PARENTS / GUARDIANS OF BEGINNER
STRING PUPILS
AN INTRODUCTION
Dear Parent / Guardian,
Solihull Music Service is pleased to welcome you to the challenging adventure of instrumental
playing. We hope to provide exciting and stimulating experiences through excellence in
music education, which will add a valuable creative dimension to your child’s life.
The following points are intended to answer any questions that may arise in the early stages
of learning to play a string instrument.
Instrument size
As with shoe size, it is vital for comfort and correct development that your child has the
appropriate size of instrument. Please take advice from your child’s instrumental teacher.
Lessons
These take place each week in school, with the total of 33 lessons being delivered over the
course of each academic year. Your child will adapt more easily to this new routine if you
could ensure that instrument, music and signed practice books are taken to school (and
returned home for practice) on the day of the lesson.
Practice
In order to develop muscular strength and motor skills, and to establish familiarity with
notation and fingering, daily practice is essential.
In the early stages of playing, a target of at least 15 minutes per day is desirable. Any
physical warm-up/ loosening exercises demonstrated by the instrumental teacher should also
be incorporated into the practice session.
Progress is seldom rapid when learning a stringed instrument, as the techniques involved are
not easy to master: patience and perseverance are essential attributes for a young musician,
allied to continual support and encouragement from home.
It would be helpful if you could inform the instrumental teacher of any circumstance that may
have a temporary adverse effect on the practice routine.
Music
Most learning will take place in a group situation. It is therefore of great importance to the
progress of the group that new music is bought promptly for your child when requested by the
teacher.
Accessories
To Develop and maintain a good playing posture it is strongly recommended that children
have an adjustable music stand to aid practising at home.
Violin and viola players will need a shoulder pad. Cello and double bass players will need
spike holders. Your child’s instrumental teacher will give advice as to suitability.
Other essential accessories include:
Block of Rosin (for bow hair)
Spare set of strings
Soft duster
Music Stand
Tutor Book (Instrumental teacher will advise on this)
Care of the instruments – the instrument should be kept in its case when not in use, away
from excessive heat or cold. Resin should be cleaned from strings and varnish after playing,
using a soft duster. Furniture polish should not be used! Bow hair should be loosened after
use, the instrumental teacher will demonstrate the correct bow tension appropriate for
playing.
NB THE BRIDGE SHOULD NEVER BE GLUED TO THE BODY OF THE INSTRUMENT.
Is it all hard work?
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a musician is the shared social experience of
music making. Individual practice is essential, but very soon your child be able to join an
ensemble, either at school or through the music service.
Solihull Music Service offers a wide range of orchestral opportunities for children of varying
ages and abilities including Millennium Strings, which meets on a Wednesday 4.15 - 5.40
p.m. at Lyndon Music Centre.
But I’m not a musician……..
If you can recognise or hum the signature of a television programme, then you are a potential
musician!!
Encouragement and support are the most valuable things you can give your child throughout
his/her musical education.
If possible, please listen regularly to your child’s daily practice to monitor the progress being
made.
If problems or queries arise, please contact your child’s instrumental teacher via a message
in the practice notebook, a visit to the school on the day of the lesson, or via Solihull Music
Service on 0121 743 2483.
Together, we should create the opportunity for your child to enjoy a life-enriching experience!!
SOLIHULL MUSIC SERVICE
Daylesford Road
Solihull B92 8EJ
Tel: 0121 743 2483
Fax: 0121 743 5682
Email: messages@solmus.solgrid.org.uk
www.solihull.gov.uk/musicservice