The Snapped String

Name ____________________●

The Snapped String

Mara had practiced her solo for six weeks. The recital was at noon the next day. On Friday evening she played it one last time in her room. Near the end, the highest string on her violin snapped. It made a sharp twang. It curled up like a tiny silver spring.

Mara stared at it. The music shop closed at five. It was past six. She could not buy a new string. Her stomach dropped. She sat on her bed and tried not to cry. How could she play without a string?

Her mother tapped on the door. "Mr. Lund next door played in a band for forty years," she said. "Let's ask him."

Mara did not want to bother anyone. But she followed her mother across the yard. Mr. Lund listened. He chuckled. "Come in," he said. "A musician who never breaks a string has never played much."

He led them to a messy desk. He opened a drawer full of little paper envelopes. "I always kept spares," he said. He held up one with the right letter. He showed Mara how to put the new string on. She turned the peg slowly. The first notes sounded flat. They fixed it together until it rang clear.

The next afternoon, Mara walked on stage with a steady hand. When her last note faded, the crowd clapped. Mr. Lund sat in the third row. He clapped the loudest.

Questions

1. What went wrong when Mara practiced on Friday?
2. Why couldn't Mara buy a new string?
3. Who helped Mara, and what did he give her?
4. What did Mr. Lund mean when he said a musician who never breaks a string has never played much?
5. How did Mara feel at the end, and how do you know?

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Name ____________________▲

The Snapped String

Mara had practiced her solo for six weeks, and the recital was scheduled for noon the next day. On Friday evening she ran through it one last time in her bedroom, but halfway through the final line, the highest string on her violin snapped with a sharp twang and curled up like a tiny silver spring.

Mara stared at it in disbelief. The music shop closed at five, and it was already past six, so there was no way to buy a replacement. She felt her stomach drop, and she sank onto her bed and tried not to cry because she could not imagine performing without a string.

Her mother tapped on the door. "Mr. Lund next door played in a band for forty years," she said. "Why don't we ask him whether he can help?"

Mara did not want to bother anyone, but she followed her mother across the yard. Mr. Lund listened to the problem and chuckled. "Come in," he said. "A musician who never breaks a string has never played very much."

He led them to a cluttered desk and pulled open a drawer full of small paper envelopes. "I always kept spares," he said, holding up one marked with the right letter. Then he showed Mara how to thread the new string through the peg and turn it slowly, a little at a time. The first notes sounded flat, so they adjusted the string together until it rang clear.

The next afternoon, Mara walked onto the stage with a steady hand. When her last note faded, the audience applauded enthusiastically, and Mr. Lund, sitting in the third row, clapped the loudest of all.

Questions

1. What went wrong when Mara practiced on Friday evening?
2. Why couldn't Mara buy a new string right away?
3. Who helped Mara, and what did he give her?
4. What did Mr. Lund mean by saying a musician who never breaks a string has never played much?
5. How did Mara feel at the end of the story, and how do you know?

Free at teach.peabody.kids

Name ____________________■

The Snapped String

Mara had practiced her solo diligently for six weeks, and the recital was scheduled for noon the following day. On Friday evening she ran through it one final time in her bedroom, but halfway through the last line, the highest string on her violin snapped with a sharp twang and curled up like a tiny silver spring.

Mara stared at it in utter disbelief. The music shop had closed at five o'clock, and it was already well past six, so there was no possible way to buy a replacement before the performance. She felt her stomach drop, and she sank onto her bed and struggled not to cry, because she could not imagine performing in front of an audience without a complete set of strings.

Her mother tapped gently on the door. "Mr. Lund next door played in a band for forty years," she said. "Why don't we ask him whether he can help?"

Mara did not want to impose on anyone, but she reluctantly followed her mother across the yard. Mr. Lund listened carefully to the problem and chuckled. "Come in," he said. "A musician who never breaks a string has never played very much."

He led them to a cluttered desk and pulled open a drawer crammed with small paper envelopes. "I always kept spares," he said, holding up one marked with the correct letter. Then he showed Mara how to thread the new string through the peg and turn it slowly, a little at a time. The first notes sounded flat, so the two of them adjusted the string patiently until it rang clear and bright.

The next afternoon, Mara walked onto the stage with a steady hand. When her final note faded away, the audience applauded enthusiastically, and Mr. Lund, sitting proudly in the third row, clapped the loudest of all.

Questions

1. What happened to Mara's violin during her final practice on Friday evening?
2. Why was it impossible for Mara to buy a replacement string before the performance?
3. Who helped Mara, and what did he provide?
4. What did Mr. Lund mean by saying that a musician who never breaks a string has never played very much?
5. How did Mara feel at the end of the story, and what evidence supports your answer?

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Answer key: The Snapped String

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