During Parent Conferences every kindergartener had the opportunity to begin building their own cardboard violin with the help of their parents/guardians. The following week, students painted their violin, added a chin rest, f-holes, a bridge (toilet paper tube) and a fingerboard with strings and a scroll. The kindergarten students are now learning to play their own violins!!
Thank you parents and volunteers who made the process go so smoothly. Thanks to Conrad Schaad and Gabriella Hussman who helped get the parts ready to put together and to Moore’s Music and Mark Vial for providing the cardboard.
Why do teachers of Suzuki method begin with cardboard violins? Their cardboard violins are useful for learning violin skills in small steps. Once the kinders are comfortable with having a box violin on their shoulders, the whole process goes much more smoothly, when they finally get the “real” thing. With no preparation, they tend to develop bad habits. With cardboard violins students learn correct rest and play positions, bowing techniques, practice rhythms, develop stamina, and more skills.
