Welcome to Orchestra!
Instrument Petting Zoo - REQUIRED ATTENDANCE Monday 3/31 and Wednesday 4/2
The instrument petting zoo is where your child gets to try each instrument to pick the one that is right for them. If you do not get sized for an instrument before the start of school, you delay the learning for all students including yours. Additionally, your child will be placed on an instrument they may not want to play if you are not sized for an instrument before the school year begins. This creates scheduling issues when you skip this step, so if you're already this far... YOU'RE AMAZING! Please send this to your other friends with children interested in orchestra.
El zoológico de acariciamiento de instrumentos es donde su hijo puede probar cada instrumento para elegir el que es adecuado para ellos. Si no consigues el tamaño de un instrumento antes del comienzo de la escuela, retrasas el aprendizaje para todos los estudiantes, incluido el tuyo. Además, su hijo será colocado en un instrumento que tal vez no quiera tocar si usted no está calificado para un instrumento antes de que comience el año escolar. Esto crea problemas de programación cuando saltas este paso, así que si ya estás tan lejos... ¡ERES INCREÍBLE!
Please email me at madison.pruden@pisd.edu or text (346)298-0666 to make arrangements if you miss your appointment.
please enter the building with your child
please select the earliest time slot that works for your schedule (try not to leave gaps in the schedule)
please enter through door 21 when you arrive for your appointment.
Por favor envíeme un correo electrónico a madison.pruden-pisd.edu o envíe un mensaje de texto al (346)298-0666 para hacer los arreglos si se pierde su cita.
por favor ingrese al edificio con su hijo
por favor seleccione la franja horaria más temprana que funcione para su horario (trate de no dejar espacios en el horario)
por favor ingrese a través de la puerta 21 cuando llegue a su cita.
Incoming 5th grade families
we offer four string instruments to choose from:
- violin - this is the highest, most familiar option many people are aware of from the string family. It often has the melody part in the orchestra
- viola - looks like a violin, but it slightly bigger with a warmer, deeper sound. It often has the harmony part in the orchestra
- cello - Is the only string instrument that is always played sitting down. It has a deeper, low register and often has the melody and harmony part in the orchestra
- bass - the biggest and lowest instrument in the string family. It is like the drums of the orchestra, it drives the rhythm and harmony.
Why orchestra?
We offer these 4 instruments (not guitar, piano, or harp)
violin
viola
cello
bass
Get scholarships
Plano West Senior High School has been Honor Orchestra of Texas for the past 10 years –Be a part of something AMAZING!
Best time to start music is in 6th grade!
You have the option to start in 7th or 8th, but you are less likely to get to participate in Advanced Orchestra (more fun) and you don’t get to be in a class with your peer group (Most beginner students are 6th graders)
Renting VS Buying
Size will change
Your child is not going to be the same size in 8th grade that they were in 6th grade. I do not recommend BUYING an instrument for your child because 1. your child does not know for sure they want to do this, so save your pennies to invest in a nice instrument once they've worked up to that point, 2. Your child's body will change length and height and their instrument will have to grow with them, 3. Many shops have a rent to own program that will allow you to use money spent towards a rental as a downpayment for an instrument purchase in the future.
All string instruments come in fraction sizes. This means that you can play any instrument you want, because there is a size that will fit your child.
You must be sized for an instrument
make an appointment by emailing madison.pruden@pisd.edu
Do not buy from an unverified seller
Many parents will try to save money on instrument rentals by just buying something from amazon, DO NOT DO THIS! You will end up getting a product that is a waste of your money and it will not encourage success in Orchestra for your child. The higher the quality, the more likely your student will be successful and happy in orchestra class.
Check out this video of Ray Chen, famous soloist, trying amazon violins to understand why you should not do this :)
My favorite Shops around Frankford
Dallas Strings
20 E. McDermott Rd
Allen, TX 75002
469-675-0085
Cadenza Violins
6905 Coit Rd, Suite 100B
Plano, TX 75024
(469)241-1152
www.cadenzaviolins.com
Music & Arts Centers (2 Locations)
701 N. Central Expwy #200
Plano, TX
(972) 424-1317
3211 Preston Rd, #14
Frisco, TX
972-668-1176
www.musicarts.com
Kelin Violin Shop
3321 Premier Dr., Suite B
Plano, TX 75023
Brook Mays
6921 Independence Pkwy, Suite 120
Plano, TX 75023
972-618-3222
www.brookmays.com
Ms. Madison Pruden
Madison Pruden is a violinist from Houston, TX who graduated from Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts in 2020 with her B.M. in Music Education. She started playing violin in the 5th grade in Klein ISD and began taking private lessons her 6th grade year to further her education. This was a game changer for Madison and truly ignited her love for music! Nearly 14 years later, she still plays violin as well as viola, cello, and bass. In her free time, she loves practicing yoga, cooking, and playing with her cat named Tiny Baby.