HALEY LOVELACE, DIRECTOR
the elementary strings program
Students move through three levels of classes within Elementary Strings. Levels I and II are structured as group classes, whose enrollment may range from 8 to 12 students. Level III is the Prelude String Orchestra, which serves as a transition to the more traditional orchestra-and-private-lesson format. Students may attend the same level of class as many years as necessary to master the skills and techniques learned at each stage. The pieces learned will change from year to year allowing students to stay challenged while fine-tuning their playing. After graduating from PSO, students may go on to join the SFYSA Intermezzo String Orchestra, Mariachi, or Jazz programs. ES graduates who are old enough and enrolled in a Santa Fe Public School also join their school orchestra.
LEVEL 1: BEGINNING STRINGS
Level 1 is open to students in grades 2 – 4 who have never studied a string instrument and to those who are still building their fundamental skills. Classes are immediately after school, and run twice a week for an hour.
At this level, students learn:
Parents are welcomed and encouraged to attend classes with their children and to supervise practice at home. Students may repeat this level until all beginning skills are mastered. If needed, please contact Haley (haley@sfysa.org) for a detailed list of all techniques covered.
Level 1 Classes will be held at the following schools for the 2021-2022 school year. Your child does not have to attend the host school, and homeschoolers are welcome to join!
At this level, students learn:
- Basic playing posture and fundamental technique
- Building-block songs culminating in “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
- Listening skills
- Stage presence and performance etiquette
- Working and performing together as an ensemble
- The importance of home practice
Parents are welcomed and encouraged to attend classes with their children and to supervise practice at home. Students may repeat this level until all beginning skills are mastered. If needed, please contact Haley (haley@sfysa.org) for a detailed list of all techniques covered.
Level 1 Classes will be held at the following schools for the 2021-2022 school year. Your child does not have to attend the host school, and homeschoolers are welcome to join!
- Amy Biehl Community School: Violin
- Atalaya: Viola
- Carlos Gilbert: Cello
- Eldorado Community School: Violin
- Nava: Violin
- Nina Otero: Violin
- Wood Gormley: Cello
level 1+
available for the 2021-2022 school year
In Level 1+ we will move through the Level 1 material quickly, and cover as much Level 2 material as possible within the span of the school year. This class is for students who played violin or viola with us previously, whose education was interrupted by Covid-19. These classes will be held exclusively at Nava and Nina Otero, from 4-5pm to accommodate travel.
level 2: pre-orchestra
NOT OFFERED FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR
Level 2 is available to all students who have completed Level 1 (to be determined by the instructor).
At this level, students learn:
The playing level of students graduating out of Level 2 is equivalent to “Etude” or “Rigadoon” from the Suzuki Method books. A student may remain in Level 2 until all skills are mastered. If needed, please contact Haley (haley@sfysa.org) for a detailed list of all techniques covered.
At this level, students learn:
- Different finger patterns/placements
- Longer piece length and structure
- Bow speed and distribution, allowing for more complicated rhythm
- Contrasting musical styles
- Early scales and note names on their instrument
The playing level of students graduating out of Level 2 is equivalent to “Etude” or “Rigadoon” from the Suzuki Method books. A student may remain in Level 2 until all skills are mastered. If needed, please contact Haley (haley@sfysa.org) for a detailed list of all techniques covered.
LEVEL 3: PRELUDE STRING ORCHESTRA
MORE ABOUT ELEMENTARY STRINGSEstablished in 1998, Elementary Strings (ES) is an after-school program for violin, viola, and cello presented by SFYSA at area elementary schools. ES is open to all children in the Santa Fe area. The curriculum is inspired by the Suzuki Method, and adapted to serve students in a group-class rather than in a private-lesson setting. While parents are encouraged to support their students in a variety of ways - from attending class as a volunteer, to support of practice - parental expectations have been modified significantly from the standard Suzuki model. The program is designed as a feeder not only to SFYSA's Orchestras, Mariachi and Jazz programs, but also to the middle and high school orchestras of Santa Fe Public Schools.
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