String Fling, marking its fourteenth year, returns in late July to offer intensive string instrument study to talented students in middle school and high school. Students in private lessons who have completed grade 7 or higher are invited to study on the Missouri State University campus from July 19-22.
Students will be coached by the University’s full-time string faculty, which includes Dr. David Hays, Dr. Amy Muchnick and Dr. Michael A. Murray, and also benefit from guest faculty instruction. They receive chamber music and string orchestra assignments, rehearse with different coaches, and perform a concert at the end of the program.
“Students gain valuable musicianship skills like teamwork, focus, practice techniques, injury prevention, and advice from our faculty as well as great masters (on video) and more,” Hays, professor of violin and concertmaster for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, says. “Chamber music, in which the participants are often alone or nearly alone on their individual parts, emphasizes listening and independence in execution. Missouri State’s is one of only a few string camps in the U.S. using chamber music at the middle-school level.” Hays adds that many String Fling alumni attend the University and comprise some of the music department’s finest students.
The program fee is $325* per student for tuition and lodging. Students are encouraged to apply and pay online. A nonrefundable $25* application fee is due with the application by June 1, 2015. The application fee is not included in the program fee. A teacher’s recommendation should be emailed to Muchnick at StringFling@MissouriState.edu. Students will live on campus in a University residence hall for the duration of the program; they will also be served three meals daily from one of the residential dining halls. A staff of counselors supervise residential life.
(*A convenience fee of 2.75 percent will be added to all charges.)
Contact the department of music at (417) 836-6958 for more information or email stringfling@missouristate.edu.