Bowed Strings at HSU

HSU's program for bowed strings is flexible enough to support the needs of a wide variety of students.  We offer lessons in violin, viola, cello, and string bass, and provide opportunities to perform in orchestras, chamber music, and jazz ensembles.  Lessons are available for no additional fees, and are open to major, minors, and non-majors. HSU's program is unique in that we provide high-quality education for students at all levels of advancement.

Advanced Students have the opportunity to...

• Audition for the Music Education and/or Performance Options.
• Perform as section leaders in the Humboldt Symphony.
• Participate in the department's Honors Recital and Concerto Competition.
• Explore all the repertoire in HSU's chamber music library (one of the largest collections on the West Coast).
• Perform chamber music with faculty.
• Earn money teaching pre-college students (with mentoring from HSU faculty) through the Humboldt Music Academy.
• Perform until performing becomes comfortable. Students are encouraged to play often on bi-weekly informal recitals and end-of-the-semester studio recitals.
• Earn money gigging with chamber music groups or in regional orchestras.
• Receive music department scholarships to support study at HSU.

In recent years, some of our Advanced Students have...

• Performed on the Honors recital.
• Won the HSU Concerto Competition.
• Been named the university's "Outstanding Student in the Arts."
• Attended summer programs such as Chautauqua and Sewannee.
• Gotten jobs as public school string teachers/orchestra directors.
• Gone on to graduate schools such as Hartt Conservatory (University of Hartford), University of Illinois, Lamont Conservatory (University of Denver).
• Become nationally-recognized Suzuki teachers.

Intermediate Students at HSU are often students who have had only limited or no private lessons, or students who have returned to playing after several years away from the instrument.  HSU's private teachers create a nurturing environment where Intermediate students develop effective practice skills, relaxed technique, and solid musicianship.

Intermediate Students have the opportunity to...

• Advance as far as their hard work can take them. Students who have arrived at HSU playing at the Intermediate level have advanced to the level that they are able to successfully audition for acceptance into the Music Education or Performance options.
• Perform in Ensembles that are suited to their current level of advancement. Less advanced students may perform in Intermediate orchestra; as students grow more skilled, they move to Humboldt Symphony.  Students at all levels are able to play in Chamber Music ensembles.
• Perform until performing becomes comfortable. Students are encouraged to play often on bi-weekly Informal recitals and end-of-the-semester studio recitals.
• Receive music department scholarships to support study at HSU.

Beginning-level Students at HSU often start playing in the University's beginning-instrument classes. Beginning-level students have the opportunity to:

• Advance as far as their hard work can take them. A few students who started playing instruments at HSU have advanced to the level that they were able to perform in the Humboldt Symphony.
• Perform in Ensembles that are suited to their current level of advancement.  Beginning-level students can play in the Intermediate Orchestra and in chamber music ensembles.
• Perform until performing becomes comfortable. Students are encouraged to play often on bi-weekly Informal recitals and end-of-the-semester studio recitals.

The atmosphere in the HSU music department is a supportive one. Students frequently comment on each other's growth and improvement. Faculty are positive in their interactions with students while simultaneously holding students to high, but always achievable standards.