Take your music, teaching, and career to the next level with personal support, clear structure, and accountability over 7 weeks.
Learn more about Creative Strings Workshop and sign up below.
Where it all began...
When I was 16, a kid in my school orchestra brought tapes to school of original songs he made.
Kids hovered around him, unimpressed with my Paganini caprices.
I remember thinking, “I’m just not a creative person like him”.
That thought crushed me.
I wondered, “What if I could learn to be a more Creative musician”?
I joined a rock band. Then blues, Jazz, folk, gospel, pop, Latin… you name it, I did it. I was committed to finding my own thing and I eventually did.
This led to forging my own career path, developing a teaching method, and training teachers and freelancers to go beyond the old teaching and orchestral career model.

Hey, I’m Christian Howes.
I’m the founder of “Creative Strings“, an organization with a mission to expand music education through online curriculum, teacher training, and more.
I’ve helped thousands of musicians like you develop the confidence and ability to…
- Become more creative and versatile in your musical practice
- Teach skills relevant to students’ needs
- Build careers that are profitable and passion-based
Lean In
When you both gain musical understanding and lean into your own creativity, it changes how you feel about everything.
By and large, you’ll be able to:
- Connect with a wider range of musicians
- Share your music and teaching with confidence
- Attract more professional opportunities
In short, you’ll be ready to thrive in this new world as a musician and/or teacher, on your own terms.
Facing my fears and joining a band 35 years ago put me in a position to keep innovating as:
- Top call improvising violinist in NYC from 2000-2010
- Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music
- voted #1 in the Downbeat Critics Poll (“Rising Stars/Violin”)
- included in top 3 jazz violinists (JazzTimes critics poll)
- Violinist of the Year nomination (Jazz Journalist Association)
- an online teaching pioneer since 2009
- recording and composing for hundreds of films and commercials, releasing 16 of my own albums, touring the world with my musical heroes, publishing courses, literature, and sheet music, coaching musicians in career development, producing festivals and workshops, founding a successful non-profit, and more.
My success was built on taking action, leaning into my creativity, and trying everything.
That’s why I’ve designed this 7-week bootcamp. I’m confident if you take action, with my support, whether in your Music, Teaching, or Career, you’ll be positioned to lead and keep leading.
Email chris@christianhowes.com, schedule a call, or scroll down to learn more
Does This Sound Like You?
-You wonder if you'll ever learn to improvise, play other styles, or find your own creative voice before you retire
-You're tired of the same gigs, same music, same limitations.
- Even though you've been a musician for years you still aren't getting paid what you're worth.
- And to my teachers... are you overwhelmed by having to navigate this new world of online teaching?
Introducing Creative Strings Workshop Online
Creative Strings Workshop Online is a 7-week bootcamp for musicians who want to go to their next level, don’t want another degree, and need structure to clear the most pressing blocks holding them back.
During this bootcamp we’ve had musicians and teachers from all over the world take their personal playing, careers, and teaching to new heights.
Email me at chris@christianhowes.com, schedule a call, or scroll down to learn more
The 7-week Online Workshop Includes:
Whether you’re a student, amateur, pro player or teacher, the moment you join, you’ll get…
- Private lessons or consults to clarify your goals and action plan.
- A workbook to track progress & stay accountable.
- 14 Play Along Group Classes on Zoom twice-weekly, minimum of 90 minutes each, w/ replays available
- Access to our private Facebook group with step by step learning units created by me and the mentors
- Extensive curriculum from me and other mentors
- Unlimited access to ALL my Learning Materials (play-along videos, workbooks & more)
Personal feedback on your submissions, work samples, and questions
Achieve Your Goals through Project Based Learning
Our project-based approach allows you to gain skills while creating works you can reflect on, share, and be proud of. I’ll help you choose your starting project(s), goals, and learning path in week one.
This makes it easy to focus on the highest yielding activities to reach your goals by providing:
- A multi-week curriculum tailored to your needs
- Guidance and accountability related to your teaching, musicianship, and/or business.
- Teachers who choose our licensing plan get ready-made assignments and lesson plans for your students.

Teachers
Teach online efficiently
Attract & engage new students
Teach more skills relevant to your students

Music Director at Darien Public Schools

Performers
Develop your creative voice
Become a more versatile, functional, and confident musician
…

Singer and violist

Entrepreneurs
Attract a more consistent stream of better projects, clients, and income
…

