This page is to inform you of an extraordinary opportunity to contribute to the cultural life of Montgomery Country and the New River Valley region. In July of 2007 the Department of Music at Virginia Tech was awarded a grant from the National String Project Consortium (NSPC) and NAMM, the International Music Products Association, to offer affordable quality string music instruction to elementary students while training future string music educators.

Although Montgomery County has an excellent public school music program, string instruction, the primary means to the great Western art music of Mozart and Beethoven is not offered as part of the public school music curriculum. Students who wish to study the violin, viola, cello, or bass are restricted to the expensive private lessons offered by area private music schools. In contrast, The Virginia Tech String Project is designed to offer affordable string lessons to all students as part of a program that also produces string music educators. Modeled after very successful programs at the Universities of Texas, South Carolina and Arizona, the Virginia Tech String project seeks to develop a string culture and orchestra program for Montgomery County and the surrounding region.

This fall we began the project with 38 third and fourth grade students from virtually every elementary school in Montgomery County, as well as home schooled students.  For just $50 these students were able to enroll for two lessons per week for the semester, approximately 24 lessons at about $2 per lesson. Students who could not afford this fee were offered scholarships, 10 have received scholarships.

The grant from the NSPC and NAMM requires $10,000 in matching funds to provide salaries and scholarships for undergraduate music majors to teach in the program. Presently we have one master teacher and three assistant student teachers teaching in the program.  Student fees have provided only $1,200 toward the $10,000 matching funds requirement. 

We believe that this is a great opportunity for you to be recognized as a contributor to the cultural life of the New River Valley. For as little as $250 you can provide lessons for five students or the rental of a string bass for the string project orchestra. Gifts of $500 could provide the books and materials for 30 students. Gifts of a $1,000 will provide a scholarship for an undergraduate string music educator to teach in the program. These are only suggested amounts, we will gratefully accept any help you can offer.  Gifts will be acknowledged on the Virginia Tech String Project web site at www.music@vt.edu, in communications to the parents and the community, and in programs for concert performances. Scholarships funded from gifts will be named after the individual or corporate sponsor.

Please contact me at 231 8496 or vburnsed@vt.edu for any questions you may have. You may also find information about the NSPC at www.nspc.com.  All donations go directly to the operation of the string project. None go to the Department of Music or Virginia Tech. The department has graciously provided space for the classes and rehearsals. I look forward to your contribution to the development of this important program.

Donation Form