Roxbourne Primary Strings Programme

Curriculum Design

The KS2 Strings Programme at Roxbourne Primary School is carefully structured to provide pupils with a comprehensive and enjoyable violin learning experience. Beginning in Year 3 with the Vamoosh Violin Booklet 1, pupils build a strong foundation in violin technique, note reading, and musical fundamentals. In Year 4, they progress to the Fiddle Time Joggers book, honing their skills and delving into more intricate musical pieces. Year 5 takes pupils further with Trinity Grade 1 repertoire and the opportunity to participate in a year-long whole-year group orchestra. This progression ensures that our pupils not only develop their individual violin skills but also learn the joys of ensemble playing and musical appreciation. Our curriculum aims to foster a lifelong love for music and offers a pathway for those interested in pursuing advanced studies in the violin.
 

Curriculum Delivery

The KS2 Strings Programme starts with the provision of materials; a violin, sheet music, a music diary, a shoulder rest and a music bag. Pupils are given their violin and equipment to take home to practice for at least five days each week (20 minutes per day). This is inputted by parents in the pupil's music diary and checked by the violin teacher. In violin lessons, pupils manage their own violin after being taught how to look after and maintain the instrument. Pupils work with one of our qualified violin teachers, learning and developing posture, technique, music reading and ensemble playing. Pupils work towards year group performances each term and graded examinations through the programme.
 

Parent Information

All pupils will be loaned a violin from year 3 onward, along with a shoulder pad and the music required to be successful in the first year of the Strings Programme. We are embracing the effect that music has on our pupil’s cultural capital, creative development, and its effect on the wider curriculum.

 

- Parent Agreement Form - Click here.

At the start of Year 3, you will be asked to complete the parent agreement form for the loaned equipment. This must be read and completed before your child can take a violin home. The agreement outlines your responsibility to ensure that the instrument and equipment are properly used and maintained over the course of the programme. The contract also asks your permission for Zoom video lessons in the event of any potential lockdown in the future. 

- Parent Pack: How to support your child - Click here.

Whether you have a musical background or not, we have put together a pack of how you can support your child with music instrument lessons. It is not necessary to have previously played the violin, the key is to encourage and motivate your child’s violin practice. This pack includes how you can support their development and encourage daily practice.

- Maintaining the loaned instrument

It is important to take care of the violin from day one. Taking care of the violin ensures that you are getting the best from the instrument. With a little bit of care, you can make sure the violin always sounds in the best way it has to offer.

Here are some important care tips for the violin:

• Handle the violin with care – any knocks or drops may cause permanent damage.
• Keep the violin away from extra hot or cold environments (i.e. away from heaters and damp places).
• You will not need to tune the violin, the teacher will do this for you in the first year. Please do not turn the tuning pegs or the fine tuners as this may break a string or cause damage to the violin.
• Tighten the bow a small amount and put rosin onto the bow before starting to play (tightening the bow too much will warp the bow which is irreversible).
• After practise, loosen the bow when it is ready to go back into the case.
• Have the shoulder rest (Huber Pad) attached to the violin only during playing. When the violin goes back into the case, remove the shoulder rest so that the violin is flat.

- Further support

Please take the time to watch the following short videos to help you use the violin properly:

• How to take care of your violin: Click here.
• How to prepare the bow: Click here.