Beginning of the Year 2019-2020
Welcome to the PYE String Program! I am Mrs. Tracey Ingerick, String Teacher at both Penn Yan Elementary and Penn Yan Middle Schools. It is my hope to provide a unique musical experience for your child in learning how to play a stringed instrument.
At Penn Yan Elementary, students may begin learning how to play violin, viola, cello, or bass, starting in second grade. Once a student is enrolled, lessons are scheduled for one half hour, once a week. Lessons are typically given in small groups, with average group size being between 2-4 students. PYE lessons for 2019-2020 will begin the week of September 16th, 2019. Letters with lesson days & times, as well as details will be sent home by Friday, September 13th and will be found as an attachment below as well.
As you can imagine, violin is the most popular stringed instrument chosen to play. Families often choose to rent their instrument through a company called Music and Arts (www.musicarts.com). They provide good quality instruments at reasonable prices, and they also service the school once a week for deliveries or to pick up any repairs. There is no contract with the school, they just do this as a convenience for both the school and families. Although there are other music stores in the area that also have rental programs, almost all of them do their rentals through Music and Arts. If you should choose to explore purchasing an instrument, please remember that the quality of the instrument is often related to the price. This may mean that a lower quality instrument might have an effect on how well an instrument may play, as well as your child's success on that instrument. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me and I would be happy to help you.
If your child has chosen to play viola, cello, or bass, there might be a school instrument available to borrow. We do keep a small supply of them, but are reserved based on both need and promptness. For cello and bass players, students will usually have one instrument for practice at home and one for use at school lessons. This alleviates the need for transporting large instruments to and from school weekly.
Here are a number of the most frequently asked questions:
(1) When will my child's lesson be and when will they begin?
Beginning of the year letters will be sent home by September 13th. This letter includes the day and time of your child's lessons, your child's concert dates, as well as other important general information for the year. If you have further questions, please contact me by phone (315) 536-3346, X-3165, or by e-mail ([email protected]) at your convenience. Lessons will begin the week of September 16th, 2019.
(2) What will my child need to bring for his or her lesson?
If your child plays violin or viola, it will be his or her responsibility to bring the violin or viola, music folder (he or she will receive on in the first lesson), their Essential Elements book 1 for his or her instrument (original version with a pink cover please, not the 2000 version!) and a pencil to each lesson. He or she will not need to bring a music stand to school, as we have them as school.
If your child plays cello or bass, it will be his or her responsibility to bring the music folder , their Essential Elements book, and a pencil to lesson. Unless asked to bring his or her home instrument to school, there will be a school instrument for him or her to use in lesson each week.
(3) How much should my child be practicing?
Learning how to play a musical instrument might be more about number of times the child uses that instrument, rather than the length of time he or she uses it. This is especially true for the first 6-8 weeks, when your child gets used to getting his or her instrument out, setting it up, getting it in place, and trying to get a good sound/get familiar with playing it. Getting his or her instrument out to try it every day is important, as it helps your child get comfortable with it.
By November/December, students should be practicing the equivalent of 10-15 minutes every day to continue to be successful.
(4) Something has happened to my child's instrument (broken string, loose string, bridge is crooked or has fallen out, etc.)....what should I do?
Please bring it to me as soon as possible. Many of the typical instrument repairs are things that I can do easily and quickly. If a string breaks, I will replace the string and send the envelope with the replacement amount home with your child. Please do not try to fix the instrument on your own if at all possible.
(5) How and where should my child store his or her instrument at home?
Violins and violas should be kept in the case when not being played and put in a safe place on its side (not standing up on the end!). Although many of the cases are quite durable, standing any instrument on its end can result in a nasty fall and possibly some sort of damage. Cello and bass students should also keep their instrument in the case when not in use, in a safe place, on its side, with the bridge side of his or her instrument closest to the wall. Again, storing an instrument, especially a large one, on its end is very dangerous and most often ends in very costly damaged to the instrument!
Stringed instruments are alot like people in that they like moderate temperatures. Your child's instrument should always be kept in a place that is not too hot or too cold, but is comfortable. Please do not keep it near a wood stove, heat run, air conditioner, etc. Because it is made of wood, it reacts strongly to large changes in temperatures. The most common result is a severe change in tuning and/or lack of staying in tune, seems can open, or the body of the instrument can even crack open due to extreme temperature change. For this reason, it is also best not to leave a stringed instrument in a vehicle for any significant length of time.
(6) I am still in need of getting my child's book and/or music stand. Where can I purchase these items?
If you are still in need of either your child's book or a music stand, there are a variety of options available. You can order from either Music and Arts online (www.musicarts.com), which will deliver/ship items to your home, Southwest Strings (www.swstrings.com), which is very quick and easy, or Shar Music Products (www.sharmusic.com). You can also visit one of the many area music stores, including: Crocodile Mercantile (8 Water St., Dundee) or Mobile Music (163 South Main St., Canandaigua).
I look forward to meeting/working with all of you and hope that you have an enjoyable string experience this year!
