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Summer Strings Practice Club Level One - Improve on Violin, Viola, or Cello

Keep practicing and improving on your instrument with a fun group of musicians. Learn to be mindful of playing skills as you build your repertoire with fun folk songs and exercises.
SRS Music & STEAM
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(25)
Class

What's included

1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hours per week

Class Experience

Are you a beginning strings student or do you have up to one school year of experience playing the violin, viola, or cello? Join a group of fellow musicians in our strings practice class where you can develop your skills and create beautiful music with other students. Your engaging and knowledgeable teacher will guide you through each lesson, helping you improve your posture, finger placement, bow hold, and much more. Whether you're a new musician or looking to build on your existing skills, this class is perfect for you! If you are familiar with the song of the week, you will still improve and become a better musician as you focus on technical skills that will make your music shine! 

Beat the summer slump and enjoy making music with others.

Plus, after completing their first week of class, learners will receive a coupon code for a discount on their first 1:1 lesson with the teacher for personalized feedback and improvement!

Weekly Breakdown:
Here's what you can expect in the first several weeks of class. All classes have a learner-driven component with introductions, sharing, and opportunities to ask questions or request songs. All songs are traditional folk songs and recognizable classical themes in the public domain.

🎻Week of June 5 (Sunday Group Only) | Week of July 10 - Week 1: French Folk Song
In our first week, we'll learn the French Folk Song and focus on improving your instrument posture and finger placement. You'll learn how to hold your instrument correctly and play with the best left-hand position to create a beautiful sound and keep your notes in tune.

🎻Week of June 12 (Sunday Group Only) | Week of July 17 - Week 2: Boil 'em Cabbage Down
In week two, we'll focus on improving your bow hold as we learn the song Boil 'em Cabbage Down. You'll learn how to hold the bow properly and create a smooth and consistent sound on your strings.

🎻Week of June 19 (Sunday Group Only) | Week of July 24 - Week 3: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with Variations
In the third week, we'll work on recognizing and bowing rhythms as we learn Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with Variations. You'll learn how to identify different rhythms and apply them to the song.

🎻Week of June 26 (Sunday Group Only) | Week of July 31 - Week 4: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with Variations Part 2
In part two of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with Variations, we'll focus on developing a relaxed wrist and fingers while bowing. You'll learn how to create a smooth and consistent sound while also keeping your hand relaxed and free from tension.

🎻Week of July 3 (Sunday Group Only) | Week of August 7 - Week 5: Old MacDonald Had a Farm
In week five, we'll work on playing by ear as we learn the song Old MacDonald Had a Farm. You'll learn how to listen to a melody and play it back on your instrument.

🎻Week of July 10 (Sunday Group Only) | Week of August 14 - Week 6: Lightly Row
In week six, we'll focus on reading music as we learn the song Lightly Row. You'll learn how to read sheet music and apply it to your playing, allowing you to play a wider range of songs and styles.

🎻Week of July 17 - Week 7 and Beyond: Additional Songs and Review of Skills
In the following weeks, we'll continue to learn additional songs and melodies while also reviewing important string-playing skills. You'll have the opportunity to practice and perfect the skills you've learned over the past six weeks while also expanding your repertoire. Your teacher will provide feedback and guidance to help you continue to improve your playing and reach your musical goals. 

Beat the summer slump and get ready for years of enjoyment on your instrument with fun and music-making!

*** Please note instrument availability for the following classes.***
Tuesdays (11:00 AM Eastern Time) - Violin & Viola
Tuesdays (5:30 PM Eastern Time) - Violin, Viola, Cello
Sundays (4:00 PM Eastern Time) - Violin, Viola, Cello
Learning Goals
Students will improve their posture, technique and intonation on their instruments. Students will find encouragement to practice their instruments and share their music with others. Students will build repertoire.
learning goal

