Strings/Orchestra

Welcome to our string orchestra program at SIS! We’re so glad that your child made the decision to play a string instrument and we hope that their time in the program will lead to a musical experience that they will never forget. Here are some guidelines to participating:

Home Instrument

All string students must have an instrument for at home practice. You have the option of buying an instrument from a local music store or online or renting one for the school year.

I strongly recommend renting an instrument instead of buying one. String instruments come in a variety of different sizes to best fit students of different sizes. As your child grows, they will need a larger size instrument.

If you buy an instrument you are stuck with one size, but if you rent one, the music store will often be willing to upgrade the rental to a larger size later. Renting also costs less money up front. A list of music stores that provide rental instruments is provided at the end of this packet.

Some families go to Amazon or other wholesale websites to buy instruments more cheaply. Please speak with me if you are interested in this choice. Instruments that are made cheaply will sometimes sound badly or break soon after they are bought. I want to make sure that the money you spend on your child’s orchestra experience is well spent.

Strings classes will begin in mid-September 2022. Please try to have your student’s instrument ready by that time so that they can participate in class.

Supply List

Violin, viola, and cello students must bring their home instrument to every strings class. Bass students may keep their instrument at home and use a school instrument for classes. Students will also need the following:

• Essential Elements for Strings, Book 1 (for your child’s instrument)
• >> Please make sure to get the tan book, not the red book
• A folder for sheet music and other handouts, labeled with your child’s name
• Rosin (sometimes included with an instrument rental)
• A cloth to wipe down/clean instrument (sometimes included with rental)
• A pencil
• A folding music stand for home practice
• A soft sponge and rubber band or a shoulder rest (violin and viola students only)
• A rock stop or cello strap (cello and bass students only)

Small Group Instrument Classes/Rehearsals

All strings students will have 1 weekly small group instrument class that takes place during the school day. Instrument class days and times will rotate on a weekly basis so that students do not frequently miss the same class period.

4th and 5th grade students will have 1 weekly ensemble class that takes place during the school day in addition to small group instrument classes.

Concerts/Performances

3rd grade students will perform in two Spring Concerts in May 2023. 4th and 5th grade students will perform in the Winter Concert in December 2022 and in the Spring Concert in June 2023. Attendance at all performances is required.

Where to Rent or Buy

These vendors pick up and deliver to SIS, offer curbside pickup, and ship to your home.

If you would prefer to visit the music store in person, please consider the following vendors.