you may have some questions.
If you are interested in joining orchestra at Strack Intermediate, you and your parent may have a few questions! Below are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive from both students and parents alike. If you have further questions, please feel free to get in touch.
What is orchestra?
An orchestra is a group of musicians performing music together. Orchestra at Strack Intermediate includes the four main string instruments: violin, viola, cello, and bass. Together, students perform music for audiences and competitions.
What are the benefits of joining orchestra?
Orchestra is a unique experience unlike any other classroom. Students start learning a string instrument in either 5th grade or 6th grade and continue to grow and perform all the way into high school. The opportunities that come with performing a string instrument are immeasurable. Middle school opportunities range from performing at concerts, competitions, festivals, and in-school events to high school opportunities such as perform in major cities around the state of Texas, Disney World, and major music conferences all over the country.
Students from the orchestra at Strack Intermediate have performed for diverse audiences. They use their skills as musicians to bring their talents to many audiences. Students also have opportunities to audition for Region Orchestra which involves auditioning, rehearsing with top educators and conductors, and performing ambitious music for the ending concert. Students will have the same opportunity in high school with the chance to audition for the state level orchestra, and then the national orchestra. Strack Intermediate students like to take the opportunity in middle school to audition for region orchestra so they become more familiar to the audition process.
My student does many after school activities (sports, academics, clubs, tutoring, language school.. etc.) and I'm not sure how orchestra will fit in their schedule as they get busier throughout the year.
We love that your student is in student council, plays a sport all year round, and loves being in reading club!
Mrs. Neely and Ms. Bolen are constantly working with coaches, teachers, and parent schedules to make sure your student is able to participate in the important aspects of all their activities.
The best thing parents with busy schedules can do is to let us know ahead of time by email when your student might have a conflict with schedule. At the beginning of the year, students receive a calendar of important dates that are required to be signed by parents. Please email the teachers as soon as possible if any dates stand out as conflicts, even if the event is months away. As much as we try to be flexible and work with students' schedules, please keep in mind that most dates for orchestra events are set by the district (Solo and Ensemble, UIL, etc.) and all of our concerts and rehearsal times are scheduled a year in advance.
How do I sign up for orchestra?
For 5th graders: We will provide more information for signing up for orchestra during the orchestra elementary tours at the end of August!
For students going into 6th grade or higher: The student and parent will need to notify the student's counselor to sign up for the classes. The first opportunity will be when the student signs up for their classes at Strack Intermediate before their 6th grade year.
How do I pick an instrument?
First, the students will have an opportunity to learn about each of the four instruments: violin, viola, cello, and bass. The students will have an opportunity to listen to both intermediate and high school orchestras, so watch out for more information about performances dates and times! At the end of each school year, students planning to be in orchestra will receive an invitation to an instrument drive to be sized. (Dates vary year to year.)
Where does my student get their instrument?
Students should rent with one of our two reputable vendors: Lisle Violin Shop or Fishburn Violin Shop. One representative from each vendor visits our middle school once a week to help our students upgrade to a larger instrument, replace strings, assess instruments for maintenence, and deliver any orders you may have. They each have individual rental programs and both offer wonderful service when your student grows and will need a bigger instrument. They also provide rent-to-own options.
You can find out more about each violin shop HERE.
Could I buy a string instrument online on Amazon or Ebay?
Please do not purchase string instruments online. Amazon and Ebay are wonderful resources for extra/additional needs like supplement books or tuners (which your student will receive more information on throughout the year), but these websites do not offer the quality of instruments, nor the service that Lisle or Fishburn offer.
To see a difference of service from renting vs buying, please visit our instrument maintenance page.
If you have an issue with renting from one of the two vendors, please contact the orchestra teachers. We are happy to help you find another option that ensures your student will have a positive experience in orchestra.
Here are a couple reasons not to purchase an instrument online:
Your student is growing.
One of the most unpredictable aspects of starting a string instrument is how much your student will grow. In years past, we've had the majority of our beginners move up to larger instruments during the year, especially violins and violas. When your student grows, rental companies make the process as easy as possible. The student will be able to leave their smaller instrument at Strack for pick up and have their larger instrument delivered to them the following week. This saves parents a trip to the music store themselves!
When parents buy instruments for their beginners, they end up stuck with an instrument too small for their student to use any longer. This makes performing on the instrument incredibly difficult for your student.
The quality will be significantly lower.
The most important aspect of any instrument is how it sounds. We work with Lisle and Fishburn because they have an outstanding reputation of providing quality sounding instruments to students all over the Houston area. Students that come in with instruments bought online often express frustration with their playing for not sounding the same as their classmates. The flaws will be noticeable to your student when they perform and practice. We teachers have found endless recurring problems with instruments bought online, like rotting food and damaging objects inside instruments. Another frequent issue we find with online instruments is that the mechanics of the instrument do not work. Many parents believe they can buy an instrument online and take it to be repaired for a cheaper cost but many luthiers (string instrument makers) agree that the cost of repair can often be more than the amount of renting/purchasing an instrument from the shop in the first place.
We will work with you and your situation to make sure your student is performing on a quality instrument that helps maximize their full potential in orchestra. Please contact us first before contacting a seller online.
My student is in 7th or 8th grade at Strack Intermediate,
or is transferring to Strack Intermediate.
Can they still join orchestra?
Yes, absolutely! If your student is a 7th or 8th grader, please notify your school counselor. Please also notify the Director of Orchestras, Coramae Neely, by emailing her at [email protected] so that we can give your student helpful information.
If your student is transferring to Strack Intermediate and you would like them to join the Strack Orchestra, please contact the Director of Orchestras, Coramae Neely, by emailing her at [email protected].
