Harmony Strings Program
L'Etoile du Nord partners with Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS) to offer string lessons to students through the Harmony program.
Harmony is a strings instruction program that breaks down barriers and uses music as a tool for social transformation, empowering students to make a positive impact in school and society. Harmony is inspired by El Sistema, the Venezuelan music education philosophy which develops the whole student and meets specific community needs.
Harmony began in 2016 as a small, barrier-free after-school program at Riverview Spanish-English Dual Immersion School located in St. Paul’s West Side neighborhood. We are excited to launch an additional Harmony partnership at L'Étoile du Nord in the fall of 2024, where students will meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 8:00-9:15 am to receive high-quality violin or cello instruction.
As they progress musically, Harmony students and alumni advance into GTCYS’ school-year orchestras and benefit from weekly private lessons and instruments paid for by GTCYS. More than 45 Harmony alumni are now GTCYS orchestra musicians.
Here are some details about this exciting program for the 2025-2026 school year:
- There will be a sliding-scale fee for participation in this program.
- This program will be offered to 2nd, 3rd, and returning 4th grade students this year. New 4th graders may be considered if there is space.
- This will be 3 times per week from 8:00 - 9:15am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
- First class is on Monday, October 13 and last class is on Friday, May 15. There is a Harmony Orientation meeting at LNFI on Thursday, October 9, from 4:30 – 5:30pm.
- Transportation is not available, and you must drop off your child(ren).
Want to enroll in Harmony 2025-2026?
The Harmony Registration form is due by October 3.
This form is also available on the Harmony page of the GTCYS website under “Member Resources”.
Note: We can accept about 20 new students this year.
Learn more!
If you have any questions about the Harmony Program at LNFI, please email Harmony Manager Emily Doyle at emily@gtcys.org
To learn more about GTCYS and their Harmony program, click the button below.