Youth String Weekend
Stringwise! is an annual large scale weekend playing workshop and concert especially designed for young string players. Stringwise helps to build confidence, speed up progress and provide young players with valuable orchestral experience.
We cater to all ages and abilities, playing a great variety of music, from classics to pops. Stringwise! provides the opportunity to play a wide variety of music, take part in amazing concerts and in a range of orchestral groups and workshops, all in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Over two hundred players take part and the course is divided into four orchestras:
| Stringwise 1 | Beginners |
| Stringwise 2 | Associated Board grades 1 – 2 |
| Stringwise 3 | Associated Board grades 3 – 4 |
| Stringwise 4 | Associated Board grades 5 – 6 |
Stringwise is an annual event which takes place in November. There are no auditions! The children are carefully supervised and the orchestras are conducted by specialist leaders. Music and practise CD’s are sent in advance of the course.
Did you see the 2016 BBC Young Musician of the Year competition? If so, then you will know that Nottingham cellist and Stringwise alumni Sheku Kanneh-Mason won this year with his exceptional cello playing.
For Sheku, it all started back in 2005 when he saw his sister perform in our Stringwise concert and became transfixed with the cello section and decided that was the instrument for him! He then switched from violin to cello and went on to take part in our Stringwise courses, impressing our conductors with his astonishing ability to play everything from memory!
Here he is aged 6, just beginning to play the cello… 
… And here he is aged 17, as winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2016!
What people say about Stringwise:
“Just writing to thank you for making the stringwise weekend such an enjoyable time for my pupils. They all came back smiling saying what a great time they’d had. It was the first time my pupils had ever played in an orchestra so a great introduction for them.” String Teacher
“We would like to say that we really enjoyed playing at Stringwise, my parents enjoyed watching it too! Our favourite was Chariots of Fire, and the Olympic Torch made it even more exciting. I also liked New World Theme and The Banana Boat Song.” Participant
“I had an awesome time and can’t wait for the next one!” Participant
“Not only did my daughter have a great time throughout the course, it has clearly motivated and inspired her, she’s only 7 but came out of the concert saying she wants to be ‘one of the orchestra in the black outfits’ (East Midlands Youth String Orchestra).” Parent
“I would just like to thank you for an amazing experience; for my daughter and the rest of our family.
I turned up on the first rehearsal day with a very nervous 9 year old who knew no one. Your helpers immediately put her at ease and the way she was ‘processed’ was wonderful. At every stage there was a smiling face and a warm welcome, from entering the building to getting her settled in her place and her instrument tuned.
My daughter had a wonderful time and this has really cemented her love of the violin.” Parent