Students typically spend more than one year in each ensemble. The Violin and Cello Choirs are supplemental group classes for students taking weekly private lessons, generally through the Duke University String School.
Violin Choir I is a supplemental group class for students taking private lessons through the Duke University String School who have mastered the skills learned in the Beginning Violin Group Class. Students will build on technical skills learned in the Beginning Violin Group Class to prepare concert pieces as an ensemble. By this level, students should have moved their thumb to the inside of the stick to facilitate correct whole bow use. Violin Choir I students will be using their whole bow, multiple notes in 1 bow (slurs), and multiple martelé strokes in one bow (stops). Students will learn theory concepts such as intervals, rhythm with the Kodaly method, and note reading in first position. The class will play pieces in A major, D major, and eventually the G major 2-octave scale. Students in Violin Choir I will be playing pieces at the level of the middle of Suzuki Book 1 through the beginning of Suzuki Book 2, or similar repertoire, and will learn how to perform as a group with simple dynamic contrast (i.e. forte, piano, crescendo, diminuendo).
Audition Prerequisites:
- Holding violin correctly with violin resting on collarbone, head resting on the chin rest, violin parallel to the floor
- Standard bow hold (thumb on the side of the stick, not underneath or on the clip).
- Ability to play in all parts of the bow (tip, middle, frog)
- Loose left hand and relaxed thumb
- Know all note names in first position
- Understand and be able to clap basic rhythms (sixteenth notes, eighth notes, quarter notes, half notes, whole notes)
- Ability to play with good quality tone and intonation on D, A, and E strings.
Audition Guidelines: A scale and solo piece of your choice. Memorization of the scale and solo piece is preferred.
Audition Suggestions: A major, D major scale with whole bow use, O Come Little Children, May Song, Allegro (Suzuki Book 1), Ode to Joy (Essential Elements #86).
