UNC String Project
The University of Northern Colorado School of Music launched the UNC String Project
in the Fall of 2017. This community-partnership program provides young students an
opportunity to learn violin, viola, cello, or double bass. Dr. Lindsay Fulcher serves
as Director & Master Teacher and UNC string music education students are also teachers.
String Projects serve to leave a dual legacy. In equal parts we strive to train tomorrow’s string educators while providing accessible string instruction opportunities for youth and adults.
As a member of the National String Project Consortium, our String Project strives to:
- Involve more children of public school age in learning to play string instruments.
- Facilitate the growth and development of string and orchestra programs in the public schools.
- Create programs that give undergraduate and graduate music students hands-on, supervised experience in teaching, administration, and leadership as they pursue their degrees
- Provide by example a model for string program development on local, state and national levels.
We recruit students in 4th and 5th grade to join our Largo (beginner) Ensemble. And students who have been playing for a few years are encouraged to join our more advanced ensembles. An interested student of any age may contact Dr. Fulcher to discuss which ensemble is best for their ability level. As our program grows we will continue to add levels of instruction. In our efforts to support local school orchestra programs, if a student attends a school that offers orchestra, they must enroll in orchestra in order to continue with String Project.
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CLASS INFORMATIONCollege Student InformationFormsSupport US
CONTACT:
LOCATION:
place
Frasier Hall
1710 9th Ave, Greeley, 80631
CLASS INFORMATION
Largo Ensemble
Our ensemble for beginners. Students learn to play their instruments all together in one large ensemble. Multiple UNC students are Teacher Assistants, helping each young student to succeed. This class is primarily 4th and 5th grade students, but students in other grades are welcome to join if they are interested. Largo Ensemble rehearses from 5:00-6:00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Frasier Hall on UNC's campus. UNC students are ensemble assistants.
Stretto Ensemble
Our ensemble for students with a year or more of experience. Students meet from 5:00-6:00pm on Tuesdays in Frasier Hall on UNC’s campus. Students will also receive a weekly private lesson for 30min. That lesson will be scheduled between student and teacher, on any day that works well. UNC students are large ensemble assistants, small ensemble coaches, and private lesson teachers.
COSTS
- Largo participation fee: $100 per semester ($200 per school year) – covers weekly ensemble rehearsal
- Stretto participation fee: $125 per semester ($250 per school year) – covers weekly ensemble rehearsal and weekly small group lesson
Thanks to the generosity of the Rodarte Community Center, Rodarte students will not be charged a participation fee!
Students are encouraged to rent their own instruments from a local music store. Please see the Handbook for additional instrument guidelines. UNC has a limited inventory of instruments available for students to borrow. Please contact Dr. Fulcher for information on borrowing an instrument from UNC.
No student will be turned away because of financial need. There is a place in the registration form to request a need-based scholarship. Please contact Dr. Fulcher with concerns about fees and instruments.
FORMS AND INFORMATION
Please see the following documents for details about String Project.
COLLEGE STUDENT INFORMATION
"String Project has been an amazing experience for me! It has given me practical experience in classroom management, articulating my thoughts to students, and planning lessons. All of these experiences are invaluable for preparing to be a teacher. I am very thankful for what String Project is accomplishing for me and the community." - Annette Miller, in her 3rd semester teaching with String Project."
String Project’s mission is equal parts serving K-12 students and college students. It is our intention that our UNC string music education majors will enter the field better prepared and more confident as a result of their time teaching with String Project. All string music education majors will be invited to teach with String Project. All positions are paid and salaries vary by job responsibility and experience level. Applications will be sent out prior to each semester, including first semester freshman year! That’s right, your first semester on campus you can earn a paycheck for teaching strings! Each commitment is a semester long, but we certainly hope you will decide to work with us for the full school year. Opportunities include teaching private lessons, small groups (2-3 students), and being an ensemble assistant. Please contact Dr. Fulcher with questions about this opportunity, and enjoy this brief video of previous String Project teachers sharing the value of the experience.
SUPPORT US
Your generosity makes the UNC String Project possible. Donor support ensures that all students can participate in String Project, regardless of financial need. If you are interested in sponsoring a student, if your business has charitable giving opportunities, or if you have an instrument that could be donated to our inventory, please contact us.
We are incredibly grateful for the people and organizations who have already pledged support for the UNC String Project. Thank you to all the following!
Monetary Donations
- Marilyn Rauland Kidder Foundation for a generous donation to cover expenses as needed.
- Patsy Zick for funds to cover three half-scholarships for students with financial need in 2017-2018.
- An anonymous donor for funds to cover six year-long scholarships for students with financial need in 2017-2018.
- The Ft. Collins Breakfast Rotary Club for funds to support three year-long scholarships for students with financial need in 2017-2018.
Instrument Assistance
- Dr. Jim Fitz for restoring three violins and three cellos and coordinating their donation to us in 2019 – 2020.
- Music Depot of Greeley for providing instruments at a very reasonable price. Special thanks to Mark Payne
- Ross Double Bass for repairing our basses and donating quite a bit of the work. Special thanks to Bob Ross.
- Boomer Music of Fort Collins for repairing our instruments at very reasonable prices. Special thanks to Brad.
Awarded Grants
- The National String Project Consortium (NSPC) Emerging Site Grant, funded by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. This grant was awarded in 2019 and will continue on a diminishing scale for five years, with the sole purpose of funding student teacher salaries.
- The Community Foundation of Greeley and Weld County, Littler Youth Fund Grant. This grant was used in 2018 to purchase instrument accessories, musical supplies, and instruments.
- The Community Foundation of Greeley and Weld County, Arts Alive!. The Arts Alive! grant was used in 2017 to purchase instrument accessories, musical supplies, and instruments.
- The University of Northern Colorado Faculty Research and Publication Board New Project Program. This NPP grant was used in 2017 to purchase instruments for use by students with financial need.
Operating Support
- The UNC School of Music for providing Dr. Fulcher time to be Director of String Project, as well as financial support. Special thanks to Cristina Goletti (Dean of the College of Performing and Visual Arts), Carissa Reddick (Director of the School of Music), and Erik Applegate (Associate Director of the School of Music).
