Tips & Information for Students

Expert Practice Tips
Tuning Your Instrument
The String Instrument Family

Expert Practice Tips
Play through the tunes being learned in class. If there is a part of the music that is more difficult than the rest, practice that part the most. Start by playing that one little spot very, very slowly so it is easy to play well. Then, play the same spot again a little faster, and keep repeating it a little faster each time until you are playing it up to tempo! Your String Explorer book has helpful instructions and lots of photos to show you where notes are if you get stuck.
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Tuning Your Instrument
Tuning means to adjust each string to the exact sound that it is supposed to have. Until about the second or third year of playing, the teacher will usually tune the student’s instrument. If you play the cello or bass and you don’t bring your own instrument to class, talk to your teacher about how you can tune it at home. Digital tuners can be a big help once you start tuning on your own. Also, don’t be afraid to check with your neighbors—there may be a string player nearby who would be happy to tune your instrument for you!
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The String Instrument Family

• The violin is the smallest member of the string instrument family and has the highest sound. It is played under the chin.
• The viola is a little bigger than the violin and has a lower sound. Like the violin, it is played under the chin.
• The cello is quite a bit larger than the violin or viola, and so it has much lower sound. The cellist plays sitting down with the cello between the knees.
• The bass, sometimes called double bass or string bass, is the largest string instrument and sounds very low and rumbly. It is played standing up or sitting on a high stool.

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Tips & Information for Parents

Why Orchestra
How to Support Your Child Learning to Play a String Instrument!

Why Orchestra

• An orchestra is a group of string players, sometimes joined by wind instruments. When your child decides to join an orchestra, an adventure begins that can positively impact his or her entire life. The skills music students learn will benefit them in all phases of their academic careers and in many career paths later on.


• Playing a string instrument integrates a person's physical, intellectual and expressive qualities, providing a very positive experience at an influential period of students’ lives.


• Recent research has gained much publicity for findings that indicate music has a powerful effect on the intellectual and creative development of children. Don Campbell, a noted author, teacher and musician, has written a book on "The Mozart Effect," which describes how children who listen to the music of Mozart have increased verbal, emotional and spatial intelligence, plus improved concentration and memory skills. In an orchestra, students not only hear the music of Mozart, but are also actually involved in playing his music!


• Research continuously shows that early music education has multiple benefits for brain development and for the development of structured and disciplined study habits. The physical nature of string instrument instruction has been shown to have additional benefits.


• The opportunities for lifelong participation are numerous. Many colleges offer scholarships for string instrument players who excel in their musical endeavors. There are many community orchestras and countless church music groups, and a variety of other settings for which string musicians are needed. In addition to standard orchestra concerts, string instruments are used to provide accompaniment for musical theater and choral productions, and an endless variety of entertainment functions involve string ensembles.


• Orchestral literature is one of Western society’s greatest treasures. Through participation in orchestra, students gain an added dimension to their education. We encourage you to take advantage of this enrichment opportunity.

How To Support Your Child Learning to Play a String Instrument!

• Some of you may be thinking, "But I can't carry a tune in a bucket!" As parents, we all have different backgrounds in music. We, the authors, assure you that there is no relationship between your singing ability and your child’s musical ability. Generally, we find interest to be the biggest factor in success. Every year most beginners' parents come away amazed at their children’s success in strings.


• Instrumental music instruction is a very exciting element of your child's life. As with many of us, our expectations can exceed our grasp in the beginning stages. Don't let your child get frustrated if he or she isn’t able to play whole songs by the end of the first day. Like any other academic pursuit, learning to play an instrument takes time, effort and self-discipline, plus a little external discipline and encouragement from the parents and teacher.* (If it works into your schedule and budget, the individualized instruction gained from weekly private lessons with a music teacher can greatly add to your child's music experience.) Students will be able to play a full tune or two within the first month of using String Explorer!


• Practice is a sensitive area for many of us who experienced a pressured music situation at an early age. The experience in music class will be positive enough so that your child will want to practice at first. Later, every student realizes it isn't as easy as it first seemed and that it will take some work. This is the time parents can be helpful. Offer encouragement and listen to your child play the new material being worked on in class.


• Don't feel that you need to fix the problems your child may encounter during practice. Frequently, just saying "Good work!" is all the encouragement needed. The instructions and photographs in the student textbook can be helpful when you want to answer questions your child may have.


• Helping your child plan and budget his or her time is beneficial for all academic areas and teaches a wonderful life skill. For practicing, a good rule of thumb is to spend at least 15 minutes every day. Some students may need help to find a time of day that is free from distractions.


• Music is just like the real world. The most successful people are usually the ones who work the hardest—a lesson that definitely helps children in every academic area as well as all the other aspects of their lives.
  

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