Other Details

Supply List
🎻A violin, viola, or cello in good working condition. 
🎻Learners should come to class with their instruments already tuned. Please reach out if you need help and guidance on instrument tuning before class. 
🎻Bow and rosin. 
🎻Shoulder rest (violin and viola)
🎻Rock stop (cello)
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined February, 2022
4.9
25reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Virginia Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Stacey Rae Sinclair
Master's Degree in Education from Marymount University
Stacey Rae Sinclair
Master's Degree in Music from Florida State University
Zoe Kushubar
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Cleveland Institute of Music
Masato Chang
Bachelor's Degree in Music from Converse College
Zoe Kushubar
Stacey Rae Sinclair is a lifelong musician with the heart of a teacher. She is a certified teacher with a master's degree in education. Over her 15 years of teaching, she has taught private lessons, workshops, and camps. Stacey Rae Sinclair is a successful teacher on Outschool. Since September of 2020, she has been in good standing, with a 5-star rating. She founded Stacey Rae Sinclair Music (SRS Music & STEAM) to help fill the consistent demand for 1:1 violin lessons, fiddle classes, and more. Her mission is to bring a love of learning and joy for music to all her learners.
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Bodhi Bryan-Roig has a huge passion for music. He has been playing the violin for over 10 years and the guitar for over 7 years. He wants to share his passion for music with others. He hopes to inspire kids to pick up and continue to play the violin, an instrument he immediately fell in love with. Bodhi studied classical violin under Stacey Rae Sinclair. He is ideally suited to join the SRS Music team, with the perfect combination of musical skill and teaching philosophy. When teaching, he always focuses on the things learners are doing right. He gives encouragement and advice through positive feedback.
Chris Jones is a lifelong musician and multi-instrumentalist. He began learning Suzuki Cello at 3 years old and picked up violin in grade school. After discovering an old mandolin in a closet, Chris fell in love with the instrument and learned bluegrass and folk music. From there, he went on to learn guitar, banjo, and piano as part of his continuing music studies. 

Chris earned his Doctorate in Music from West Virginia University. He has taught music as a visiting assistant professor at West Virginia Wesleyan College, teaching applied instrumental lessons in guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass, and fiddle. He also founded the West Virginia Wesleyan Appalachian ensemble and taught music theory, ear training, music history, and general education courses in music appreciation. Chris is a talented educator who makes learning music fun and accessible for students of all ages and skill levels. With his breadth of knowledge and expertise on several instruments, he is sure to be a great fit for your young musician.
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Julia Seaton loves helping students find joy in music and accomplish their goals! She has taught violin since 2015 and beginning piano since 2017, and she currently performs in concerts with the Oxford Sinfonia. Julia holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance, alongside a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Humanities. Her primary violin teachers include Emma McGrath and Alex Russell, and she has performed in orchestras and chamber ensembles under Christopher Russell, Marek Szpakiewicz, Gerry Marsh, Yuki Mori, and Mark Gasbarro. Julia always adjusts her teaching curricula to support each individual student on their unique musical journey. Her mission with every student is to foster a love of music through a blend of challenge and adaptability.
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Kimberly Testa has been a music educator for the past 3 decades. She holds several state teaching certificates, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York. Her education includes a BM from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a MA from Stony Brook University. Maintaining a focus on classical string and piano instruction, Kim’s primary instruments are violin, viola, and piano, as well as secondary instruments that include cello and acoustic upright string bass and voice.  
In the early 90’s Kim started her teaching career in New York Public Schools.  During that time, Kim taught full-time, performed in a band and community orchestras regularly, adjudicated NYSSMA, LISFA and SCMEA music festivals, and taught privately. After moving to Los Angeles, CA in 1999, Kim started her own private studio, catering to clients in the greater Los Angeles area. She also worked with a private music company that provided music instruction for private and public schools. Kim continued to study, teach and perform regularly until 2005, when she started a family. In 2010 Kim moved to the Boston, MA area. She continued to teach privately on violin, viola, cello and piano, and joined the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra and several other performing groups. In 2016, Kim returned to the public school system and taught in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Now settled in Florida, she maintains a private music studio.

Reviews

Live Group Class
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$20

weekly
1x per week
45 min

Completed by 9 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-13
3-6 learners per class

This class is no longer offered
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