Experiencing Strings Returns to Community Education Programming for Winter and Spring 2026!

Experiencing Strings is offered to students in grades 3-5. The Beginner Strings lessons are for students with no prior experience playing a string instrument. Students in grades 4 and 5 with some experience are eligible to continue lessons at the advanced level. With the flexibility of evening lessons, in addition to our traditional before and after school lessons, we are thrilled to offer Experiencing Strings in the new year through Community Education! 

Beginner Lessons Before and After School 

Beginner lessons are available before school at Wohlwend Elementary on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8 until 8:30 a.m. and at Rogers Elementary on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, also 8-8:30 a.m. 

Beginner lessons are after school at Point Elementary on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:35 to 4:05 p.m. and at Hagemann Elementary on Tuesdays and Thursdays, also 3:35-4:05 p.m.    

MOSAIC Elementary students who live in the Wohlwend and the Rogers attendance areas have the option to attend morning lessons then take the bus to MOSAIC afterward. 

Evening Beginners and Afternoon Advanced Strings Lessons

New this session! Evening Beginner lessons are offered by Dr. Sarah Butchko in the music room at Oakville Elementary on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. for one hour.  

All-District Performance Opportunity

At the end of the winter/spring 2026 session, All Experiencing Strings students will perform at the All-District Strings concert on Tuesday, May 5. A dress rehearsal is planned for Thursday, April 30. More details to come!

January 8: Upcoming Family Information Night and Instrument Rentals with Nottelmann Music Co. 

To learn more about the Experiencing Strings program, a family information night is planned for Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mehlville School District Administration Building (2900 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis, MO 63125) 

In addition to the two program instructors, Debbie Czmarko and Dr. Sarah Butchko, a representative from Nottelmann Music Co. will be present at the information night to share about their rental program. They will help onsite with instrument fittings and setting up the rental of your child's string instrument. You may also visit either of the Nottelmann stores for a fitting and rental. 

Please contact Community Education Coordinator, Melina Ulrich by phone: (314) 467-5280 or email: ulrichm@msdr9.org.