Students from the Violin/Viola class at Skyline College performed for the children at the Child Development Laboratory Center on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The group included students who were learning the violin or viola for the first time, as well as intermediate players with prior experience. As part of the class semester, all the levels join as an ensemble to prepare material to present to the young children of the CDLC.
The concert was an interactive presentation including tunes that many of the children would recognize, such as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, as well as music that allowed them to get up and move around the room, clap to the beat, and sing along. A few young volunteers had the opportunity to take the baton and conduct the group of musicians in Martin’s March. During the Hungarian Folk Dance, the children had the opportunity to play a game similar to “red light, green light”. The music has a section that alternates between fast tempos, slow tempos, and sudden stops, and the children were invited to move to the music as it changed and to freeze when it suddenly stopped.
While it was the first time for the some of the student musicians participating in a group performance, they enjoyed the experience of sharing their music at the CDLC. Violist Corey and violinist Sally said it was a lot of fun to perform for the kids. Sally added that the children remind her that it is “good to be lighthearted and in the moment”. Violinist Monique thought it was a “pleasure to see the children so engaged and to also see the CDLC teachers involved in the activities as well”.
The Violin/Viola class will be offered again during the Fall 2025 semester in four levels. It meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:10 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.
MUS 355: Violin/Viola I
MUS 356: Violin/Viola II
MUS 357: Violin/Viola III
MUS 358: Violin/Viola IV
If you are interested in joining the class, you can register on WebSmart. Contact the instructor, Elizabeth Ingber (ingbere@smccd.edu) with any questions.
Article and photo by Elizabeth Ingber
