Welcome to Violin Club 101: Learn How to Play Violin With Friends!  This is a six-week course where students are introduced to the violin in a fun group setting. Learners do not need any prior knowledge of music or violin- this course is designed for total beginners! In Violin Club 101 participation and group discussion is encouraged but not necessary. If your child is introverted or shy they will still benefit from this class by observing those around them and following the directives given. My approach incorporates lots of interactive games and exercises to introduce students to the instrument, and concepts of rhythmic and tonal awareness. These include but are not limited to "clap back", "rhythm words", and "write your own song." Parents are expected to be involved in helping students tune their instrument before the start of class. I will send an instructional video about tuning prior to the start of the class. The curriculum will also be suitable for beginner viola- violists encouraged to apply!

General Topics Covered:

♫ Proper Playing Position
♫ Holding the Violin and Bow
♫ The Names of the Violin and Bow Parts and Their Functions (ex. Tailpiece, Fine Tuners)
♫ Open Strings
♫ Basic Rhythms 
♫ "Hot Cross Buns" song

General Class Structure:

♫ Listening Games (5 min)
♫ Group Listening/Music notation (10 min)
♫ Open string songs/Hot Cross Buns (10 min)
♫ Questions/homework (5 min)

Weekly Breakdown:

Week 1: Icebreaker games, listening games, holding the violin and bow
Week 2: Listening games, review hand positions, open strings on and off the instrument (music notation introduction)
Week 3: Listening games, review hand positions and open strings on and off instrument, open strings song creation, group listening (Lindsey Stirling)
Week 4: Listening games, open string song performance, group listening (New York Philharmonic with violin soloist), Hot Cross Buns
Week 5: Listening games, Hot Cross Buns, group listening (Vitamin String Quartet)
Week 6: Hot cross buns performance, wrap up