The IUP String Project, a community music education outreach program for children ages 5-18 in Indiana and the surrounding area, is now accepting applications for private lesson instruction on violin, viola, cello, and bass. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the summer. For more information and an application, please visit the String Project website or contact Linda Jennings at ljenning@iup.edu.
Due to the coronavirus, lessons will be held online throughout the summer.
The IUP String Project summer curriculum consists of weekly private lessons. Lessons can be scheduled for 30, 45, or 60 minutes, depending upon the age and advancement of each student. There are several options available for packages for different number of weeks of lessons. The packages are designed to provide continuity for students, while providing flexibility for families in scheduling for over the summer. The overall IUP String Project Summer Session runs from May 15 through August 31. Lesson packages may be spread out over the summer. Lessons may begin at any time on or after May 15. Further lesson packages may be purchased throughout the summer.
The IUP String Project is also provides a teacher-training program for IUP music students who are the teachers in the program. The program provides hands-on practical experience teaching one-on-one lessons, as well as teaching groups in a classroom setting and conducting a string orchestra. In addition, teachers gain invaluable experience participating in recruiting programs in public and private schools, gaining teaching ideas and guidance at regular pedagogy meetings, and receiving feedback on their teaching. The teachers are supervised by the IUP String Faculty members.
The IUP String Project is one of 41 similar programs joined under the auspices of the National String Project Consortium, dedicated to promoting string music education in the United States. As a member of the NSPC, the IUP String Project joins in addressing the two main issues facing string education today: 1) the low numbers of public schools that offer string music education programs to children, and 2) the critical shortage of string teachers in the US.
The program is directed by IUP music faculty member Linda Jennings.