Elementary Strings

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.

Registration and Instrument Fitting: September 14, 2019
Classes begin the week of September 16th

LEVEL I: BEGINNING STRINGS
Level I 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. At this level of instruction, students learn basic playing posture and fundamental right-hand and left-hand technique through building-block songs culminating in “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” Students also develop basic aural skills through listening to recordings of their music and through singing the repertory songs in class. Additional skills like stage presence, performance etiquette, introduction to the family of stringed instruments, working and performing together as an ensemble, introduction to note-reading, and the importance of home practice are also cultivated. Parents are 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 (contact information is above) for a detailed list of all techniques covered.

LEVEL II: PRE-ORCHESTRA
Level II is available to all students who have completed Level I (to be determined by the instructor). In this level students master more of the foundational techniques of their instrument: different finger patterns/placements, longer piece length and structure, and more challenging bow technique like speed and distribution changes. Slightly more challenging skills continue to be developed: following a leader, changing tempo, dynamics, and contrasting musical styles. Ear training continues to be developed through listening and singing. Note-reading skills are now developed more fully on the instrument. When students are ready to graduate Level II, they are comfortable with high and low 2nd fingers, can play pieces with eighth, quarter, and half notes, know at least one 2-octave scale, and know the names of all notes in first position, both on their instrument and on sheet-music. The playing level is equivalent to “Etude” or “Rigadoon” from the Suzuki Method books. A student may remain in this level until all skills are mastered. If needed, please contact Haley (contact information is above) for a detailed list of all techniques covered.

LEVEL III: PRELUDE STRING ORCHESTRA
& PRIVATE LESSONS*

Click here for the PSO page.

IMPORTANT LINKS

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Established 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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