STRINGS PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Strings Class is an intermediate to advanced level course in playing the violin, viola, cello, or bass. The class is designed to address students who have had at least one year of experience, and grows into levels on the trajectory towards auditioning at the Fine Arts Center. In addition to addressing performance skills on the instruments, the strings orchestra class at ARMES are designed to promote a full understanding of music through technique, repertoire, theory, audition experiences, and performances. High level experienced teachers help to push students to achieve their highest level of strings achievement. 

ARMES Strings Syllabus

ARMES Central Site Strings Syllabus: 3rd-8th Grade

Chris Gratton is a Strings Teacher and Cellist.  Mr. Gratton teaches part time at League  Academy and part time at the ARMES Program.  He holds a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from the University of South Carolina.  He also holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Tennessee.  Chris has performed with several orchestras in the South East.  Mr. Gratton enjoys playing many genres of music, arranging songs, and being a recording artist.  Chris has one child, Max, who is a hockey goalie.  In his free time, he enjoys running and playing hockey. 

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Janice L. Hutton is a resident of Greer, SC. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Houghton College in Houghton, NY and a Master of Arts degree in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She completed additional graduate work in string pedagogy at the following institutions: Suzuki Institute at Ithaca College; SUNY at Buffalo; Bob Jones University; Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University; and Villanova University and VanderCook College of Music. Janice has also completed the ASTA String Teachers Enrichment Program; and the ASTA Certificate Advancement Program Adjudicators Training.

Her love for music was nurtured during elementary school in Flint, Michigan, when she began studying piano and violin. She attended Interlocken and New England Music Camp in the summer while in High School. During college and grad school she studied with Eldon E. Basney, John Andrews, William Hayden, Stanley Chepaitis and Delight Malitsky.

Mrs. Hutton has been actively teaching strings since 1981. She began her current position as Orchestra Director at Greer Middle School in 2014. Before teaching at Greer Middle, she taught for 12 years in the string department at Bob Jones University and the pre-college string program. She was also an adjunct string professor at Anderson University and Erskine College. During her years of teaching, she has established a successful private studio teaching strings and piano; directed and assisted youth summer camps; organized and directed school orchestra programs; adjudicated youth music festivals and competitions and has been a clinician at numerous education conferences and string workshops, as well a conductor for GCYO Prelude Orchestra.

Under her direction, her students and ensembles have consistently earned top ratings at music competitions and festivals and college auditions. She served as SC ASTA president from 2012-2014 and she maintains professional affiliations with NAfME, SCMEA and ASTA.

Janice enjoys teaching students of all ages and inspiring them to discover and develop a joy and interest in music. She is excited to be part of the ARMES staff, and looks forward to encouraging young musicians to develop their musicianship skills with an emphasis on the enjoyment of playing to the highest possible standard.

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Catherine Hawks grew up in the Atlanta area and started playing the piano when she was 5 and then started playing the violin when she was 9. From a young age she loved the excitement of the sound, the ability to hear a song and play it on her instrument, and most of all she loved being able to play and see the smile brought to someone else's face because of music. Catherine studied Music Education with an emphasis on violin at Bob Jones University and after graduating taught elementary group piano classes at a public charter school in Spartanburg, SC. She has traveled to various places including Spain, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, and Italy. This led her to move to China to teach English after teaching in Spartanburg. After living in China a year she decided to move back to America and pursue a career in teaching Orchestra. She started teaching at Hillcrest Middle School in Simpsonville in the fall of 2019 and has loved every moment of it! She earned her Masters in Music Education from Anderson University in 2024. Her goal for teaching orchestra is to empower students by giving them a voice through music. We all have a voice with our instruments, let's use it for something good! 

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Natalie Rutledge grew up in Greenville, SC and graduated in 2024 with a BA in Music Education from Anderson University. Her primary instrument of study was the violin and her secondary instruments were double bass and piano. During her time at Anderson University, she performed in various ensembles including the Symphony Orchestra, String Quartet, Wind Symphony, Percussion Ensemble, Worship Ensemble, and String Ensemble. She was also the recipient of the "Outstanding Music Major Bachelor of Music Education" award.  She enjoyed being a part of the National Association of Future Music Educators and going to meetings and conventions related to music education as well.  

Natalie is currently the Orchestra Director at Hillcrest High School and Fountain Inn High School. She also teaches private lessons for piano, violin, and cello at Sing and Play Upstate. Natalie enjoys playing at her home church where she is a musician in residence and she also plays in the Anderson Symphony Orchestra as well. In her free time, she enjoys playing disc golf, going on hikes, spending time with her friends and family, and of course going to the amazing concerts at the peace center (ask her about $5 student tickets). She is looking forward to being part of the ARMES staff this year and she is excited to see everything her students will accomplish. Natalie's goal is for her students to grow not only in their musicianship, but also as young adults.