The Voices for the Performing Arts foundation is making preparations to sponsor a beginning strings program in September. The community based program will serve elementary and middle school aged children at a beginning level for violin, cello, or viola. Additionally, a secondary level orchestra or chamber groups may be formed if enough existing string players are interested.
Classes will meet weekly at Laurel Ridge Middle School, and will run from mid September through May. They will be taught by Shelley Bigelow, orchestra/choir teacher at Tigard’s Hazelbrook Middle School 2004-2011. Ms. Bigelow has taught in the Suzuki Summer Music Camp Programs at both Pacific University and George Fox University for 10 years. She has taught before school beginning strings at 3 elementary schools in Tigard-Tualatin for 5 years, and has maintained a large private piano studio for over 25 years. She is enthusiastic and well qualified to teach this new program in Sherwood.
Students will be grouped by age, and a minimum of 10 students per class will be needed to establish a class.
Interested? Want to get going?
- Let us know what class you’d like to register in by filling out the Community Strings Intent to Register Form.
- Once you tell us which class you’d like to be in, go to the VPA Strings Registration page to pay your registration fees and buy a t-shirt.
More about the VPA Community Strings Program
The program includes 45 minute per week class for students interested in playing violin, cello, or viola. Classes will be grouped by age so as to pace the curriculum appropriately. This is an excellent opportunity for your child to experience the joy of playing in a group while learning the techniques and skills involved in playing a string instrument. Music and a t-shirt are included with tuition, and instruments can be rented for a very minimal cost for the school year through area music stores. A parent is needed at the first class, and the student should come with the instrument.
Beginning Orchestra: Grades 1-3: Wednesday 4:00 – 4:45 pm
Beginning Orchestra: Grades 4-5: Wednesday 4:45 – 5:30 pm
Beginning Orchestra: Grades 6-12 Wednesdays 5:30 – 6:15 pm
Intermediate String Orchestras: TBA
Intermediate Orchestra: All Grade levels of experienced string players will be placed in an appropriate group based on skill and teacher assessment. Informational meeting will be held in September if enough string players are interested in forming a group.
This 60 minute per week class will focus on orchestra group playing for those students who already have experience in playing violin, cello, or viola. This will be a performance based group that will work to prepare pieces for community performance situations and will enhance the string player’s abilities by providing a group orchestra setting to learn part reading and ensemble playing.
Instructors:
Shelley Bigelow, Orchestra Director for Tigard/Tualatin SD and private studio instructor
Brittany Bigelow, Private Violin/Viola Studio Instructor
