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Chances are most of the third-graders at Athens Elementary School never touched a violin before this year.
Today, hand them a violin and bow and they can show you how to hold it, play it and describe all its parts and their roles in making music.
Thanks to The Symphony School of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, all third-graders at AES were able to participate in basic violin lessons at no cost to them or their families. The program is currently offered in six school districts in North Alabama.
During 10 50-minute lessons, using what is called the modified Suzuki approach, the students learned to play under the tutelage of Symphony School instructor Kristi Coughlin.
The students capped their musical adventure with performances at the school for parents and other family members, and with a feeling of musical accomplishment beyond their years.
Lifestyle
Related Photos
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Instructor Kristi Coughlin has students hold their bows high before touching them to strings. From left, Elijah Gurton, Jack Broadway, Jacoby Edmonson (partially obscured), and Nelson Railos-Vicente are at the ready. News Courier/Edd Davis
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Kyle Cantrell applies his own positioning of the violin to make music. News Courier/Edd Davis
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Haston Howell, right, reacts to what he is hearing while Elijah Stafford focuses on the music and his audience. News Courier/Edd Davis
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Nelson Railos-Vicente, left, and Alexander Veneros appear to play in unison during the performance portion of the violin program for parents. News Courier/Edd Davis
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Karrington Pryor, center, and Noel Jefferson take their playing seriously under the watchful gaze of instructor Kristi Coughlin. News Courier/Edd Davis
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Violin cases assigned to each student line the wall before the program begins. News Courier/Edd Davis
Discussion
String Students: 3rd-graders learn violin basics
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