North Muskegon Elementary Strings Program welcomes you!
At North Muskegon, Strings Classes are offered free of charge to ALL Second Graders and ALL INTERESTED 3-5 graders during the school day! We are proud of the rich musical learning experiences that North Muskegon offers to ALL students.
Hopefully you will find whatever you are looking for here. If not, feel free to contact Mrs. Corbin!
At North Muskegon, Strings Classes are offered free of charge to ALL Second Graders and ALL INTERESTED 3-5 graders during the school day! We are proud of the rich musical learning experiences that North Muskegon offers to ALL students.
Hopefully you will find whatever you are looking for here. If not, feel free to contact Mrs. Corbin!
Frequently Asked Questions
(And what to do about instrument problems during the Quarantine)
My instrument is at school. Can I get it?
You may contact the school office to set up a “pick-up” time. OR.. I may be able to get instruments for you in the building, but I will only be able to enter the building briefly (a limited number of times..on a scheduled time block). I can bring instruments outside the entrance for you to pick up with no contact needed. If you are unable to schedule a time through the school office, feel free to contact me.
My instrument is out of tune. How do I tune it?
I AM very happy to help you tune the instrument! Many students and parents have had success tuning with me over facetime! There are lots of free tuning apps that you can get on your phone to help, but PLEASE be careful tuning (even while using a tuning app) strings break easily if they are stretched too far (if you turn the pegs, even a little). Please get some advice or training before you attempt to tune on your own! I am VERY happy to help you. Here are some thorough training videos with basic tuning instructions for you:
Violin Tuning Video: watch the whole thing before you try it!!
Viola Tuning Video: watch the whole thing before you try it!!
Cello Tuning Video: watch the whole thing before you try it!!
My instrument sounds funny and I’m not sure why? My instrument is broken, can it be fixed?
Even though their storefront will remain closed, Meyer Music is committed to providing support to student musicians. Please contact me if you have instrument issues [email protected]. I can connect you to Meyer Music support if a repair is needed. You can send me a video or we can facetime/zoom/facebook messenger chat to diagnose the problem and decide what needs to be done.
What should I practice?
I just don’t know what to play!
Since I’m not with you to practice with you at home, you’ve become your OWN teacher for a while (though.. I still want to help you as much as I possibly can!!). Here is a guide for good practicing. Be sure your instrument is in tune. Then begin...
How to Practice:
Always carefully check posture & technique before you play:
Do a posture check before you hold your instrument. Is your back straight and tall? Are you balanced? Now hold your instrument. Is it in the right place? Check your bow hold. Are your fingers in the right place? Are your thumbs where they should be? Elbows?
Practice your Music Reading Skills:
Use the Essential Elements book to practice reading notes. Start at the very beginning if you forgot how to do it! You’ll get it!! Then keep going in the book… read the pages for help or ask a parent to look at the book with you! If you do a little every day, you will be reading music with confidence soon!You can also use the fun quiz games online for reading practice.
Violin Notes & Fingerings
Viola Notes & Fingerings
Cello Notes & Fingerings
Bass Notes & Fingerings
Practice your Bowing Skills:
Do some LONG smooth straight bows, keeping your bow in a straight line across the strings..keeping it in the bowing lane. Now do some quicker rhythms. Use the middle of the bow. Now use the WHOLE bow. Try using the lower half of the bow… or the upper half of the bow. Staccato, legato…
Practice your Left Hand Skills:
Play a scale or simple finger pattern on each string (or play the I’m a Little Monkey song?). Watch your fingers carefully and listen to be sure it RINGS in tune.
Review one or more songs you know:
Play it smoothly with a steady tempo, making a beautiful tone with all your best bowing skills.
Work on a NEW song, or practice one that isn’t perfected yet:
If you don’t know ALL the belt songs yet, practice for your next “belt”... once you’ve learned them all, even Perpetual Motion (and doubles!) then use Essential Elements to learn even MORE songs and skills!
We still have a few Orchestra t-shirts left in stock! Contact Mrs. Corbin to check on available sizes... |
Important Information & Downloadable Files
*The best time to get an instrument is at our annual
FALL RENTAL NIGHT
But if you miss the event or are looking for an instrument later in the year, this quick guide (above) should be helpful.
FALL RENTAL NIGHT
But if you miss the event or are looking for an instrument later in the year, this quick guide (above) should be helpful.
West Michigan Youth Symphony Debut Strings Ensembles
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Plan to take your child to a live musical performance...
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West Michigan Symphony
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Summer Strings Photo Gallery!
Photos from years of "Fiddle Parties" at Bear Lake Beach after our annual Summer Strings Camp and two years of our Norse Fiddlers Float appearance in the North Muskegon Parade in August!
Check out these links to play-along versions (with printable notation) of a few "Summer Fun Songs"...
How to Support Your Child’s Musical Growth at Home:
Sing to them, sing with them, listen to them, and interact and ‘converse’ with them musically, just as you do with language. Don’t criticize their music-making (or your own!!). Make up silly songs with them as you go through the day and encourage them when they make their own music too. Let them hear and see great music and musicians (of diverse styles and instruments) as often as possible.
Listen to good strings recordings (both classical and non-classical) …or watch performances together (even on Youtube) to inspire them in their new musical adventure!
A few Strings ‘greats’ to check out together:
Nicola Benedetti, Itzak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Hilary Hahn, Sujari Britt, Anne Sophie Mutter, Mark O’Connor, Yo-Yo Ma, Regina Carter, Turtle Island String Quartet, Black Violin, Trans Siberian Orchestra, The Piano Guys