Public Invited to Observe the South Georgia String Project at VSU

VALDOSTA -- The South Georgia String Project will open all of its rehearsals to the general public on Monday, April 16. Anyone interested in learning more about this joint venture of the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra and Valdosta State University’s Department of Music is invited to observe one or all of the classes offered.

Explorer Strings students will rehearse from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This class is for beginners with no string experience. Intermediate Strings students will rehearse from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This class is for returning and/or experienced students.

The Valdosta Symphony Youth Orchestra will rehearse from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This class is a full orchestra for advanced students, with placement and seating by audition. VSU and area high school string, wind, brass, and percussion students also play with this group.

All rehearsals will be held on the first floor of the VSU Fine Arts Building, which is located on the corner of Brookwood Drive and Oak Street.

Led by Lauren Burns, director and master instructor, the South Georgia String Project provides “an after-school music program where students can easily access low-cost stringed instrument instruction” and “a valuable, mentored teaching experience for music students at Valdosta State University.”

According to its website at www.valdosta.edu/sgsp, “The South Georgia String Project encourages the enjoyment of music and self-expression through the study of a musical instrument and actively seeks to provide opportunities for student leadership, parental participation, and involvement with the greater community.”

The South Georgia String Project offers techniques classes, private lessons, as well as group classes. Performances are held several times a year on campus and out in the community.

“The South Georgia String Project is part of the American String Teacher Association’s National String Project Consortium, which consists of 42 projects at more than 24 universities and colleges,” noted Burns. “The program is designed to help alleviate the long-term shortage of stringed instrument teachers in the United States by encouraging undergraduate music majors to become public school music teachers upon graduation. Through hands-on teaching experiences with children in the community who enroll in the program, undergraduate student teachers become better skilled in managing a classroom and teaching children. At the same time, parents within the community benefit from an affordable opportunity to provide high-caliber music lessons to their children.”

Many South Georgia String Project students continue their stringed instrument studies in college. Some have performed with the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra.

To learn more about the South Georgia String Project, please contact Laura Burns, director and master teacher, at sgsp@valdostasymphony.org or visit www.valdosta.edu/sgsp.

On the Web: www.stringprojects.org and www.valdosta.edu/sgsp