The following email was sent to fourth grade parents on October 8 from Sarah Bowen, WPS Orchestra Director:
I am so pleased to give an update on the 4th grade string program! Most of you know that the district has been in the process of receiving bids from different string instrument vendors, and then a contract had to be written up for the winning company. This process has taken a considerable amount of time, and I apologize for this delay. I am very excited to finally start our year, and please read the details below carefully.
The district has chosen to work with Johnson String Instrument exclusively. This is the company that offered us the best prices for the quality of the instruments. Renting through this company also means you will get an insurance policy, which can be helpful if your student breaks a string, cracks the body, or does other damage to it- which is pretty common with beginners! This company also does pick-ups and drop-offs at the Galvin Middle School, so you would not need to drive to their store in Newton Upper Falls unless you choose to do so.
Your student may already have an instrument- if so, that's great! Families are welcome to go to another music store if you prefer, but I would caution against ordering an instrument on Amazon or another online store. These instruments have attractive prices, but are often very low quality, cheaply made, and break easily. In addition, online stores usually do not have a repair or replacement option.
If you would like to rent through our approved vendor, Johnson String Instrument, we will have a rental night on Friday, October 12th, from 5-7pm in the Galvin Middle School auditorium. This will be a chance for students to get sized, fill out a contract, and take an instrument home. Students should not try out each instrument on this night- at this point, most students have signed up for a specific instrument, and they should do their best to stick to that. This event is mostly to makesure you get an instrument and get the right size, which the representatives of the company will help you with. I would recommend starting a contract before Friday by calling them at 617-964-0954, even if you aren't sure what size your student is on their instrument. To view rental prices, you can visit their website at https://www.johnsonstring.com/rental/rates.htm.
Regardless of where you choose to get a rental, all students need a copy of the book titled 'String Basics Book One' by Shade and Woolstenhulme. We will not use this for the first month or so, but please plan on purchasing this for your student whenever you can. Make sure the book is the correct version for your student; so a violin book for a violin player, cello book for a cellist, etc.
With our rental pickup night being this Friday, my goal is to begin class as soon as possible. Below is the current start date. Remember:strings class meets once a cycle! You might want to mark each strings day in a home calendar or agenda so students remember to bring their instruments. And as a heads up, we usually cannot hold class on a half day.
Monday, October 22nd: Day 1, Greenwood Strings, 1:25-2:05
For this first day of class, students will only need their instruments- no books or any other materials needed.
I cannot wait to begin working with your students! Thank you so much for your patience, and don't hesitate to email me with any questions (sarah.bowen@wpsk12.org). I hope to see many of you on Friday evening!
Best,
Sarah Bowen
Orchestra Director
Wakefield Public Schools
60 Farm St.
Wakefield, MA 01880