String Academy

Spring Semester begins January 11, 2010
Christina Hightower, Administrative Director
812.856.1523

• Course Information
• Letter from the Director
• Instrument rental and purchase
• Violin and Cello groups

Course Information

The String Academy is open to children ages 5 -18 who wish to study the violin and cello through a curriculum that includes private and group lessons, theory and master classes, chamber music, and performance opportunities. Instruction is based upon the methods and philosophies of Zweig, Suzuki, and Rolland. Beginning students participate weekly in both a private and group lesson. Parents are urged to support and encourage the students at private and group lessons and in daily practice.

The special training, experience and expertise of the outstanding faculty in the musical education of young people results in students playing with technical ease and musical sensitivity. The first years of music instruction are the most important, for they set the stage for everything that follows. Whether a child develops into a professional musician or an amateur, the skills of concentration and the joy and love for music will remain forever.

CLICK HERE to download the String Academy Handbook [PDF] for guidelines and detailed information about the String Academy.
If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, download here.

To hear the Indiana University Violin Virtuosi, go to www.circlingaround.com

November/December 2009

Dear Students and Parents:

It is once again December and time to be thinking about the Spring Semester. Here are the dates to keep in mind:

Registration deadline is January 4th

Private lessons will begin on January 11 

Groups officially begin on Saturday, January 16th

We have had some wonderful news from Hungary from Susan Moses and the Popper International Competition.  Her students Michael Zyzak won first place in his division and Jye Hyun Lee won second place in her division.  Also, our Summer String Academy students who study with Susan and Csaba Onczay were winners:  Laura Szabo (first place in her division) and Ildiko Szabo (first place in her division). Bravo and Congratulations!!!

Spring Semester is looking exciting.  The Violin Virtuosi are off to South Carolina in January and to Argentina in May/June.  The Chamber Orchestra will be featured guests at the IVCI concert in Indianapolis on March 21 performing the Four Seasons of Vivaldi with Marco Rizzi.  January begins the competition season and we will keep you up to date on results.

Erin Aldridge and Chih-Yi Chen will be playing a recital together in April and Zach Dupue (concertmaster of the Indianapolis Symphony) will join us for a master class.  We will keep the calendar updated, so please check it from time to time.

Some exciting faculty news:  Brenda Brenner is off to South Africa for a Music Conference this spring.

We will see you soon for solo recitals and I look forward to hearing all of you.

Please go to our website at http://www.music.indiana.edu/special_programs/sa/ to get all registration material, updated calendar, and scholarship information.  Contact Christina Hightower at crunnacl@indiana.edu if you have questions regarding registration.

Best wishes,

Mimi Zweig

For new students wishing to audition, please contact Christina Hightower (crunnacl@indiana.edu)  to arrange your time. 

Instrument Rental and Purchase

We recommend that you either rent or purchase instruments from the following:

Stephen Schock

202 E. 3rd Street

Bloominton, IN 47401

812 336-2276

Evans Violins

1507 E. 1st Street

Bloomington, IN 47401

812 332-9980 mkevans80@comcast.net

Pro Winds, Inc.
1400 E 3rd Street
Bloomington, IN 47401 USA
E-mail: customerservice@prowinds.com

1.800.789.8509

Jacobs School of Music Rentals

Contact Ron Sebben at 812.855.8720

WHLee Violin Shop

410 South Michigan Ave

Chicago, IL 60601

1-800-447-4533

info@whlee.net

A well set up instrument is essential for your child's development.  Speak to your private teacher. DO NOT PURCHASE OR RENT AN INSTRUMENT WITHOUT THE TEACHER'S APPROVAL. Correct sizing is essential. Smaller is better than larger!

CELLO CHAIRS: Every cellist needs the proper chair height. At a young age, parents must look for a correct flat bottomed cello chair. Your child's knees must come straight out from the hips and the feet must touch the floor flatly. Shar Products sharmusic.com has a Grow with me cello chair. Parents must bring a cello chair to class and lessons for our younger cellists. Please do not neglect this necessary part of your child's education.
Please remember: CELLOS ARE LARGE INSTRUMENTS. FIND A SAFE PLACE AT HOME TO STORE THE CELLO WHEN NOT IN USE. IT SHOULD BE AN EASY ACCESS PLACE SO THAT YOUR CHILD CAN BE WITH HIS/HER CELLO AS OFTEN AS THEY WANT. KEEP THE ENDPIN IN WHEN NOT IN USE.

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Violin and Cello groups

Check with your private teacher about your specific group.