Editor’s note: Harry Wimmer wrote this letter in early 2018, shortly after Shirley Givens passed away on January 10, 2018. Harry, a renowned cellist and teacher, passed away in July 2022 at the age of 96. True to his word, he went on to create the Adventures in Violinland Legacy Series, giving new life to original pages from Shirley’s books. We are honored to keep their work available to teachers and young violinists.
Dear loyal users of the Shirley Givens “Adventures in Violinland” book series,
As many of you may know, our beloved Shirley passed away peacefully on January 10 after a lingering illness, teaching to the very end.
I am the husband and co-producer of these wonderful “Adventures in Violinland” books. I want to assure you that I and my son, the well-known Cajun fiddler Kevin Wimmer (who was one of Shirley’s earliest students), have every intention of keeping these 24 books in print and up-to-date, with the help of our dear friends at Shar Music, the Avsharian Family and their devoted staff. In fact, don’t be surprised if several new volumes from the Shirley Givens archives make their appearance in due time!
With much love,
Harry and Kevin Wimmer
About Shirley Givens
Internationally recognized as an artist-teacher and passionate about the careful nurturing of violinist-musicians, Shirley Givens never lost her dedication to the vitally important area of beginning teaching, which remained close to her heart throughout her career. Many fine young violinists benefited from her joyfully unique method. A veritable “Who’s Who” of parents prominent in the arts brought their children to study with her: violinists Pinchas Zukerman, Itzhak Perlman and Robert Mann, pianists Claude Frank, Lillian Kallir, Rudolf Firkusny and Jerome Lowenthal, the artist Peter Max, the actors Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, Paul Sparer and Nancy Marchand, soprano Phyllis Curtin, conductor Herbert Blomstedt, impresario Art D’Lugoff and many others.
The internationally renowned concert artist Pamela Frank began her studies with the Givens Method, enjoying the Adventures in Violinland books. She continued with Ms. Givens for 11 years, reaching major repertoire such as the Tchaikovsky Concerto.
Shar Music continues to carry the Adventures in Violinland series, with its colorful illustrations, familiar songs, and “Movable Do” approach to pitch and intonation. Books like Book 1E: “Meet Tex Neek” remain a joyful starting point for very young violinists.
