offer new ways to perform contemporary music with ease…The videos are highly recommended for all string players with a flair for seeking out new music stylistic directions and horizons.”
- Dr. John Kuzmich, Jazz Education Journal

“The strength of Lieberman’s approach is her willingness to explore choices…. Lieberman provides useful exercises to emphasize awareness and freedom of movement…”
- The Strad

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The Contemporary Violinist

“With the support of a practice CD, players are guided through dozens of exercises and tunes designed to develop the feel of sixteen styles, and how each can be used as a vehicle for improvisation.”
- Chamber Music America

“The books guides players through dozens of left- and right-hand exercises and tunes designed to help develop the feel of each of sixteen styles. Features a preface by Turtle Island String Quartet.”
-School Band and Orchestra

“This book is a musical delight right from the start, opening up new musical horizons in a world that is getting smaller…. This book is a landmark edition for contemporary violinists and is highly recommended.”
- Dr. John Kuzmich, Jazz Education Journal

“Lieberman presents a veritable who’s who of fiddle players that philosophize on the essence of their music.…You are struck by what a kaleidoscope of string styles the twentieth century has conjured up. Lieberman seldom misses an opportunity to help us avoid our own self-destruction as she again offers some of her ‘You Are Your Instrument’ suggestions.”
- G.B., American String Teacher Journal

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You Are Your Instrument

“This is a highly recommended book to read for the musician who needs information about maximizing one’s full potential as an artist. This book is practical in that it covers all aspects of musicianship, ranging from the mental preparations involved in performance to the actual bodily care needed to prevent long-term injuries.”
- Teresa Ancaya, Book Review

“…an important addition to the growing field of Performance Medicine. The exercises and practice suggestions are carefully thought out and a great asset to musical injury prevention.”
- Dr. Richard Norris, M.D.

“…solidly researched, very well organized, clearly written and illustrated, and if not encyclopedic at least impressively broad in scope.”
- Ted Rust, Music for the Love of It

“Julie Lyonn Lieberman has created a knowledgeable, well written and comprehensive guide to music practice and performance without being dogmatic, pedantic, or redundant — not an easy feat.”
- Aileen Crow, Bookshelf

“Julie Lyonn Lieberman has put together a handsome, clear guide with a variety of tips and suggestions…. The book is a large format, well designed and cleverly illustrated…. This is a useful resource guide for today’s performing musicians, and a beneficial tool for teachers to utilize in assisting students to develop healthy habits.”
- Gail Berenson, American Music Teacher

“…a novel, helpful manual of interest to any musician.”
- The Small Press Book Review

“…a must for every musician’s library. I am excited about learning to play in a fluid, pain-free way. The insights from your book are sure to be very helpful in the weeks (and years!) to come. Already I can feel a difference every time I sit down with the instrument.”
- Bill Ochs, Pennywhistler’s Press

“…good common sense approaches to physical well-being, and some helpful hints for approaching the stress that haunts all performers at one time or another. Useful reading.”
- The Opera Journal

“…both a practice and performance guide and a key to playing in a fluid, pain-free manner.”
- The Bookwatch

“…a reference compendium for minimizing physical pain caused by playing techniques…she’s covered the waterfront.”
- JazzTimes

“You Are Your Instrument is an exceptional title which shows musicians how to approach and understand their minds, their bodies, how to seek specific medical help when needed, the art of warming up, combating nervousness, carrying equipment, surviving the road, the importance of correct muscle balance, self exercise systems…and healing remedies.”
- The Coast Book Review Service

“Full of useful information for musicians of all genres, this book is laid out in an intelligent and attractive format that supports both browsing and in-depth study. The production quality is particularly impressive given that the book is self-published…. Her six-level approach to memorization is a great improvement over the haphazard methods most musicians use. (One musician told me it was ‘was worth the price of the whole book.’)”
- Liz Stell, The Berkshire Eagle

“[You Are Your Instrument] has much to recommend it as it provides much valuable information.”
- Paul Mansur, The Horn Call

“By understanding how the body works, Lieberman emphasizes avoiding physical tension and achieving a balance in the body to prevent physical problems, and includes a list of potential problems.”
- The Instrumentalist

“The true value of this method is that it can open your eyes to a new dimension of physical and mental awareness, and the way that awareness can improve your music.”
- The Devil’s Box

