Charles Levenson – Pioneering Violin Educator and Founding Signatory of AMTL

50 Selected Studies - https://www.grothmusic.com/p-62518-50-selected-studies-for-violin-in-the-first-position-violin.aspx

50 Selected Studies – https://www.grothmusic.com/p-62518-50-selected-studies-for-violin-in-the-first-position-violin.aspx

Charles Levenson is noted primarily for his contributions to violin pedagogy. He is recognized as the editor of “Fifty Selected Studies for Violin in First Position,” a method book that remains an essential resource for beginner violinists. The book compiles and edits studies from renowned composers such as Wohlfahrt, Alard, and Kayser, and is published by Theodore Presser Company. This collection of etudes is designed to build foundational skills in violin students, emphasizing first position technique, and it has been widely used in music education for its clarity and accessibility.

 

In addition to his editorial and teaching work, Levenson was a violin teacher who served as the first treasurer of the Associated Music Teachers League (AMTL). As one of the ten original signatories of AMTL during its incorporation in 1925, he played a critical role in shaping the organization’s foundations. His financial stewardship and dedication were instrumental in establishing AMTL as a key institution supporting music education and fostering collaboration among music educators.

 

Levenson’s dual contributions—as a pedagogue and as an AMTL founding member—underscore his lasting impact on music education in New York City. Though detailed personal biographical information about him remains limited, his enduring legacy is evident in the resources he created for violin students and his foundational role in the AMTL.

 

Sources: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/fifty-selected-studies-1905034.html, https://www.johnsonstring.com/cgi-bin/music/scripts/violin-viola-cello-music.cgi?itemno=VNLEVEFIFTY, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/52606498/ (June 1, 1939, Brooklyn Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 15)