Orchestra
Freedom 7 is offering your child an opportunity for educational growth through strings music instruction. Instruction is given twice a week on violin, viola, cello and double bass. The Beginning Level is available to all 5th grade students and the Intermediate Level is available to 6th grade students who satisfactorily completed the Beginning Level or who can satisfy the necessary performance standards to qualify for this class. Mrs. Holly Watters, who will serve as our district string consultant, and I will be leading classes.
Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Holly Watters began playing the piano at age five. When the option to play a stringed instrument became available in the fourth grade, she chose the viola and loved playing in her school orchestra. Mrs. Watters graduated from the Eastman School of Music, and she also holds a Master of Business Administration. After spending three years on the staff of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, she won a position as violist in The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own.” During her twenty year career in the Army in Washington DC, Mrs. Watters performed for five presidents as well as many heads of state. In addition, her duties to serve the military and government in Washington DC included numerous performances at the Pentagon, the State Department, and the Capitol. For the past five years, Mrs. Watters has also been teaching over the summer at the French Woods Festival for the Performing Arts in Hancock, NY. Following her military retirement in 2021, she decided to pursue her love of teaching and relocated to Brevard County. Since then, she has been serving as a string specialist for the Cocoa Beach feeder chain. In addition, she performs frequently with the Orlando Philharmonic and the Brevard Symphony Orchestra. She is married to trombonist Harry Watters and has three children at Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High.
Instrument Rentals
We have a limited number of instruments which students may rent for $25.00 per semester to help defray the cost of maintaining these instruments and bows. The first payment of $25.00 is due in September, and the second payment is due January. You have the option of renting or purchasing an instrument from a music store, thus the student would provide his/her own instrument, and the school rental fee would be waived. The school will provide supplies such as rosin and string replacements for instruments that are rented from the school. Any repair or replacement due to abuse or neglect of the instrument is the parent’s responsibility. Students who own or provide their own instrument are responsible for providing their own supplies and having necessary repairs done.