Experiencing Strings

Experiencing Strings Returns to Community Education Programming for the 2026-2027 School Year!

Experiencing Strings is offered through Mehlville Community Education 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 again this school 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 Hagemann Elementary on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, also 8-8:30 a.m. 

Beginner lessons are offered after school at Point Elementary on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:35 to 4:05 p.m.

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

Evening Beginners and Afternoon Advanced Strings Lessons

Evening Beginner and Advanced lessons are offered by Dr. Sarah Butchko in the music room at Forder Elementary (623 West Ripa Ave. St. Louis, MO 63125) on Tuesdays evenings. Students in grades 4 and 5 with some prior playing experience are welcome to register for Advanced Strings lessons. Advanced lessons with Dr. Butchko will meet weekly for one hour beginning at 4:30 pm. Evening Beginner Strings will also meet for an hour each week, starting at 6 p.m.  

New advanced classes this session - Advanced Strings with Mrs. Debbie Czmarko will meet at Hagemann,  Point and Wohlwend elementary schools.

Wohlwend Advanced students meet in the music room weekly on Tuesdays at dismissal for one hour, 3:35-4:35 p.m. 

Point Advanced students meet on Wednesday afternoons beginning at 4:05 p.m. This is immediately after the Point Beginners class which begins at their 3:35 p.m. dismissal. Advanced students at Point may stay in the music room after school with the instructor and beginner students until their lessons begin. 

Hagemann Advanced students meet on Thursdays each week at dismissal for one hour, 3:35-4:35 p.m. 

Performance Opportunities

More details are still to come about how we'll showcase the incredible learning and emerging talent of the Experiencing Strings students at the end of the fall session.  

At the end of the winter/spring 2027 session, All Experiencing Strings students will be invited to perform at the All-District Strings concert. A dress rehearsal is planned ahead of this special event. More details to come!

September 22: 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 Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 6 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. 

Have questions about the Experiencing Strings program or the morning transportation options to MOSAIC?

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