“Pragmatic and at the same time engagingly written….”
- The NATS Journal

“This is a concise, intelligently written book of ambitious scope, which seeks to address the needs to the growing number of musicians who find themselves struggling with physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual injuries and limitations.”
- Strings Magazine

“…she is careful to include down-to-earth practical advice and hard scientific information…the book is attractively produced…”
- Scott Patterson, Continuo Magazine

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Violin In Motion

“Ms. Lieberman is a very, very gifted teacher. She is also an excellent researcher and scholar. Her approach to playing and teaching healthy, is backed up by solid medical and kinesiological facts, and further supported by a true world view of philosophy and healing.”
- Janet Jensen, PH.D., Director, National String Workshop

“I like this tape, and I think it is a valuable addition to our teaching literature. It is a good resource for teachers and their pupils.”
- Strings Magazine

“This video can be a very helpful way to evaluate and improve the physical characteristics of your playing as well as make you more aware of your mind and body working as one.”
- Fiddler Magazine

“Lieberman presents an ergonomic approach to playing violin and viola in this instructional video. Lieberman’s goal is to help musicians create the most beautiful sounds imaginable as effortlessly as possible.”
- Music Educators Journal

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Improvising Violin

“Ms. Lieberman offers this volume as a guide to violinists who are interested in playing jazz, blues or other improvised forms. In an organized manner, she takes them by the hand for their first steps, and leads them into deeper waters….”
- Bill Crow, Allegro

“For the fiddler who doesn’t like to stay with the notes, Julie Lyonn Lieberman has put together what seems like the ultimate collection of information about improvisation on the violin.”
- Suburbia Today, Gannet

“A comprehensive examination of violin improvisation styles in glues, swing, jazz, rock, and fusion.”
- Downbeat

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Planet Musician

“Her intention is to provide resources to the developing musician who may want to expand his or her own personal style to include alternate approach that have been developed in other cultures. Ms. Lieberman provides a number of clearly described practice techniques…. Her practice suggestions are accompanied by a compact disc…which provides a number of interesting sounds, drones, rhythms and meters for the student to experiment with.“
- Bill Crow, Allegro

Planet Musician is a one-of-a-kind publication, world-music sourcebook…. It contains scores of world rhythms and innovative rhythmic exercises along with more than 150 ethnic scales and modes and many mental and technical exercises.…the amount of material in this book is amazing.“
- Jazz Educator’s Journal

“The integration of music and other imaginative material from widely ranging cultures is the most important movement in the arts today. This much needed book helps us see through to the heart and mind of world music. Julie Lyonn Lieberman gives the reader a strong feel for the pattern that connects a wide variety of diverse traditions. The approach is practical, holistic, and amusing, while retaining a strong technical and intellectual backbone. Lieberman allows us to bask in the linkages, the interplay among basic artistic elements, and also touches on the vastly underdeveloped and important theme of the musician in society.“
- Stephen Nachmanovitch, Author, Free Play

“Yes! Julie Lyonn Lieberman’s new book contains a wealth of information and inspiration. It is an exciting new addition to the library. Planet Musician is a great tool for anyone wanting to improve their comfort level improvising in a broad variety of world music styles.“
- Connections

“The book is an ideal jumping off point for further musical explorations. Lieberman enables us to develop our own approach to understanding unfamiliar styles.“
- Strings Magazine

“Innovative jazz violinist/vocalist Julie Lyonn Lieberman is striking out into new territory once again, taking fellow string players on a global odyssey through her latest project: teaching and performing enriched by the rhythms, scales and concepts of world music…. Lieberman has always been a step ahead of the curve.“
- Fiddler Magazine

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Rockin’ Out With Blues Fiddle

“…a highly informative, historical anthology of the Art of Bluesing.”
- American String Teacher

“…excellent…with ample explanation and musical examples.”
- Frets

“…a complete and well thought out book…a very fine and comprehensive work.”
- Jazz String Newsletter

“Ms. Lieberman’s book is a first of its kind in the literature, directed to classical violinists and all fiddlers aspiring to learn blue fiddle technique. It is a well researched text which covers the history of the blues fiddle from the black fiddlers of early slave days on through today.”
- The Montclair Times

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