Learning Resources
You’ll get units covering musical, pedagogical, and career-related applications like: (click on topic for description)
Teachers/Players: Use these foundational units to begin expanding your or your students’ musical skills:
1. EASY TONAL IMPROVISATION
Learn to compose, arrange, and improvise over foundational tonal chord progressions. Apply the skills to your own projects, like arranging your own covers with multiple parts and more.
Includes:
- 10 play-along videos with Chris and a young student
- 3 play-a-long video masterclasses with Chris
- 3 play-a-long videos with Chris and a high school orchestra (90 minutes)
- A printable workbook so you can work away from your computer or instrument.
- Backing tracks in multiple styles
- Chord Stacks – My original visual diagrams which will help you to always choose the “right notes” from minute one. If you’re classically trained, this will change the way you see harmony, forever.
2. FREE IMPROVISATION
Start creating your own music immediately-no theory necessary. Includes:
-
- 11-part play-along series requiring no previous experience
- 5-part play-along series requiring no previous experience
- A list of 100 ideas for free improvisations
- And more…
After spending ten minutes with this module, you will be improvising freely, creatively. Guaranteed. Many members record 5-20 improvisations every day using this module alone.
3. PLAY-ALONG VIDEOS BY STYLE
Record composed or improvised performances to backing tracks in various styles. These are great “mini projects” for you or your students.
1. Music Styles
- Advanced Jazz Harmony
How to use bebop scales to play fast, burning lines over jazz and other styles.
Dive into melodic minor for a Gypsy Jazz or modern sound.
Master blending pentatonic scales together to make your lines sound richer in Blues and related styles.
- Bossa and Samba
Perform beautiful melodies in these gentle, accessible, Brazilian styles.
- Blues
Internalize rhythms, scales, forms, and a few key secrets that no one else will teach you.
- Rock
Master the anatomy of rock licks and style. Jam out to piees like “Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix
2. Fiddle
Learn tunes by ear or by sheet music. Learn how to apply stylistic bowings or how to accompany, solo, and chop if you want.
3. Modal Improv
Learn to improve using modes. Useful for rock, blues, fiddle styles, jazz and more..
4. Efficient Practice
Learn how to incorporate harmony, rhythm, and improv into your technical warm-ups for increased gains in less time.
5. Rhythmic Internalization
Develop your sense of groove in styles beyond classical
Most teachers are working harder teaching online. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Learn the exact online teaching strategies I’ve used for 12 years by restructuring your teaching to
- save time
- teach better
- make more money if you work for yourself.
You will learn (amongst other things):
✅ How to make a single piece of content to attract new students, leverage existing students, & create recurring revenue if you’re self-employed.
✅ How to create an engaged student community in minutes, increasing value & saving time.
✅ How to effectively run and sell group classes, 1-1 lessons, online courses and more.
✅ 5 easy steps to “Flip Your Classroom”. Instead of teaching lessons live and giving homework, students learn the lesson at home, from a piece of media, and then you help them refine and improve live
The Ripple Effects of Flipping the Classroom
- Private teachers gain the ability to charge much more for your time if you work for yourself.
- If you’re a classroom teacher with a salary, you can be more present to the things you want the most for your students; and take care of yourself better.
- Freelancers (such as performers)- teach with more confidence, even if you don’t have a certification or ed degree.
There are 5 steps, which when combined, make flipping your classroom or studio optimal, using only free technologies that everyone knows.
When you do these things, you will:
- reduce overwhelm
- be able to charge much more (if you work for yourself)
- easily manage more students
- attract new students and clients
- focus on higher level values and evolution of your studio or program as a whole
- cover more standards or objectives
- personalize to a wider range of levels
If teaching online feels hard, you should not miss this opportunity to flip your classroom or studio.
Entrepreneurs: I’ll show you the tactics and strategies I use to
- Escape the feast-or-famine cycle.
- Attract a more consistent stream of projects, clients, and income.
- Have more time and energy to devote to other things you care about, like music, self-care, and time with loved ones.
- Gain clarity and confidence to take action on things that serve your vision and align with your values.
In short, you’ll have access to the most extensive course curriculum in the world of creative string playing. Developed for over 15 years in Creative Strings Academy, the difference is that this is a guided bootcamp, so you actually get it done.
You’ll also get…
Unlimited Personal Feedback on Your Progress
Post your work to get feedback from me and the mentors in your own personal thread.
Post small to big projects, finished to unfinished, whenever is convenient for you.

first violinist, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra

Interactive Group
Classes
Attend fast-paced, content-packed classes twice every week. Replays available.
- Scheduled in advance by topics
- Curriculum taught live so you actually get it done.
- Opportunities to perform and receive my feedback in front of the group.
- Dedicated times for Teachers and Entrepreneurs to discuss related topics.

Grammy Award Winning VIolinist




Review- Everything You Get with Full Access:
- The ability to focus on your goals in a project-based format
- Individualized feedback on your projects from me and world-class mentors
- Interactive Classes to connect with community and make sure you get it done
- Access to premium learning materials
- Materials to share with your students in school-friendly formats (***Teacher Licensing plans only)
- Two private lessons or consultations
What’s this Worth?
Comparable to a semester of conservatory, where the most affordable programs are priced at a few thousand dollars
Higher end schools like Berklee, where I used to teach, cost tens of thousands.
Consider whether other options can offer you:
- this level of cutting edge curriculum.
- real time personalized feedback.
- the challenge and value of personalized projects.
- a diverse community of truly committed students
- a full seven weeks for even close to this price.

Violinist

Violinist from Castlemaine, Victoria
Sorry! Registration for our February Session in now CLOSED.
Individual Access:
Live classes will take place Thursdays at 1 pm EST and Saturdays at 7:30 pm EST. This schedule was chosen to accommodate people in different time zones. Attendance at both sessions each week is NOT required to get a complete experience (although welcome).
Teacher Access:
(Premium Access including Lessons for Teacher PLUS permission to share materials with your students):
Hear what my students are saying:

Professional classical violinist & composer for theater, film & TV

Fiddler/Vocalist, Concert Promoter and Instructor at Fiddle Bee

Conservatorium van Amsterdam Alumni


Violinist

jazz/blues/rock violinist

Associate Lecturer at University of the Arts, London

Orchestra Teacher

Violinist

Cellist from Australia









