100. Dr. Bob Gillespie talks about his training, his career, the beginning of Essential Elements, and more!

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast

We’ve made it to Episode 100 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, and there’s no better way to celebrate this milestone than by welcoming one of the most influential voices in string education—Dr. Bob Gillespie.

Dr. Gillespie is Professor Emeritus of String Education and Pedagogy at The Ohio State University, a past national President of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), and a celebrated author, researcher, and conductor whose impact on the string world is simply unmatched. Under his leadership, Ohio State was named the premier string education university in the U.S., and his contributions to pedagogy have shaped the teaching practices of thousands of educators across the globe.

In this very special episode, we talk with Dr. Gillespie about his remarkable career—from guest conducting across 49 states and beyond, to co-authoring the wildly popular Essential Elements for Strings method series (with over 12 million copies sold). We also dive into his enduring work with the Ohio State String Teacher Workshop, his numerous award-winning publications, and the deep passion that has guided his life’s work in music education.

Whether you’re a veteran teacher or just starting your journey, Dr. Gillespie’s wisdom, humor, and insights are sure to inspire and energize you.

🎧 Don’t miss this historic episode as we honor 100 episodes of empowering string educators—with a true legend of the field.

-- BIOGRAPHY --

Dr. Bob Gillespie is Professor Emeritus of String Education at The Ohio State University and one of the most respected figures in American string pedagogy. Under his leadership, Ohio State was named the nation’s top string education program by receiving the 2015 Institutional String Education Award. A past national President of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), Dr. Gillespie has guest conducted and presented clinics in 49 states, Canada, and Asia, and has led over 350 sessions at national and international conferences.

He is co-author of the bestselling Essential Elements for Strings method series, with over 12 million copies sold, as well as Strategies for Teaching Strings, Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra, String Clinics to Go, and Rockin’ Strings. A prolific researcher, he has published more than 70 articles and received The Ohio State University’s Distinguished Scholar Award.

Dr. Gillespie founded and directed the Ohio State University String Teacher Workshop for 35 years, training over 1,700 teachers. He also conducts the Columbus Symphony Chamber Strings Youth Orchestra. His numerous honors include the Paul Rolland Lifetime Achievement Award, the University of Michigan School of Music Hall of Fame Award, and the Midwest Clinic Medal of Honor for his lifelong contributions to instrumental music education.

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