Our Program

Since 2010, the Texas State String Project program has offered low-cost string instruction to San Marcos-area students in grades K-8 who wish to learn to play one of the orchestral string instruments: violin, viola, cello or bass. Our regular program consists of 12 weekly group classes and 10 half-hour private lessons per semester. Classes meet weekly during the university's long semesters, on Wednesdays from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at the School of Music building on the Texas State University campus in San Marcos. Private lessons are scheduled at a mutually agreeable time for the student's family and assigned String Project teacher.

Beginning students join our program at the beginning of the fall semester only, and we ask that families commit to the program for the entire school year as it takes time to learn an instrument. We welcome students from across Central Texas from any educational environment – public, private and homeschool students are all part of our program, and we have students from Kyle, Lockhart and Wimberly and other surrounding communities outside of San Marcos.

Our program includes two different learning environments, which are geared toward different age groups. Our Suzuki program offers beginning instruction for students in grades K-2 in homogeneous (single instrument) classes modeled after the highly regarded Suzuki method of string learning. Our orchestra program provides opportunities for beginning students in grades 3-8 to learn together in heterogenous (mixed instrument) classes using a traditional school orchestra approach.