We joined Theresa Ellis, our local fiddle diva, on an adventure to the Valley School Art Barn to watch the kids as they prepared for an upcoming concert event.  What appeared to be impending pandamonium was actually a lot of fun as the class of close to forty kids split into two groups and settled in for an afternoon lesson.

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The first thing I noticed was how well behaved and organized the kids were.  Most everyone found their way to their places and started getting their strings and fingers warmed up while they waited for the class to start.  The other great thing that I saw were students helping each other.  They struggled to get their small hands into chord shapes around the enourmous guitars in their laps.   The guitar players were fun though and I swear I heard the beginnings of a future Jack Johnson in there.

The string orchestra group was certainly more reserved but we still caught a couple of funny faces and even an air violin! (Someone forgot their instrument, but remembered to come to class!) Theresa Ellis and Cami Christensen lead the children through some warm ups, proper playing posture and how to remember where to put your fingers on the fiddle neck.  Thank heaven for those stick on dots!! Cellos, violins, guitars all playing together in Orchestra class - what a great team!