Welcome to Orchestra!
What do I need before I start Orchestra lessons this summer or fall?
-Check and purchase Required Supplies
-Get your Instrument
-Sign up for Summer Lessons
Required Supplies:
Instrument (see options below)
Book: “Essential Elements for Strings: Book One with EEi” (available at your music store or online)
3-ring Binder: 1 inch, hard plastic
Optional/Recommended Supplies:
Instrument Tuner
You can use a clip-on Instrument Tuner (SNARK)
Or an app on phone/device (InsTuner Free is a free app)
Music stand: Folding music stands are about $15 and can be found online or your local music store. These are for home-use only. Schools will provide a stand for rehearsals and concerts.
Getting an Instrument:
Sizing
Please use this chart to determine your instrument size:
Violin and Viola
Rent or buy an instrument from a music store (about $25-30 a month)
Receive an instrument from the school if you qualify for financial need ($10 annual fee).
Cello
Rent ONE instrument from a music store and transport this instrument back and forth to school on orchestra days once a week (about $45-50 a month, financial aid instruments are $10 annual fee).
Rent TWO* instruments:
Instrument #1 will be from a music store (about $45-50 a month) or scholarship instrument ($10 annual fee) and stays at home for practicing.
Instrument #2 will be a school instrument that stays at school for your child to use during orchestra days. This is great for bus riders so you don't have to carry the cello to school. The rental payment for the school cello will be paid online in the fall ($100 annual fee). The fee can be reduced to $10 if you qualify for financial need. You do NOT need to pay the fee until the fall of 5th Grade.
*I will send a cello email in May with a sign-up for this second instrument.
Bass
Rent TWO instruments from the school.
Instrument #1 will stay at home and Instrument #2 will stay at school. This way you don't have to carry the bass back and forth to school.
There is an annual fee for these instruments ($100 total). The fee can be reduced to $10 if you qualify for financial need. You may pick up your home bass from the school at the end of your 4th grade year in June. You do NOT need to pay the fee until the fall of 5th Grade.
Financial Aid Instruments:
If you need financial aid, you can rent an instrument from the school for $10.
Please fill out this form: https://edinagiveandgo.org/rfp-individual-form/
Under date funds are needed, write: 06/01/2023
Under tell us about the activity, write: "5th grade orchestra" AND the name of the instrument you chose
Under total cost, write: "$100" and requested amount, write $90
Under name and address for checks write: "Edina Public Schools"
You do NOT need to pay the fee until the fall of 5th Grade
Music Stores to Rent/Purchase Instruments:
If you are considering buying an instrument from a vendor other than those listed, please see my buying guide at the bottom of the page.
**String Specialty Stores
**All Strings Attached - Golden Valley, MN
**House of Note - St Louis Park, MN
Schmitt Music - Bloomington, MN
Eckroth Music - Roseville, MN
Groth Music - Bloomington, MN
Summer Lessons:
ALL students should take some lessons before the school year begins. Select the option that works best for you (some instructors fill up early, so contact teachers now about summer lessons). Scholarships are available for the Community Education classes, please contact me and I can help!
Private Teacher List: (2 pages)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1imJ5PRZDGPnLdMpewxfqqw_X4RHiAXn4/view?usp=sharing
Summer group lessons through Edina Community Education:
PLEASE NOTE: The June and August classes are identical. Please only register for one.
ALSO: These classes are just for beginning students. If you are taking private lessons, or have taken lessons before, you don't need to attend.
June 12-16: Classes available at 8, 9, 10, and 11 AM, CLICK HERE to register!
August 7-11: Classes available at 8, 9, 10, and 11 AM, CLICK HERE to register!
Lessons are also available at several music stores, but are not included in your rental price (Schmitt, Eckroth, Groth)
Buying an Instrument:
I strongly suggest renting an instrument through a music store, especially for beginning students. When you rent an instrument from one of the music stores featured with Edina Schools, you can be guaranteed a quality instrument and fast, quality repairs if there is an issue. Almost all 5th graders start on a smaller-sized instrument, so you would be paying for a quality instrument that would have to be replaced in a few years when upgraded to a full size. The music stores also have high quality instruments and repair insurance, and they include all extra supplies (shoulder rest, rosin, etc). It is very difficult to learn a new instrument if it is not high quality or needs many repairs.
That being said, if you want to buy an instrument here are a couple of suggestions:
Here are the two sites I recommend to parents:
Or any of the music stores listed above
Make sure you know which sized instrument is needed. You can go to a music store to get measured. Most 5th graders start on ½ or ¾ size, but it depends on height and arm length.
Buy from a company with an excellent return policy. You can then bring the instrument to me for inspection and return if it’s not worth it. (I discourage craigslist, ebay, Facebook, because you often can’t return items)
Price: a decent beginner violin or viola should cost $250+, cello $600+, and bass $1,000+. Also, make sure it comes with an instrument, bow, case, rosin, shoulder rest, rock stop, and cleaning cloth or you will need to purchase those separately.
Brands: please stay away from Cecilio, Mendini, ADM, or anything that is “painted wood”.
Max Voda:
Orchestra Teacher
Concord, Cornelia, Countryside,
Creek Valley, Normandale Elementary
