Goals and Expectations of the Strings Program

     We will offer two strings program classes for the coming 2010-2011 school year, an advanced class and a beginner's class.  Our goal is to create a group of students who can perform string music together on violins, violas, cellos, and string bass instruments.  Our string curriculum will conform to the national teaching standards for string music programs.  Students will learn to read music notation for their instrument, play tunes appropriate for their particular grade level, experience ear training, learn how to improvise, learn about different types of music and alternative styles (jazz, swing, rock, etc.), and learn to play music together in ensembles, small groups, and orchestral settings.  The students will learn music theory, key signatures, time signatures, scales, etc.  By the end of the school year, we will have a group of strolling fiddlers who can perform a repertoire of tunes together, and will receive great enjoyment from this newly developed skill.  The students will be prepared to play in a school orchestra, at sometime in the future when such an opportunity becomes available to them, and perhaps even in our own Holy Trinity Orchestra one day, if we are successful in developing such a program.  Enthusiastic parental support will be very necessary for this to happen.

     Additional educational opportunities for our students will be available, such as the annual "String Fling", held at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS each January.  This is an opportunity for elementary and middle school students to assemble in an orchestra, of their particular grade or ability level, and play a weekend concert.  Students assemble early on Saturday morning, rehearse all day, go swimming in the late afternoon/evening, and have the evening off.  They rehearse again on Sunday morning and play their concerts late morning and early afternoon that same day.  Strings teachers from all over the state of Kansas come to serve as the conductors of each orchestra.  Students will have their first experience at playing in a real orchestra.  Students are then able to go back home on Sunday afternoon.  It is a fun and valuable experience for parents and students alike.  I usually accompany my students to the String Fling and will plan on doing so this coming January.  Parents will be notified in advance of the dates for this event.  This cost of this event is very minimal.

      We do have some expectations from both students, as well as parents, for participation in the strings program.  We expect students to take the program seriously and make a commitment to put forth their best effort, by attending class regularly, and practicing at home regularly.  Even a few minutes of daily practice will make a world of difference.  I suggest 15 to 30 minutes per day of serious practice, 5 or 6 days per week.  The computer technology that we will use this year will make practice fun and effective (see Requirements for students).

     This year we will have both beginning students, as well as students from the last two years, who have several months of playing experience.  We will hold separate classes for the beginning and the advanced students.   (Please see the Questionnaire for Parents)