Cygnets String Orchestra

As well as Swimming Lessons (current menagerie 1 "newt", 1 "sealion" and 1 retired "dolphin"), we have had a new activity on Saturday mornings since September. Little Miss was offered the chance of violin lessons with the Suffolk County Music Service so we went along to try it out and signed up.

You get instruments provided, and the first session everybody got measured up. Here she is with her 1/4 size violin showing off her pizzicato.


The sessions are held at KEGS and there is quite a variety of activities on between 9 and 12 on a Saturday morning - several orchestras (string, wind, jazz), choir and lessons.

She has her lesson in a group of 4. This is brilliant - they learn from watching each other as well as from the teacher, and Mrs Pakenham keeps them (and the watching Mums and Dads!) on their toes. I was instructed to take this photo...

... to demonstrate the correct bow hold. Lessons use the excellent Fiddle Time Joggers book, which has a CD you can play along to. As we also have a 3/4 and full size violn at home Big Miss and I can join in the practice too.

Before her lesson, though, she gets to play in the Cygnets String Orchestra. A great name for it. It has been fantastic seeing and hearing a bunch of kids, many of whom had not touched a string instrument before and couldn't read music, become an orchestra. They do all sorts of fun things, like improvising and rhythm games as well as learning to play together properly. Sometimes they even get turns at conducting.

Cygnets starts at 9 (ish!) and finishes about 9:50, so people can visit 'Ed's Place' for a snack before the 10 o'clock activities. There's an open morning on Saturday 8th March if you want to see for yourself.

For more details and directions see here.