Preparatory String Program
The ISU Preparatory String Program offers 13 lessons per semester.
- Students age 5 through adult
- Lessons for 30, 45, or 60 minutes, once a week, scheduled directly with the assigned instructor
- All lessons online or on ISU campus
- Instructors consist of ISU music performance and music education majors, supervised and observed by Dr. Eleanor Christman, director of the program and professor of cello, and Dr. Hyeri Choi, professor of violin and viola.
For more information please contact:
Tuition Cost for 13 lessons
$235 per semester for 13 30-minute lessons PAY HERE
$350 per semester for 13 45-minute lessons PAY HERE
$465 per semester for 13 60-minute lessons PAY HERE
Payment is due by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 12. Pay through the website link or deliver/mail cash or check (made out to ISU Preparatory String Program) to Liz Christensen, the Music Department's administrative assistant: Fine Arts Building, room 205 or Music Department, 921 South 8th Avenue, Stop 8099 Pocatello, ID 83209.
Mission Statement
The Idaho State University Preparatory String Program has two purposes:
- to provide quality private string instruction to committed students of all ages and levels who do not pursue college credit;
- to provide mentored teaching internships for string majors who are pursuing music degrees at Idaho State University.
Fall 2025 Schedule:
Lessons can be canceled by an instructor if a student shows up without having practiced or without their music, is more than 10 minutes late, or shows disrespect or abuse to the teacher. If a student is late, the lesson still must end at the scheduled time. Lessons scheduled on Labor Day can be rescheduled without penalty. If an instructor misses a lesson for any reason, they must make it up as soon as it is possible to reschedule.
Our Director
Eleanor Christman, DMA
is the Assistant Professor of Cello in the ISU Music Department, where she teaches applied cello and related courses, is a member of the Monarch Trio, is principal cellist of the Idaho State-Civic Symphony, and directs the Preparatory String Program. She performs widely as a chamber and orchestral musician.
Safety in the Case of Illness
This applies to COVID-19 but also to the flu and other illnesses.
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Core Prevention Strategies
- Students should wash hands before their lesson.
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- When you are sick:
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- Use precautions to prevent spread, including staying home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have respiratory symptoms.
- Learn when you can go back to your normal activities.
- Seek health care promptly for testing and/or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness. Treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness, but it needs to be started within a few days of when your symptoms begin.
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- Additional Prevention Strategies
- In addition, there are other prevention strategies that you can choose to further protect yourself and others.
- Wearing a mask and putting distance between yourself and others can help lower the risk of spreading illnesses.
- Testing for COVID-19, Influenza, strep throat, etc. can help you decide what to do next, like getting treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness and taking steps to lower your chances of spreading illness to others.
- In addition, there are other prevention strategies that you can choose to further protect yourself and others.
Beginner
Beginner string lessons are designed for students with little or no experience on the instrument who want to learn basic skills. They play simple folk songs and stay in first position.
Intermediate
Intermediate string lessons are designed for students who have been playing for a year or more and want to improve their skills. They work on pieces that include some shifting and late intermediate players learn vibrato.
Advanced
Advanced string students have been playing for a few years and are comfortable with both shifting and vibrato. They play etudes, sonatas, and concertos.