National Bornoff Workshop

Training & Workshops

The Bornoff Approach – "It's THE game changer!"

The Bornoff Approach is a comprehensive skills-based pedagogy that scaffolds seamlessly from students' first sounds to collegiate level techniques. Accessible frameworks help students organize concepts and master skills more quickly, producing confident string players who can apply their learning to any style of music. Our workshops focus on merging this high quality string pedagogy with inclusive classroom practices so that ALL students can thrive and succeed, even without private lessons.

Join the thousands of teachers using the Bornoff Approach to create positive change for their students!


2026 National Bornoff String Teachers Workshop

Hosted by Duquesne University, Pittsburgh!
JULY 11-17, 2026

Welcome Event: Saturday evening, July 11!
Sessions: Sunday morning, July 12, through Friday afternoon, July 17.
Bornoff Certification Activities(optional): Begin Saturday, July 11. Watch for more updates soon!.
Bornoff Presenter  Activities (by invitation): Begin Friday, July 10.
Full schedule TBA.

Click here to register >>

Tuition & Fees

Participation will be limited – we had a full house last year!

Deposit (Optional)
You can reserve your place with a $25 non-refundable tuition deposit, which will be applied to your total costs. Balances for deposits will be due February, 2025, after which your spot will be made available to others if unpaid.

What's Included?
Tuition includes access to the workshop; materials (Bornoff books to borrow and pdfs of supplements), instruments to use during sessions, NBW25 T-Shirt, light refreshments throughout the week; and access to our virtual platform which will house schedules, materials, recordings, and a networking platform for all attendees and faculty. It is recommended, however, that participants purchase the Primer Score and other books for their primary instrument. Those materials will be offered at a 20% discount after registration is paid in full. Participants are also encouraged to bring their personal instrument if possible; secure storage will be available.

Other Fees (Optional)
Campus housing, meal plans, Bornoff certification applications, and graduate credits will be available to purchase separately once tuition is received in full. Approximate dorm room rates (includes linens): Single @ $72 per night / Double @ $65 per night. Approximate campus meal plan fee is $39 per day. See below for additional Campus Information – more details will be communicated once they are finalized.

Teacher PD GRANTS!
Available to ANY teacher, applications are accepted for help with expenses. Partial scholarships are available and priority is given to those for whom basic travel expenses are cost-prohibitive. To apply for grants, visit www.fase.org/grants/.

Cancellation and Refund Policy
To cancel your registration, email before May 15. Up to $400 will be refunded if a request is received before May 15; no refunds will be given after May 15. Any new registrations after May 15 will be considered non-refundable due to costs incurred with our host university.

Campus Information

Campus housing and meal plan options are still being finalized with Duquesne University. We will reach out to all registered attendees to sign up for these options as we get closer to the workshop. In the meantime, here are some preliminary details:

  • HOUSING will be available to attendees who would like to stay on campus. Rooms will be suite-style, available in singles and doubles, with a shared bathroom (2-4 people per bathroom). Rooms will be air conditioned and basic linens are provided for each attendee.
    • Available starting July 8 for attendees interested in arriving early for the Certification programs or sightseeing; last night of housing will be available July 18.
    • Single Rooms $72/night; Double Rooms $65/night *Approximate rate - waiting for confirmation
  • MEAL PLANS: Duquesne offers - description....
    • $39/day for three meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)  *Approximate rate - waiting for confirmation
    • Plans are available starting July 10; last day for meals will be through lunch on Saturday, July 18.
    • Plans have to be requested and purchased ahead of the workshop. No refunds will be available for unused meals/days.
    • We will be providing two catered meals for the opening and closing events, as well as a daily coffee/refreshment bar throughout the week. These are included in the tuition and meal fees.
  • Parking and transportation details will be made available as soon as possible. Duquesne's campus is compact and highly walkable, which means the music facilities, housing, and dining hall will all be within 5 minutes of one another. University shuttles are typically available to venture into the city for evening entertainment and sight-seeing.
  • ADDITIONAL HOUSING OPTIONS
    For those interested in staying off campus, Pittsburgh offers MANY other various other hotels and private rentals too. You can view options at Expedia,  and AirBnb listings for our workshop dates here AirBnb.

Bornoff Certification
Details coming soon!

 

Professional Development and Graduate Credits

Contact Hours
Attendees must have consistent attendance and arrive on time for the start of classes, and complete the post-workshop survey to earn a certificate valued at 48 professional development contact hours.

Graduate Credits
The National Bornoff Workshop will be available for 3 graduate credits which can be applied toward teaching license renewals, salary advancement, or college/university degree programs. Registration will be available through Southern Utah University beginning in mid-May.