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Strings Class Information

At Abingdon Elementary School, we offer a Suzuki based strings program for 4th and 5th graders who choose to take strings.

We incorporate the Suzuki philosophy in the child’s school experience:

  • by realizing every child can learn
  • by creating a positive, supportive learning environment
  • by encouraging noble human values and
  • by encouraging positive personal, social and education values

For technical mastery of the instrument we:

  • Use a common sequenced repertoire for all instruments
  • Memorize the repertoire
  • Review the repertoire to develop technical skills and musical expression
  • Teach small step instruction of each skill
  • Teach and reinforce mastery of each skill
  • Teach group lessons in the Suzuki style.
  • Promote daily listening and aural exposure to Suzuki repertoire and other good music
  • Develop posture and basic technique before introducing note reading

We encourage parents to be involved in their child’s violin/viola/cello progress by:

  • Encouraging a regular time and place for daily practice. Students should practice 15 minutes for the first 2 months and then up to a half hour per day.
  • Being enthusiastic about the violin and the student’s progress. Be your child’s cheering squad.

Help remind them to bring their instruments to school.

All students have folders of music to take home. Extra copies of music are available for use at school.

Parents: If you would like, you can purchase a CD of the Suzuki Violin Repertoire Book 1 (viola or cello) for additional home listening. This is available at Music stores such as Music and Arts or Fox’s Music.

Care of instrument:  keep the instrument out of hot or cold cars at all times; keep it away from heating vents; do not let anyone ‘try’ the instrument. DO NOT try to tune it unless you are a string player; let Ms Gomez or a music store tune it for you. Be very careful not to bump into anything with the instrument.

Thank you,

Kristin Gomez

Violin Teacher at Abingdon Elementary School

703-228-6650

Kristin.Gomez@APSVA.US