James Kjelland is Associate Professor of Music Education at Northwestern
University where he teaches instrumental music education and string pedagogy.
He earned B.M. and M.M. degrees from the University of Wisconsin, Madison,
and a Ph.D. in Music Education at the University of Texas at Austin. His
teaching career began in the public schools of Middleton, Wisconsin, where
he taught instrumental music grades 4-12. Prior to coming to Northwestern,
he held positions at the University of Southern California and the University
of North Texas.
In addition to his teaching, Kjelland is a frequent guest conductor of
state and regional honor orchestras, and is active throughout the U.S.
giving clinics and workshops in string and orchestra pedagogy.
Mr. Kjelland's publications include Orchestral Bowing: Style and Function
and co-authorship of: Strictly Strings, a Comprehensive String Class Method,
Strictly Strings: Orchestra Companion (Highland/Etling), Teaching Stringed
Instruments: A Course of Study (MENC), and Teaching Music Through Performance
in Orchestra, vol. 1 & 2 (G.I.A. Publications). In addition, his articles
have appeared in professional journals such as the American String Teacher,
The Instrumentalist, and Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music
Education.