GENERAL INFORMATION

Your child has the opportunity to join the Halifax Regional Arts (West) - (HRA) String Program. This Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) program is offered starting in grade 4 and is offered through to graduation in grade 12. This is an elective class in elementary school and if students continue their instruction, it can become an arts credit that is counted toward high school graduation credits.

• There will be two 45 minute classes per week. One during school time and one class out of school time and students must commit to both lesson times for the year

• Classes are offered at Elizabeth Sutherland School

• Students are expected to practice at home and bring their required materials to string class

• Instruments are to be brought to school on the lesson day and brought home again the same day. Students are NOT to leave the      instrument in the school on days other than lesson days.

• Students must commit to staying in the string classes for the full school year

• Some instruments are available for free (see details on website)

• Method books will be offered for free 

Warm-up

• Get the proper posture. Stand straight with equal weight on both feet and shift the left foot slightly forward. Keep the neck straight and bring the violin to your shoulder to rest and bring your should gently up to allow the chin rest of the violin to meet the jaw with the chin-rest of the violin. Remember that the violin is not held-up by the hand but the shoulder rest and chin rest. 

• Open Strings 4-3-2-1      Play each string with a full straight bow 4 times, three times...

• Violin Open strings

• D Major Scale  Start on the D string and play each note of the scale once with a long bow ( whole notes), then 4 shorter bows (quarter notes) and then finish with eight short bows (eigth notes)  at the tip of the bow.  (fingering for violin: D0 ,D1, D2 D3, A0, A1, A2, A3, A3, A2, A1, A0, D3, D2, D1, D0)

• D Major Scale

• A Major Scale

• E Minor Scale    Violins start with first finger pattern on the D string and second finger pattern on the A string

• Try other scales starting on other strings