This ensemble works on basic skills such as time signatures and counting, key signatures, posture and hand positions. Most students have studied their instruments for 1 or 2 years before entering this ensemble. There are usually about 50 members.The Concert Strings rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:10 to 7:50 a.m. at Marie Murphy School. Student also receive a small group lesson (sectional) from the orchestra director at their home school. These sectionals are given on a rotating schedule: perhaps a student misses his 2nd period class this week to have an orchestra sectional. Next week the sectional will be third period and the following week fourth period...this way the student misses the same class only once every 6 weeks.

Students don't have to wait until the end of a school year or even a semester to change orchestras or move from the 2nd violin section to the 1st violin section. Students change when both they and the teacher feel the change will be beneficial.