Grade 3 Violin Program

Updated June, 2023

Click here to print a sign-up form to join gr. 4 orchestra 23-24!

    MBRSD has a very unique program where every third grader plays the violin for one half year, as a part of the general music program.   This gives each child in MBRSD the opportunity to play on a real, school-owned instrument.  Students can sign up for participation in the grade 4 orchestra on violin, viola or cello.  Students will need an instrument for participation in grade 4 and beyond.  Many students rent, buy or borrow instruments.   

    The grade three violin exploratory program was started by Nancy Beacham in 1982.  MBRSD owns 25 violins that are taken from school to school to be used in classes.  The instruments do not go home with students for grade three because they need to be available for all of the classes at AHS, CBS and CCHS. Nancy Beacham teaches grade 3 violin at Mallett and Cape Cod Hill School, and Steve Muise teaches grades 3 violin at Academy Hill School.  Thousands of MBRSD students have used these violins over the years participating in this program, cultivating a welcoming culture of music in the entire MBRSD community.

    Playing a stringed instrument involves a complex interweaving of diverse skills: left hand and right hand performing completely different yet coordinated actions, acute listening, ensemble playing, note reading, and aesthetic perception.  Yet when these skills are systematically presented and practiced, string instruments can be played successfully at a very young age, which is why they are available in small sizes.  Children grow tremendously from the challenge of tackling these skills while young.   Whether or not they continue later with an instrument, they carry the benefits with them to the classroom and their other activities.  The potential and interest of individual students can also be seen early and developed.  Violin study in third grade is how we start building our successful orchestra and band programs in Mt. Blue RSD.  A certain physical maturity and size is necessary for the study of the band instruments, but substantial groundwork for this can be laid much earlier with the study of strings.  People often comment that we have a lot of talented students in our school district, but actually the success of our music program is fostered by our curriculum:  general music starting in kindergarten and the study of instruments from third grade on. We have a district climate which encourages musical development in all of our students starting early.

Your child can choose to play one of three stringed instruments to play in Grade 4 orchestra:

        Violin:    Violin is the most popular instrument in the string family.

                      Many students choose to continue on violin, which is great

                      for the balance of our orchestra.  

        Viola:    Viola is played like the violin.  Most violas are slightly bigger 

                     than violins, and they have a lower, mellow and sweet tone.

                     Violas are needed to form a well balanced orchestra.

        Cello:    Cello is the biggest of the available grade 4 stringed instrument

                     choices.  Cellos have end-pins to adjust their height, and cellists

                     sit down to play.  The cello has a low and beautiful sound. 

                      (We offer lessons on string bass, but starting in grade 5)

Sign up for orchestra next year!  Sign up form available below!

Downloadable Sign-up form for 20-21 Grade 4 Orchestra, please click here!  (Will be updated in the spring of 2020!!)

Grade 3 violin program information provided by Nancy Beacham, site designed and maintained by Steve Muise.