I am interested in enrolling my student in private lessons.
Fantastic! We will be posting more information on how to sign up for private lessons soon!
What is orchestra?
An orchestra is a group of musicians performing music together. Orchestra at Strack Intermediate includes the four main string instruments: violin, viola, cello, and bass. Together, students perform music for audiences and competitions.
What are the benefits of joining orchestra?
Orchestra is a unique experience unlike any other classroom. Students start learning a string instrument in either 5th grade or 6th grade and continue to grow and perform all the way into high school. The opportunities that come with performing a string instrument are immeasurable. Middle school opportunities range from performing at concerts, competitions, festivals, and in-school events to high school opportunities such as perform in major cities around the state of Texas, Disney World, and major music conferences all over the country.
Students from the orchestra at Strack Intermediate have performed for diverse audiences. They use their skills as musicians to bring their talents to many audiences. Students also have opportunities to audition for Region Orchestra which involves auditioning, rehearsing with top educators and conductors, and performing ambitious music for the ending concert. Students will have the same opportunity in high school with the chance to audition for the state level orchestra, and then the national orchestra. Strack Intermediate students like to take the opportunity in middle school to audition for region orchestra so they become more familiar to the audition process.
My student does many after school activities (sports, academics, clubs, tutoring, language school.. etc.) and I'm not sure how orchestra will fit in their schedule as they get busier throughout the year.
We love that your student is in student council, plays a sport all year round, and loves being in reading club!
Mrs. Neely and Ms. Bolen are constantly working with coaches, teachers, and parent schedules to make sure your student is able to participate in the important aspects of all their activities.
The best thing parents with busy schedules can do is to let us know ahead of time by email when your student might have a conflict with schedule. At the beginning of the year, students receive a calendar of important dates that are required to be signed by parents. Please email the teachers as soon as possible if any dates stand out as conflicts, even if the event is months away. As much as we try to be flexible and work with students' schedules, please keep in mind that most dates for orchestra events are set by the district (Solo and Ensemble, UIL, etc.) and all of our concerts and rehearsal times are scheduled a year in advance.
How do I sign up for orchestra?
For 5th graders: We will provide more information for signing up for orchestra during the orchestra elementary tours at the end of August!
For students going into 6th grade or higher: The student and parent will need to notify the student's counselor to sign up for the classes. The first opportunity will be when the student signs up for their classes at Strack Intermediate before their 6th grade year.
How do I pick an instrument?
First, the students will have an opportunity to learn about each of the four instruments: violin, viola, cello, and bass. The students will have an opportunity to listen to both intermediate and high school orchestras, so watch out for more information about performances dates and times! At the end of each school year, students planning to be in orchestra will receive an invitation to an instrument drive to be sized. (Dates vary year to year.)
Where does my student get their instrument?
Students should rent with one of our two reputable vendors: Lisle Violin Shop or Fishburn Violin Shop. One representative from each vendor visits our middle school once a week to help our students upgrade to a larger instrument, replace strings, assess instruments for maintenence, and deliver any orders you may have. They each have individual rental programs and both offer wonderful service when your student grows and will need a bigger instrument. They also provide rent-to-own options.
You can find out more about each violin shop HERE.
Could I buy a string instrument online on Amazon or Ebay?
Please do not purchase string instruments online. Amazon and Ebay are wonderful resources for extra/additional needs like supplement books or tuners (which your student will receive more information on throughout the year), but these websites do not offer the quality of instruments, nor the service that Lisle or Fishburn offer.
To see a difference of service from renting vs buying, please visit our instrument maintenance page.
If you have an issue with renting from one of the two vendors, please contact the orchestra teachers. We are happy to help you find another option that ensures your student will have a positive experience in orchestra.
Here are a couple reasons not to purchase an instrument online:
Your student is growing.
One of the most unpredictable aspects of starting a string instrument is how much your student will grow. In years past, we've had the majority of our beginners move up to larger instruments during the year, especially violins and violas. When your student grows, rental companies make the process as easy as possible. The student will be able to leave their smaller instrument at Strack for pick up and have their larger instrument delivered to them the following week. This saves parents a trip to the music store themselves!
When parents buy instruments for their beginners, they end up stuck with an instrument too small for their student to use any longer. This makes performing on the instrument incredibly difficult for your student.
The quality will be significantly lower.
The most important aspect of any instrument is how it sounds. We work with Lisle and Fishburn because they have an outstanding reputation of providing quality sounding instruments to students all over the Houston area. Students that come in with instruments bought online often express frustration with their playing for not sounding the same as their classmates. The flaws will be noticeable to your student when they perform and practice. We teachers have found endless recurring problems with instruments bought online, like rotting food and damaging objects inside instruments. Another frequent issue we find with online instruments is that the mechanics of the instrument do not work. Many parents believe they can buy an instrument online and take it to be repaired for a cheaper cost but many luthiers (string instrument makers) agree that the cost of repair can often be more than the amount of renting/purchasing an instrument from the shop in the first place.
We will work with you and your situation to make sure your student is performing on a quality instrument that helps maximize their full potential in orchestra. Please contact us first before contacting a seller online.
My student is in 7th or 8th grade at Strack Intermediate,
or is transferring to Strack Intermediate.
Can they still join orchestra?
Yes, absolutely! If your student is a 7th or 8th grader, please notify your school counselor. Please also notify the Director of Orchestras, Coramae Neely, by emailing her at [email protected] so that we can give your student helpful information.
If your student is transferring to Strack Intermediate and you would like them to join the Strack Orchestra, please contact the Director of Orchestras, Coramae Neely, by emailing her at [email protected].
I am interested in enrolling my student in private lessons.
Fantastic! We will be posting more information on how to sign up for private lessons soon!