ELEFANTE MUSIC Store in Scotch Plains

(908)-322-7542

Please call to make an appointment.

If your child's instrument is out of tune, you can take it to this store to get it tuned, at no charge

(if you are renting from them.)

5th Gr. Strings

Please make sure you are filling out the Practice Record & that your parents are signing it each week.  

You should start practicing right away bc the concert is in December!

The goal is to practice 20 minutes each day.

Here's what you should be practicing, in order of priority:

Intermediate & Advanced Level:

1.  Christmas Train

2.  Jingle Bells

3.  Festival of Lights

4.  Tumbalalaika (Hanukah song) 

5.  O Christmas Tree

6.  Skater's Waltz

(I took The Blue Danube Waltz, The C Major Scale & Chorale in C off the December concert Program & moved it to the Spring Program instead.)

Advanced only:

7. Winter Wonderland

4th Gr. Strings 

Welcome to the 4th gr. String Orchestra Team! 

I am so excited your child has selected a string instrument and will do all that I can to make this a gratifying and worthwhile experience! 

Lessons will be once a week for a half hour, in a small group of about 4 to 6 students.  Depending on the particular school, their lessons will rotate each week from approximately 8:30 to 11:00 & then 1:00 to 3:00, so they only miss a subject with their classroom teacher once every 9 weeks.  

Here are  some thoughts on how you can help nurture your child's development in Strings: 

1. Provide your child with as good an instrument as possible, so that the tone quality will motivate him/her to play. 

2. Keep the instrument in a safe place, away from siblings, friends, pets, heaters and air conditioners. 

Do not leave the instrument in the car for long periods, especially overnight, as the heat or cold may damage it-- cracks in the fragile wood, etc. 

Please do not attempt to tune the instrument yourself using the black tuning pegs.  Strings break easily under too much tension.  I would suggest using the fine tuners instead. (The parts of the instrument are listed on page 2 in your child's method book.) 

3. Provide a quiet practice space, with a good light, a music stand (to prevent posture problems) and no distractions from siblings, friends, pets, etc. 

4. Arrange a daily practice schedule that does not conflict with outdoor play, a favorite TV program, etc.

a) Establish a regular time for daily practice and monitor it so that your child consistently plays according to that time
(if possible.)

b) Recognize that most students do not practice on their own. They usually need to be reminded. 

c) Students are encouraged to practice 20 minutes every day.

Here are the 2 required books for 4th gr. Beginners:

(Elefante Music (908) 464-5928 only includes the 1st book with the rental.)

1.  Essential Elements for Strings, Book 1 for beginners, published by Hal Leonard Corp. Make sure you request the book for your particular instrument: violin, viola, cello, or bass. I have noticed that some parents purchase an earlier version of this book that has a red cover. This book is outdated & you need to get the one that has an orange & brown cover.  Elefante Music includes this book.

2.  I Can Read Music by Joanne Martin, Book 1 for their instrument: violin, viola, cello, or bass. Bass players should purchase the Cello book, since they read the same clef & there is no book available for the bass.  Please purchase this book on your own, as it is not included with the rental from Elefante music.  However, you can order this book from them or you can get it on Amazon.

Virtual Jams!

Check out the VIRTUAL JAMS (below) that the strings kids did with RMC Studios in the spring of 2020!  I participated in the jams with the kids.  Since we won't be meeting in person, you can "meet" me this way instead!  I am the one with the light pink bow.

Thank you SO MUCH to EJ Gaub & Liz Robbins of RMC Studios for all their hard work in putting these videos together!

 Imagine Dragon's "Believer"

 Queen Medley:  "We Will Rock You" & "We Are The Champions"

Elton John's "Crocodile Rock" (I am the one with the HUGE yellow sunglasses!)

5th Gr. Strings

2023-24 CONCERTS 

WINTER CONCERTS for Intermediate/Advanced Orchestra:

 (Intermediate/Advanced Orchestra is for students in 5th gr. & ONLY 4th gr. that already know how to play for 6 months to a year, on my approval.)

1.  NIGHT WINTER CONCERT for Parents, Intermediate/Advanced Orchestra: 

Mon. Dec. 18,  2023 INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED ORCHESTRA CONCERT

7:00 PM at EDISON Intermediate School

(All 4 of Ms. Naylor's elementary schools play this winter concert together.) 

2.  DAY WINTER CONCERTS, Intermediate/Advanced Orchestra, for students ONLY: 

(Day concerts are for the kids in school only, not for parents.  If for some reason, you cannot make the night concert, please contact the principal to get special permission to attend the day concert instead.)

(4th gr. Beginners will do their concert in the spring.)  

For Students ONLY:

Wed.   Dec. 13      Wilson  10:30 A.M.   

Fri.   Dec. 15      Washington  2:00 P.M.

Mon.  Dec. 18      Tamaques   10:30 A.M. 

Tues. Dec. 19      Jefferson   2:00 P.M.

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SPRING CONCERTS for Intermediate/Advanced Orchestra:

 (Intermediate/Advanced Orchestra is for students in 5th gr. or ONLY 4th gr. that already know how to play for 6 months to a year, on my approval.)

NIGHT SPRING CONCERT for Parents, Intermediate/Advanced  Orchestra: 

 Mon. May 13, 2024  INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED ORCHESTRA CONCERT

7:00PM at EDISON Intermediate School

(All 4 of Ms. Naylor's  elementary schools play this spring concert together.) 

4th Gr. Strings

2024 CONCERTS

NIGHT SPRING CONCERT for Parents, 4th Gr. Beginner Orchestra: 

 Mon. May 6, 2024  4th gr. BEGINNER ORCHESTRA CONCERT

7:00PM at EDISON Intermediate School

(All 4 of Ms. Naylor's  elementary schools play this spring concert together.) 

4th & 5th Gr. Strings

Combined DAY Concert

DAY SPRING CONCERTS, Beginner & Intermediate/Advanced Orchestras together, for students ONLY: 

(Day concerts are for the kids in school only, not for parents.  If for some reason, you cannot make the night concert, please contact the principal to get special permission to attend the day concert instead.)

(ALL 4th gr. & 5th gr. will play their spring DAY concert together at their school.)  

For Students ONLY:

All DAY Concerts are at 2:00 P.M.

Mon.  May 13      Tamaques         2:00 PM 

Wed.   May 15      Wilson              10:30 AM

Thurs. May 16      Jefferson         2:00 PM

Fri.   May 17       Washington   10:30 AM