130. Building Community Through Strings — From Appalachia to Nigeria with Liz Dinwiddie

In Episode 130 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux welcomes Liz Dinwiddie, Director of Strings at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in the mountains of Northeast Georgia, for a powerful conversation about access, community, and joy in string education.At Rabun Gap, every student from age three through fifth grade is required to take strings. Yes — every student. Liz shares how she structures this unique program, including cardboard starter instruments, singing-based instruction, floor staff games, color-coded finger systems, and creative approaches to teaching clefs and note reading that make learning accessible and fun.Serving a diverse student population that includes local Appalachian families and boarding students from over 50 countries, Liz discusses how she builds a culture where music is not just about performance — it’s about life skills, belonging, and exposure to beauty.But the story doesn’t stop in the Blue Ridge Mountains.Liz also shares her extraordinary experience traveling to Onitsha, Nigeria, where she helped launch and grow a youth string program connected to a local parish. From crash-course string pedagogy workshops to coaching students preparing excerpts from Messiah, her work demonstrates the global power of music education to connect cultures and expand opportunity.In this episode, you’ll hear: • How to structure a required elementary strings program • Practical tools for teaching 3–10 year olds successfully • Using movement, singing, and visual mapping for early note reading • Managing mixed socioeconomic communities with intentional culture • Building student ownership and leadership • Launching and sustaining international string outreachThis episode is a reminder that whether you’re teaching in a rural mountain town or halfway across the world, strings can be a powerful vehicle for connection, growth, and joy.— BIORGRAPHY —Liz Dinwiddie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Viola Performance from Boston University, a Master’s from the University of Colorado Boulder, and a Specialist Graduate Degree Certificate from Indiana University focused on Music Education and Community Music Schools. She has performed with the Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Greeley Philharmonic, Fort Collins Philharmonic, and the Prague Multicultural Music Project, and has presented nationally at ASTA and multiple state music educator conferences.Contact: www.lizdinwiddie.com— SPONSORS AND AFFILIATE LINKS —Looking to plan a great orchestra trip? Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning performance travel beyond expectations for more than 30 years. ⁠https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-orchestra-teacher-podcast/⁠Want to find some classic repertoire or looking for something different and new?  Check out Keiser Productions!https://www.keiserproductions.comLooking for things on Amazon?  Use my affiliate link:⁠https://amzn.to/3RkfRLk⁠Do you keep a monthly budget?  If not, try You Need a Budget!  It’s a great app/website that helps keep your finances on track.⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheOrchestraTeacherYNAB⁠Do you have cable?  Cut the cord and check out YouTube TV!  It works on mobile, Smart TVs, the web and more!⁠https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r22irzcuy7jshi⁠IS YOUR THUMB BENT? Get stickers here! www.orchestrateacher.net⁠/stickersResources and more information at ⁠www.orchestrateacher.net⁠#OrchestraTeacherPodcast#StringEducation#ElementaryStrings#MusicEducation#OrchestraTeachers#StringTeachers#Viola#SuzukiMethod#EarlyChildhoodMusic#CommunityMusic#RuralEducation#Appalachia#MusicOutreach#ArtsEducation#TeacherLeadership