WELCOME

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WELCOME !!!

• and did you sign in??

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Overview of Tonight

• The String Instruments
• The Recruiting Process
• Lesson schedules / student responsibilities
• Home practice commitment
• Parental involvement
• Obtaining an instrument
• Miscellaneous

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Contact information

• I can be reached by
• Phone your childs school, then x14134
• Email g_reed_at_characterlink.net
• The orchestra website
• www.easdpa.org
• your childs school
• music links

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Benefits of Playing an Instrument

• Enjoyment
• Enhanced appreciation of beauty, the ability to
  express, and development of refinement
  
• Learning self-discipline and concentration
• Increased self respect and confidence
• Socialization

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Benefits of Playing an Instrument (cont.)

• Increased intellectual development the Mozart
  effect
  
• Learning to multi-task (simultaneously)

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The (Bowed) String Instruments

• Violin
• Viola
• Cello
• String Bass

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The Recruiting Process

• 5th Grade in-school inquiry
• 4th Grade
• Musical aptitude test (end of 3rd grade)
• Letter extending opportunity to enroll
• Individually trying instruments of choice

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The Recruiting Process (cont.)

• 3rd Grade demonstration of string instruments,
  and enrollment letter
  
• Note only strings are available in 3rd grade
  winds and percussion in 4th grade (and up).
  
• - Please finalize enrollment asap -

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Lesson Schedule

• Lessons are
• 20 minutes, once / cycle during the school day
• in groups of up to 3 students some beginners and
  most older students have individual lessons

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Lesson Schedule (cont.)

• Akron - B or E days
• Clay - A days
• Fulton - E or F days
• Highland C or E days
• Lincoln - D days

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Student Responsibilities

• Be at lesson, with instrument and book. ready to
  play at designated time
  
• No instrument? See me before school
• Assembly during lesson? Come to school prepared
  anyway.
  
• Dont know what to practice? Practice something!
  (i.e. review)

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Home Practice

• 5 days/week, 30 minutes/day
• A regular time is strongly encouraged
• Link to another regular activity (i.e. right
  after school)
  
• Before school in the morning
• Free from distractions (siblings, TV, pets,
  etc.)
  
• Seems long? Do two 15 minute segments/day
• Miss a day? Make it up on the weekend

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Practice (cont.)

• Quality
• ... is more important than quantity (though
  quantity is also important)
  
• Short, consistent practices are better than
  irregularly spaced marathons
  
• Beware the rule of repetitions
• A music stand is recommended.

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Commitment

• Instill a long term focus in the child -
• long term speaks of duration
• maximum benefits can only be attained over the
  long term
  
• there will be up and down cycles over the long
  term - there will be mundane, non-exciting times

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Commitment (cont.)

• Some low times
• After Christmas of the first year
• After the spring program/at the end of the first
  year
  
• The beginning of school in September
• When a friend discontinues/peer pressure
• Be there to help them follow through - they will
  need you

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Parental Involvement

• BE PROACTIVE!!
• Give attentive and supportive listening to your
  childs practice
  
• Have home concerts - especially at family
  gatherings. Children love to perform!
  
• Attending lessons (regularly or otherwise). even
  if you arent musical
  
• . Your ideas ??? .

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Obtaining an Instrument

• See handouts . also
• You will need to know the correct size of
  instrument BEFORE ordering
  
• You will need String Builder Book I
• A music stand is recommended

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Instrument Vendors

• Beams Music Store
• J. R. Judd Violins
• The Music Works

• Jacob Simmons Violins
• Losers Music Store
• Music Arts

• Zeswitz (Big Z Brook Mays)

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Miscellaneous

• The instrument
• Tuning more info at first lesson
• Bow tightness more info at first lesson
• Care
• keep in case except when not in use (cello bass
  may be stood in a safe corner)
  
• avoid extremes/changes of temperature or
  humidity
  
• repairs - done by a professional only.
  absolutely no glue!!!

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Miscellaneous (cont.)

• Progress reports - January June
• Orchestra (is a required component)
• 1st year Saturdays starting mid-February
• Remainder of elem. after the school day
• Summer instruction - voluntary, but strongly
  encouraged
  
• Fingernails - must be kept short

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LGI Schedule
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• Remember.
• Even Mozart was
• once a beginner!!

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Before you go

• Enrollment finalized?
• Instrument size?
• Sign attendance sheet?
• Sign up for two extended lessons?
• Questions? See me, or jot a note.
• g_reed_at_easdpa.org/
• www.easdpa.org your school music links
  orchestra site