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Ms. Naylor has been teaching 4th & 5th String Orchestra in Westfield since 1996.
She teaches in three schools:
Franklin
Jefferson
Washington
She has taught in all of the elementary schools in Westfield.
Ms. Robin Naylor
Email: RNAYLOR@westfieldnjk12.org
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
5th Gr. Strings
Please make sure you are filling out the Practice Record & that your parents are signing it each week.
The goal is to practice 20 minutes each day.
Here's what you should be practicing, in order of priority:
(I put the pieces in order from easiest to hardest.)
WARM UP: D Major scale with Slurs
1. Pinata (Mexican Christmas Song)
2. Have A Holly Jolly Christmas
3. Sivivon, Sov, Sov, Sov (Hanukah song)
4. Frosty the Snowman
5. Shalom Chaverim (Peace Friends) Hanukah Song
6. Believe (from Movie The Polar Express)
7. Patapan (Advanced only)
4th Gr. Strings
4th Gr. Strings
Please make sure you are filling out the Practice Record & that your parents are signing it each week.
The goal is to practice 20 minutes each day.
Here's what you should be practicing, in order of priority: TO BE ANNOUNCED
(I put the pieces in order from easiest to hardest.)
1. D Major scale (ONLY 1 D note at the end & then you have to lift your bow before repeating the piece.)
2. Hot Cross Buns (lift bow after playing piece 1 time.)
3. Mary Little Lamb (Tremolo at end of piece, the 2nd time.)
4. Song for Christine
5. Twinkle Star (once in the style of Mozart (say Mo--sart) & 2nd time in the style of Bach)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11. LAST piece in the concert: Bile 'em Cabbage Down (with "Skunk in the Barnyard" ending)
4th Gr. Strings
4th Gr. Strings
Welcome to the 4th gr. String Orchestra Team!
I am so excited your child has selected a string instrument!
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 9:05 to 11:35 & then 12:35 to 2:35, 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.)
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.
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!
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
5th Gr. Strings
2025-26 CONCERTS
2025-26 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:
Wed. Dec. 17, 2025 INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED ORCHESTRA CONCERT
7:00 PM at EDISON Intermediate School
(All 3 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:
Monday Dec. 15 Franklin 10:30 A.M.
Wed. Dec. 17 Washington 10:30 A.M.
Thursday Dec. 18 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.)
1. NIGHT SPRING CONCERT for Parents, Intermediate/Advanced Orchestra:
Wed. May 13, 2026 INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED ORCHESTRA CONCERT
7:00PM at EDISON Intermediate School
(All 3 of Ms. Naylor's elementary schools play this spring concert together.)
2. DAY SPRING 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.)
For Students ONLY:
Monday May 11 Franklin 2:00 PM
Wed. May 13 Washington 10:30 AM
Thursday May 14 Jefferson 2:00 P.M.
4th Gr. Strings
4th Gr. Strings
2025 CONCERTS
2025 CONCERTS
NIGHT SPRING CONCERT for Parents, 4th Gr. Beginner Orchestra:
Wed. May 6, 2025 4th gr. BEGINNER ORCHESTRA CONCERT
7:00PM at EDISON Intermediate School
(All 3 of Ms. Naylor's elementary schools play this spring concert together.)
4th & 5th Gr. Strings
4th & 5th Gr. Strings
Combined DAY Concert
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:
Monday May 11 Franklin 2:00 PM
Wed. May 13 Washington 10:30 AM
Thursday May 14 Jefferson 2:00 P.M.
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