IPS Strings 

Start Up Strings begin! 

On Friday 6th February, the Start Up Strings class of 2026 began!  

The violinists walked up to the highest room in the tallest tower at IPS (The Crow's Nest)  to pick up their violins with Liz, Lachlan and Margaret: 

They have been learning about the parts of the violin; how to handle it carefully; how to hold it in rest position and then move it into playing position via the “Statue of Liberty”. They have been working on their skills of plucking at the same time and stopping together like an orchestra. 

The cellists have been in the Cello Room with Clare. So far everyone has been too engrossed in their lessons to remember to take a photo!!! 

There are also 2 bass students who have started individual lessons with Leanda and who will join the whole class later on when we are all ready to come together. 

Corelli Strings started on Monday 

On Monday 9th February, Corelli Strings 2026 began. We started on our new pieces, the calm “Merry Go Round” and the strong “War Dance”. We were doing such focused work that we forgot to take photos too!  

Orchestra restarted on Wednesday last week 

We have now had two rehearsals of the 2026 Orchestra. It has been wonderful to see so many positive faces at Orchestra on Wednesday mornings. The students who were in Corelli Strings last year and new to Orchestra this year have done a great job coping with the new setting. It was nice to talk to some of the Year 5 students who remembered feeling a bit daunted last year when they were new to Orchestra and how differently they feel now: so much more confident and settled. The year 6s are ready to be the senior members of the Orchestra. Hooray! 

We’re looking forward to getting to know our new pieces, the very fun “Ludwig’s Dance Party” and the beautiful “Kabuki Dance”. 

Individual lessons have started back 

Many students have been noticing that things that seemed difficult at the end of last year, are easier now. Breaks are actually an important part of learning! 

From Margaret and the String Team 

(Annelies, Clare, Hannah, Lachlan, Leanda, Liz, Lucy, Margaret, Sophia & Victoria) 

Margaret.Butcher@education.vic.gov.au 

 The Crow's Nest

New room name: The Crows’ Nest 

At the top of the school are two attic rooms: the Gately Room which has been used for string lessons for the past 30 years and a room which used to be the Italian Room. When Italian moved to its current location the room became known as the Old Italian Room. Because it seemed time for this room to have a more relevant name, last year we had a whiteboard in the room asking for suggestions for a new name. Students who used the room contributed: 

It has been decided that The Crows’ Nest is the new name. Yay! 

From Margaret and the String Team

(Annelies, Clare, Hannah, Lachlan, Leanda, Liz, Lucy,  Margaret, Sophia & Victoria)

Margaret.Butcher@education.vic.gov.au