About the University of Arizona String Project
The University of Arizona String Project offers weekly private lessons and ensemble experiences.
The UA String Project is a teacher-training program. The teaching faculty is comprised of outstanding doctoral, masters, and undergraduate performance and serves students from southern Arizona elementary, middle, and high schools.
Student Eligibility
The UA String Project is open to students in grade levels Kindergarten through High School. Students can learn violin, viola, cello, or bass. If your school offers an orchestra, we require students participate in their school orchestra.
Ensemble Levels
Students are primarily grouped by instrument experience and ability level and families should understand that students will be in a class with variously aged students.
- Primo: Beginning class for Kindergarten and 1st grade students. Violin or Cello only.
- Pre-Orchestra (formerly Intermezzo): Class for students with little to no prior experience, usually 2nd-4th grade beginners or students who have previously completed the Primo level.
- Beginning Ensemble (formerly Concertante): Students with at least 1 year of playing experience who have novice experience in reading music. Usually students in 5th-8th grades.
- Advanced Ensemble (formerly Avanzate): Students with at least 3 years of experience who are fluent in musical notation, usually ages 13+. Students in the Advanced Ensemble have the option to extend their private lesson time to 45 or 60 minutes.
Primo Information
Students enrolled in the Primo class will have their private lessons scheduled on Saturday morning before their group class meets. Violin and Cello Primo classes will each meet for only 30 minute classes during the 10:00-11:00 hour (order TBD). Parents of Primo students will participate in a parent class during the first semester of their child’s enrollment in order to learn how to best support and nurture their child’s musical development. Additional details forthcoming.
Location
University of Arizona, School of Music: 1017 N. Olive Rd., Tucson, AZ. Free parking is available in Parking Lot 3039 located to the East of the Center for Creative Photography (945 N Palm Dr, Tucson, AZ 85719). Most Saturdays this lot free and accessible except when there is a large event such as football or basketball games, or fairs on campus.
Occasionally, when this lot is full, you may need to pay for parking at meters near the music building or in the Park Avenue Garage. From the Park Avenue Garage, walk south under the underpass. At the top of the incline the School of Music is on the right.
Instruments
The UA String Project does not provide students with instruments. We expect most families to to rent or purchase their own instruments for students. If renting an instrument is cost prohibitive for your family, please note this in your registration form and contact the UA String Project at stringproject@music.arizona.edu.
Student and Parent Expectations
Students must be on time for rehearsals and lessons; frequent tardiness will lead to dismissal from the program. Required materials include instrument and bow, shoulder rest or rock stop, rosin, suggested books, notebook, pencil, and ensemble music.
Developing a practice routine is key to student development and parents are encouraged to help younger students practice. Other parent responsibilities include attending all UASP meetings, rehearsals, lessons, and events. If your school offers an orchestra, we require students also participate in their school orchestra.
Participants must treat fellow students, parents, faculty, and university personnel and facilities with respect. The UA String Project is an inclusive learning environment. The University of Arizona is committed to creating and maintaining an environment free of discrimination. In support of this commitment, the University prohibits discrimination, including harassment and retaliation, based on a protected classification, including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information.
Performances: Each ensemble will perform a selection of pieces at the end of the semester concert in one of the performance halls. Private lesson faculty will schedule an end of semester solo recital.
Concert Dress Code for Performers:
Black pants or black dress, plain shirt, black socks, black shoes
(no shorts, flip flops, or t-shirts)
History: The University of Arizona String Project was founded by Dr. Theodore Buchholz in 2015. The program steadily grew to more than 100 pre-college students with fourteen faculty members. He built an endowment for the program, enabling free private lessons to community students who might otherwise have no exposure to music education. Buchholz led the program through the COVID pandemic developing an online curriculum and then led the program back to in-person classes. After ten years at the helm, Dr. Buchholz passed the UASP’s leadership baton to Dr. Kelsey Nussbaum.
See the UA String Project Parent Handbook, Guide to Practicing, and more on the “Downloads” page.