The mission of the ASFA First Note Strings Program is to develop children and bring the community together through music. Learning and playing instruments benefits children and their future. Children participating in this program will gain discipline, self-esteem, focus, responsibility and so much more. The process of learning how to play musical instruments has been linked to academic and social growth, helps improve memory, increases grades, and test scores, and boosts graduation rates. 

Students from 2^nd to 6^th grade can learn how to play the violin or viola in group lessons taught by the violin/viola instructor from the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA). (Viola is a larger instrument and only recommended for students in 5th grade or older.) Students learn not only how to play the instruments, but also the basics of music such as how to read music and how to count. This comprehensive program can prepare students, and give them a head start for middle school and high school bands, youth orchestras, and choral programs. 

Students meet twice per week in a large group class at ASFA. The semester runs from Sept. 14 - Dec. 14 (no class on Oct. 19, Nov. 28 and Nov. 30). Registration is open through September. There will be a short demonstration performance for families on Dec.14. 

Thursdays: 4:45 PM-5:45 PM 

Saturdays: 9:30 AM-11:30 AM

Tuition is $215 per semester and includes a shoulder pad and book. Students are responsible for instrument rental if necessary (see details below).

To Register

1. Fill out student and family information here: https://forms.gle/vYn9Tg4EFkM3urrNA

2. Pay tuition here: https://checkout.square.site/buy/M7H5E7FE5XNBFJF5JAKNZITQ

Rental Instruments Information 

If students don't have an instrument, they will need to rent one from Village Violins before the program starts. (The viola is a larger instrument and is only recommended for students in 5th grade or older.)

Rental Programs (villageviolinsbirmingham.com) 

Faculty Info

Violinist Yuriko Yasuda served as the Alabama Symphony Orchestra’s principal second violinist from 2005 until she joined ASFA’s music department faculty as the violin/viola instructor in August 2024.

Ms. Yasuda has performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as its concertmaster, the New World Symphony in Miami, the Tanglewood Music Festival, the New York String Orchestra, and the Pacific Music Festival, among others. She has worked with many world-famous musicians, including Daniel Barenboim, Michael Tilson-Thomas, Seiji Ozawa, Paavo Järvi, Christoph Eschenbach, Yo-Yo Ma, and the Vermeer Quartet. She has also performed concertos with orchestras, given solo recitals, and participated in chamber music performances throughout the US and Japan.

Since 2005, Ms. Yasuda has maintained a private violin studio in Birmingham, teaching students of various ages, levels, backgrounds, and nationalities. Her students have won state-wide competitions and auditions, including top chair positions for AOA’s All-State Festivals, the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the NYO2 festival in New York. She enjoys coaching chamber music and sectionals at various festivals. 

A native of Sapporo, Japan, Ms. Yasuda received her Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston, where she studied with Masuko Ushioda, and her Master’s degree from Northern Illinois University, where she studied with Shmuel Ashkenasi.

Ms. Yasuda resides in Hoover with her husband, three children, and two cats.

For more information or questions email: Ms. Yasuda at yyasuda@asfa.k12.al.us