Sincerely,
Tracey Ingerick
PYE/PYMS String Teacher
At Penn Yan Elementary, students may begin learning how to play violin, viola, cello, or bass, starting in second grade. Once a student is enrolled, lessons are scheduled for one half hour, once a week. Lessons are typically given in small groups, with average group size being between 2-4 students. PYE lessons for 2019-2020 will begin the week of September 16th, 2019. Letters with lesson days & times, as well as details will be sent home by Friday, September 13th and will be found as an attachment below as well.
As you can imagine, violin is the most popular stringed instrument chosen to play. Families often choose to rent their instrument through a company called Music and Arts (www.musicarts.com). They provide good quality instruments at reasonable prices, and they also service the school once a week for deliveries or to pick up any repairs. There is no contract with the school, they just do this as a convenience for both the school and families. Although there are other music stores in the area that also have rental programs, almost all of them do their rentals through Music and Arts. If you should choose to explore purchasing an instrument, please remember that the quality of the instrument is often related to the price. This may mean that a lower quality instrument might have an effect on how well an instrument may play, as well as your child's success on that instrument. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me and I would be happy to help you.
If your child has chosen to play viola, cello, or bass, there might be a school instrument available to borrow. We do keep a small supply of them, but are reserved based on both need and promptness. For cello and bass players, students will usually have one instrument for practice at home and one for use at school lessons. This alleviates the need for transporting large instruments to and from school weekly.
Here are a number of the most frequently asked questions:
(1) When will my child's lesson be and when will they begin?
Beginning of the year letters will be sent home by September 13th. This letter includes the day and time of your child's lessons, your child's concert dates, as well as other important general information for the year. If you have further questions, please contact me by phone (315) 536-3346, X-3165, or by e-mail ([email protected]) at your convenience. Lessons will begin the week of September 16th, 2019.
(2) What will my child need to bring for his or her lesson?
If your child plays violin or viola, it will be his or her responsibility to bring the violin or viola, music folder (he or she will receive on in the first lesson), their Essential Elements book 1 for his or her instrument (original version with a pink cover please, not the 2000 version!) and a pencil to each lesson. He or she will not need to bring a music stand to school, as we have them as school.
If your child plays cello or bass, it will be his or her responsibility to bring the music folder , their Essential Elements book, and a pencil to lesson. Unless asked to bring his or her home instrument to school, there will be a school instrument for him or her to use in lesson each week.
(3) How much should my child be practicing?
Learning how to play a musical instrument might be more about number of times the child uses that instrument, rather than the length of time he or she uses it. This is especially true for the first 6-8 weeks, when your child gets used to getting his or her instrument out, setting it up, getting it in place, and trying to get a good sound/get familiar with playing it. Getting his or her instrument out to try it every day is important, as it helps your child get comfortable with it.
By November/December, students should be practicing the equivalent of 10-15 minutes every day to continue to be successful.
(4) Something has happened to my child's instrument (broken string, loose string, bridge is crooked or has fallen out, etc.)....what should I do?
Please bring it to me as soon as possible. Many of the typical instrument repairs are things that I can do easily and quickly. If a string breaks, I will replace the string and send the envelope with the replacement amount home with your child. Please do not try to fix the instrument on your own if at all possible.
(5) How and where should my child store his or her instrument at home?
Violins and violas should be kept in the case when not being played and put in a safe place on its side (not standing up on the end!). Although many of the cases are quite durable, standing any instrument on its end can result in a nasty fall and possibly some sort of damage. Cello and bass students should also keep their instrument in the case when not in use, in a safe place, on its side, with the bridge side of his or her instrument closest to the wall. Again, storing an instrument, especially a large one, on its end is very dangerous and most often ends in very costly damaged to the instrument!
Stringed instruments are alot like people in that they like moderate temperatures. Your child's instrument should always be kept in a place that is not too hot or too cold, but is comfortable. Please do not keep it near a wood stove, heat run, air conditioner, etc. Because it is made of wood, it reacts strongly to large changes in temperatures. The most common result is a severe change in tuning and/or lack of staying in tune, seems can open, or the body of the instrument can even crack open due to extreme temperature change. For this reason, it is also best not to leave a stringed instrument in a vehicle for any significant length of time.
(6) I am still in need of getting my child's book and/or music stand. Where can I purchase these items?
If you are still in need of either your child's book or a music stand, there are a variety of options available. You can order from either Music and Arts online (www.musicarts.com), which will deliver/ship items to your home, Southwest Strings (www.swstrings.com), which is very quick and easy, or Shar Music Products (www.sharmusic.com). You can also visit one of the many area music stores, including: Crocodile Mercantile (8 Water St., Dundee) or Mobile Music (163 South Main St., Canandaigua).
I look forward to meeting/working with all of you and hope that you have an enjoyable string experience this year!
Sincerely,
Tracey Ingerick
PYE/PYMS String Teacher
Beginning of the Year Letter 2019-2020 | |
File Size: | 39 kb |
File Type: | doc |