Macaulay and Victoria West Strings Program
Welcome Macaulay and Victoria West families! On this page, you'll find information about the strings program, including notices that were sent home on paper, announcements, event dates and more.
Please get in touch with me at rmcdonell@sd61.bc.ca if you have questions or concerns.
Please get in touch with me at rmcdonell@sd61.bc.ca if you have questions or concerns.
Announcements
End of Term 1 Announcements for Macaulay |
End of Term 1 Announcements for Vic West |
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Dear Macaulay Strings Families:
We are nearing the end of term 1 for the Beginning Orchestral Strings class. A big congratulations is due to all of the students! I have a few announcements for the group: Report Cards The students have been working hard! They will have an insert on their report card this term, which reflects their progress. Please watch for it and get in touch with me if you have any questions or concerns. A Short Performance On Friday, December 16th at 11:00am, there will be a school assembly and we will be having a short performance and demonstration of their learning so far. We have been rehearsing "Open String Blues" "Hot Cross Buns" and potentially others, in preparation for this. I'm sorry, but due to space and safety concerns, parents will not be able to attend, however we expect to have an opportunity to perform in the evening for parents sometime in Term 2. Students are asked to wear whatever they would normally wear to school on this day. Practicing and Instrument Care Over The Holidays All students MUST take their string instrument home over the holidays. During the break, students should keep practicing the skills they've learned, so that they remember what they've learned, and also so that their instruments stay better in tune. String instruments are typically tuned before every use. I will post some information on the website about how parents can tune their instruments. It is essential that these instruments are kept in a warm environment (i.e. not in the school or the trunk of a car). If they get too cold, the glue that holds the wood together can crack. THANK YOU to the PAC and to our Librarian, Joanna Mangan! Thanks to the PAC's generosity, Macaulay now owns enough music stands for everyone to use. Thank you very much to Librarian Joanna Mangan for accommodating our class in the library each week. Class to split into two sections, starting in January It is truly amazing that 38 students are enrolled in Beginning Orchestral Strings at Macaulay this year! It's quite a large class, and while it's mostly worked so far while the students learn by rote, we really need to divide into two smaller classes in the new year to work on reading notes on the staff. Therefore, the class will be divided into two sections: one that meets Wednesdays from 1:52 - 2:37pm; and the other will meet on Fridays from 11:00-11:45am. We will communicate in January which section your child is in. I expect that both sections will join together again at some point in the future. Thank you very much for supporting your child's music education. Have a happy holiday! Risa McDonell |
Dear Vic West Strings Families:
We are nearing the end of term 1 for the Beginning Orchestral Strings class. A big congratulations is due to all of the students! I have a few announcements for the group: Report Cards The students have been working hard! They will have an insert on their report card this term, which reflects on their progress. Please watch for it and get in touch with me if you have any questions or concerns. A Short Performance On Wednesday, December 14th at 1:00pm, there will be a school assembly and we will be having a short performance and demonstration of their learning so far. We have been rehearsing "Open String Blues" "Hot Cross Buns" "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and, potentially, "Jingle Bells" in preparation for this. I'm sorry, but due to space and safety concerns, parents will not be able to attend, however we expect to have an opportunity to perform in the evening for parents sometime in Term 2. Students are asked to wear whatever they would normally wear to school on this day. Practicing and Instrument Care Over The Holidays All students MUST take their string instrument home over the holidays. There WILL be a class on Friday, December 16th, so they can bring it home on Friday. During the break, students should keep practicing the skills they've learned, so that they remember what they've learned, and also so that their instruments stay better in tune. String instruments are typically tuned before every use. I will post some information on the website about how parents can tune their instruments. It is essential that these instruments are kept in a warm environment (i.e. not in the school or the trunk of a car). If they get too cold, the glue that holds the wood together can crack. THANK YOU to the PAC and to our Librarian, Rachel Speller! Thanks to their generosity, Vic West now owns a class set of the textbook String Explorer, which just arrived at the school. These books will be catalogued by Ms. Speller and then each student will sign one out for the year. Having a great book like this one to use will really encourage students to look ahead to see what's coming. Thank you very much, PAC! Thank you very much for supporting your child's music education. Have a happy holiday! Risa McDonell |
How to tune your instrument using the fine tuners
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If your instrument is so out ouf tune that you need to use the pegs, please get in touch with me and I can walk you through it. Tuning an orchestral stringed instrument is different from a guitar or ukulele and the strings can easily break. You will be asked to pay the cost to replace strings which you break.
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Class Times:
Victoria West Class Times:
Wednesdays from 12:35 to 1:20pm (gym) and Fridays from 9:00 to 9:45am (music room)
Macaulay Class Times:
Div 1, 3 and 5 are on Wednesdays from 1:52 to 2:37pm (library)
Div 2 and 4 are on Fridays from 11:00 to 11:45am (library)
Wednesdays from 12:35 to 1:20pm (gym) and Fridays from 9:00 to 9:45am (music room)
Macaulay Class Times:
Div 1, 3 and 5 are on Wednesdays from 1:52 to 2:37pm (library)
Div 2 and 4 are on Fridays from 11:00 to 11:45am (library)
Caring for your string instrument
- If it appears to be broken, please DO NOT attempt to fix it. I am happy to help you and many things can be fixed easily.
- Cellos must be left on their sides, not their backs or propped up in a corner.
- The cases are not strong. Please DO NOT put heavy items on them or stuff them into tight spaces, such as full car trunks.
- These instruments should be kept inside (i.e. not in a car trunk overnight). The glue can crack if it gets too cold.
- Please don't touch bow hair - once it gets greasy, it has to be re-haired.
- Please unwind the bow before putting it away, and wind it up to use (not too tight - the bow stick should still curve.)
- If rosin dust accumulates on the instrument, wipe it away with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use water or any solvents on string instruments.
Letters That Have Gone Home
How to get a String Instrument
Every student will need an instrument of their own to use in class and to practice at home. Beginner strings players typically rent or borrow an instrument, until they know if they like it. Many students in our district borrow an instrument from SD61's Cooper Smith Music Library Collection, or rent one from a local music retailer, such as Tapestry Music or Long and McQuade Musical Instruments. Please see the brochure below which outlines these options.
Information on Borrowing an Instrument from SD61
Please read the following documents on how to borrow an instrument from SD61 carefully. Your child will be responsible for this instrument until June (or they leave the program). These instruments are valuable - you may be asked to pay for any damage that occurs to it, up to the replacement value of the instrument.
Once the paperwork is complete, please bring it to your school's Main Office. Please note:
- Please include a cheque made payable to "Greater Victoria School District" for the fee, or clearly indicate on the form or by email that you are asking for the fee to be waived.
- Please be patient. It can sometimes take a week or more for me to deliver your child's instrument to class.
