String Time Course Director: Caroline Lumsden Violin AGSM, ARCM, Cert.Ed
Junior Trinity’s String Time programme is for children aged 3 – 11 years. It encourages young players on their musical journey in ensemble and creative work. String Time is a great opportunity for young players to make music and receive professional coaching in a relaxed yet disciplined environment. The course is directed by Caroline Lumsden, an experienced violinist and teacher, who has developed a creative approach to music education that enables children to discover for themselves whilst gaining a thorough all round musical understanding.
The String Time Programme is divided into a number of groups. The progressive curriculum is designed to gradually develop student's musical skills from the very first stages of starting to learn a string instrument onwards. This is delivered through a mixture of ensemble and technique sessions combined with creative musicianship and theory training.
Group
School Year
Age
Standard
Trinity Teenies
Nursery & Reception
3 - 5
n/a
Musicianship
String Starters
Year 1
5 - 6
Foundation Level
Ensemble Dalcroze
Stepping Stones
Yr 2
6 - 7
Preliminary - Grade 1
Ensemble Dalcroze Musicianship
Rhythm Runners
Yr 3 and Yr4
7 - 9
Grade 2 - Grade 3
Fast Fiddlers
Yr 5 and Yr 6
9 - 11
Grade 4 - Grade 5
Technique Dalcroze Orchestra
Instruments
At the String Starters level, students are able to begin learning either the violin or cello within the Ensemble session. When students progress to Stepping Stones, they will need to have individual or shared instrumental lessons in addition to the String Time programme. As they reach Rhythm Runners, there are opportunities for interested students to move to the viola, double bass or harp.
Individual or shared instrumental lessons are available in the early morning or afternoon outside the normal String Time Programme times. Students are not required to have their individual instrumental lesson at Junior Trinity, but will need to be having an instrumental lesson from the Stepping Stones level onwards.
Dalcroze Eurhythmics Musicianship Training
This musicianship training involves full body movement to music, speeding up the connections between the ear, the brain and the limbs, and helping the children with coordination, posture, concentration and integration of mind and body. Eurhythmics creates a comprehensive foundation in the fundamental rhythmic elements of pulse, bartime and phrasing, alongside opportunities for expressive and creative development.
Further Details
The String Time programme takes place at Trinity College of Music. The outline timetable will be as follows from September 2008 :
Trinity Teenies Fridays 14:30 - 15:15 OR 16:15 - 17:00
String Starters Saturdays 9:00 – 10:45 x 2 sessions
Stepping Stones Saturdays 9:00 – 12:00 x 3 sessions
Rhythm Runners Saturdays 10:00 – 14:00 x 3 sessions
Fast Fiddlers Saturdays 12:00 – 15:45 x3 sessions
There are 10 places in each school year group. Once students accept a place on the String Time Programme, they progress through the group structure each year, depending on their age and progress. Please note that places from the Reception school year upwards will always depend on the level of current students re-enrolling each year.
