Strings
The Strings Department prepares students to achieve technical proficiency on their instruments. A comprehensive curriculum emphasizes balanced posture, tone production, accurate intonation, musicianship skills, and leads students through a sequential body of repertoire.
The Conservatory’s string curriculum for violin, viola and cello is based on the Talent Education method developed by Shinichi Suzuki. Students follow the Suzuki curriculum, which includes weekly individual lessons of 30, 45 or 60 minutes and a weekly group class. Through the Suzuki method, students may begin instruction as young as age 4.
Meet Our String Faculty
-
Andrew Cook
Artist-Teacher and Chamber Music Department Chair and String Department ChairStringscelloChamber Musiccello -
Aimée Kreston
Artist-TeacherStringsviolinChamber Musicviolin -
Niklas Bertani
Stringscello -
Madeleine Eaton
StringsviolinJazzViolin -
Cynthia Fogg
Stringsviolin, viola -
Rowena Hammill
StringsCello -
Sharon Harman
StringsviolinChamber Musicviolin -
Elizabeth Hedman
StringsViolinChamber MusicViolin -
Trina Carey Hodgson
StringsCello -
Mary Kelly
Stringsviolin, viola -
Dorthy Kwon
Stringsviolin, viola -
Sherry Luchette
JazzbassStringsbass -
Andrew Picken
StringsViola -
Patrick Rosalez
Stringsviolin, violaChamber Musicviolin, viola -
Megan Shung Smith
Violin and Viola Program DirectorStringsViolin, Viola -
Erika Walczak
Stringsviolin, viola
Our Programs
We offer private lessons as well as group and ensemble classes.
Strings Musicianship
Ages 4 & 5: Mondays at 4 p.m.
Musicianship classes are for our young Suzuki students who are “pre-Twinkle,” which is to say that they are not yet ready for group class on their instruments. In Musicianship class, the teacher will introduce the elements of music: rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, form and expression in a group class, where students actively make music with their peers. Students will have the opportunity to become familiar with and manipulate rhythmic patterns, begin ear training through singing and playing xylophones, play in an ensemble, move expressively to music, and create meaningful connections to both the music in the Suzuki repertoire and great examples of classical and folk music.
Suzuki Groups
Group classes for violin and viola students meet Monday and Thursday evenings between 5:30 and 7:30. Group classes for cello students meet Monday evenings between 5:30 and 7:00.
Annecto Strings
Annecto Strings meets Thursday evenings between 5:30 and 6:30.
Students playing the violin, viola, cello, and string bass at an intermediate level or above may participate in this class.
Visit the Fees page for more information about tuition and registration fees.