6th Grade Orchestra Students Need:

1.   Instrument
2.   Essential Elements Book 1 - for their instrument

ALL STUDENTS -  STRINGS !!!!
To enjoy playing and to sound you best your instrument needs to be 
kept in good shape.  Otherwise, you are probably developing bad 
habits from "working" to produce your sound.
You can purchase strings locally at Modern Music (located at the 
former McFayden's Music, or Finklestein's located at the corner of 
Market and Front St. downtown.

There are several web sites which carry strings, some examples are:
www.concordmusic.com
www.swstrings.com
www.sharmusic.com
Concord's shipping cost is $1.50 regardless of amount of order.  
Southwest and Shar's shipping cost for strings is free if you 
purchse a minimum amount (ex. $35-40.00) and only order strings.  
Otherwise, shipping is approximatey $4.00.


What kind of strings should you buy?  

Most beginners use Super-Sensitive Red Lable strings, 
They are made of steel and are inexpensive and durable.

More advanced violin and viola players often use a synthetic strings 
such as Thomastik Dominants, D'Addario Helicores, D'Addario Zyex, 
Pirastro "Evah Pirazzi" strings. If you want a very good, 
inexpensive E string the Lenzner Goldbrokat E is very good. 
They about $1.50 each.

More advanced cellist usually like steel wound C and G strings such 
as Thomastik Spirocores or Pirastro "Evah Pirazzi's", and either 
Jargars or Larsens for the D and A strings.
 
Bass players tend to favor D'Addario Helicores or a string specific 
to their needs (ex. mostly playing pizzicato).
All school basses use orchestral tuning.

Gut strings are available on all instruments but are very hard to 
keep in tune and do not last as long as steel or synthetic strings.  
These strings have a very specific clientel they cater to.

All vendors will let you buy individual strings or string sets.