Classroom Materials
You may purchase any of the classroom materials at local or online stores that sell office and school items
- 1-inch or ½ inch, 3-ring “hardcover” binder (any color)
- Several sheets of Notebook paper
- Mechanical Pencil
Instrument Materials
The items below are purchased separately from the instrument and often do not come as part of the instrument rental. These items are essential for the student to play on their instrument.You may purchae insturment materials/equipment at local music stores or online. List of local area music stores may be found here: Link to North Fulton/Gwinnett music stores
- Soft Cleaning Cloth (all instruments)
- Rosin (all instruments)
- Music Stand (all instruments)
- Violin/Viola Only: Shoulder Rest (not shoulder sponge)
- Cello/Bass Only: Rockstop/Sliptop (circle type, any color)
- Orchestra Method/Textbook will be provided by the orchestra program. Please do not purchase the Orchestra Method/Textbook.
Keep in mind that teachers are not allowed to endorse or provide opinions on specific brands of instruments or stores
Description of Instrument Materials
Rosin – All Instruments
Rosin is used on the bow to provide friction between the bow hairs and string for the instrument to make a sound. This is an item students will use daily in class. A basic, block type rosin (rosin encased in a block of wood, usually $4-8) is sufficient for student model instrument. Higher quality rosin, usually $15 or more, will make no difference in the sound on a student model instrument.
Avoid purchasing rosin that comes in a metal tin as they are very difficult to open)
- Light or dark for violin/viola
- Dark rosin for cello
- “Pops” rosin for stringbass
Cleaning Cloth – All Instruments
Cleaning Cloth is used for students to wipe down the instrument and bow after use in class every day. This is needed for wiping down rosin dust and oils from student hands off the wood. You may get a cleaning cloth from an old cotton tshirt or a cleaning cloth sold at music stores as long as they are larger than 6×6 inches (no eyeglass cleaning, device/screen cleaning, or kitchen/bath wash cloths)
Shoulder Rest – Violin/Viola Only
This piece of equipment is essential for the student to play the instrument on the shoulder. Shoulder rests are not the same as the sponge material often found sold next to shoulder rests in stores. Although some teachers might use the sponge instead of a shoulder rest, we have found using a shoulder rest allows students to be successful.
Rockstop/Slipstop – Cello/Bass Only
This item protects wood floors and prevents the cello and bass instrument from sliding around when playing.
Music Stand – All Instruments
:A collapsible or folding stand students use to practice at home with good sitting/standing posture. Students do not need to bring their folding music stands to school.