About Stringfest
The annual NH Stringfest is our longest running program, which began with one orchestra in 1986. This one day event for elementary and middle school students has grown to four orchestras, and about 200 students participate each year. Orchestra I is for novice players with 0-2 years of lessons and no ensemble experience. Level II orchestra is for students with 1-2 years of lessons and some ensemble experience. Level III is for slightly more experienced players and Level IV is for more advanced players.
2024 Stringfest will be March 9, 2024 at Timberlane Performing Arts Center, Plaistow, NH. Online registrations from teacher Due November 15, 2023. Paperwork and payments due December 15, 2023.
Skills Levels
Orchestra One (Beginner)
Rote ensembles, rounds, unison playing
Rhythms: half, quarter, eighth notes
Keys: D major, G major
Finger Patterns:
Violin/Viola: 0 1 23
Cello: 0 1 3 4
Bass: 0 1 4 (1/2 & 1st positions)
Orchestra Two (Intermediate I)
Grade 1 level music
Unison playing and 2-5 part mostly homophonic orchestral arrangements
Rhythms: whole, dotted half, half, quarter and eighth notes
slurs: 2-4 quarter notes, up to 4 eighthsKeys: G, D, C major
Meter: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4
Finger Patterns:
Violin/Viola: 0 1 23 0 12 3
Cello: 0 1 3 4 0 12 4
Bass: 0 1 4 0 1 2 (1/2 & 1st positions)
Orchestra Three (Intermediate II)
Grade 1-2 level music 2-5 part homophonic and polyphonic orchestra arrangements
Rhythms: whole, dotted half, half, quarter, dotted quarter, eighth notes
slurs: up to one measure in length, 5-8 eight notesKeys: G, D, C, A major; a, b, e minor
Meter: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8
Finger Patterns:
Violin/viola 0 1 23 4 0 12 3 4 0 1 2 34
Cello 0 1 3 4 1 12 4 forward and back extensions
Bass 0 1 4 0 1 2 4 (1/2, 1st and 2nd positions)
Orchestra Four (Advanced) Grade 2-3 level music
Rhythms: whole, dotted half, half, quarter, dotted quarter, eighth, sixteen, eight note triplet
Slurs: 4-6 counts quarter or eighthKeys: G, D, C, A, F, Bb major; a, b, d, e, g minor
Meter: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, mixed meters
Finger Patterns:
Violin/ viola 0 1 23 4 0 12 3 4 0 1 2 34 0 1b 23 4b no open strings (some 3rd position)
Cello 0 1 3 4 0 1 2 4 extensions (2nd and 4th positions)
Bass 0 1 4 0 1 2 4 (1/2, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th postions)