About
String Along 2.0 is a group class for young violinists and violists who want to have fun improving their skills, learning fun repertoire, and making music with other players. The teachers of this year’s class continue in the tradition of Carol Sue McKenzie and Shirley Helmick, who founded String Along classes 49 years ago in Ridgecrest. String Along 2.0 seeks to build on the wonderful traditions of the group while expanding into new ideas, formats, and repertoire, with local violin teachers Bree Lewis, Erica MacArthur, and Anna Schaad Montgomery. There will also be multiple performance "opportunities throughout the year. Shirley Helmick will be continuing as a piano accompaniment and mentor in this collaborative effort.
String Along 2.0 has quarterly semesters, following the school year, with the Fall semester beginning in September and the Spring semester concluding in May. The youngest players who are in Suzuki book 1 will meet at the Grace Lutheran Church social hall at 4pm on Fridays to work on beginner level music, followed by Intermediate students arriving before 4:30 and being ready to jump in at that time. We have a “technique of the week” to share as well as some fun games and exercises for increasing bowing and left hand technique, musicality, intonation, expression and more.
There will be a semester by semester tuition, which will provide compensation for instructors as well as cover costs of the program; these fees equate to approximately $5-$6 per class, with second or third siblings receiving a lower fee, rounding out to approximated $4 per class. This is an extremely economical way to inject some additional instruction, ensemble experience and just-plain-fun into your child’s music education!
We are very excited to begin this new chapter of String Along, and to cultivate the future generation of musicians in this community and beyond. Music is truly one of the greatest gifts in life, and to become a proficient, active musician in any capacity enriches both one’s individual life and the life of our communities and the greater culture at large. Thank you for endeavoring to be a part of this fantastic journey!
String Along 2.0 has quarterly semesters, following the school year, with the Fall semester beginning in September and the Spring semester concluding in May. The youngest players who are in Suzuki book 1 will meet at the Grace Lutheran Church social hall at 4pm on Fridays to work on beginner level music, followed by Intermediate students arriving before 4:30 and being ready to jump in at that time. We have a “technique of the week” to share as well as some fun games and exercises for increasing bowing and left hand technique, musicality, intonation, expression and more.
There will be a semester by semester tuition, which will provide compensation for instructors as well as cover costs of the program; these fees equate to approximately $5-$6 per class, with second or third siblings receiving a lower fee, rounding out to approximated $4 per class. This is an extremely economical way to inject some additional instruction, ensemble experience and just-plain-fun into your child’s music education!
We are very excited to begin this new chapter of String Along, and to cultivate the future generation of musicians in this community and beyond. Music is truly one of the greatest gifts in life, and to become a proficient, active musician in any capacity enriches both one’s individual life and the life of our communities and the greater culture at large. Thank you for endeavoring to be a part of this fantastic journey!
