Upcoming Events
- Wednesday, January 17th: 4th Grade Orchestra/5th Grade Orchestra Winter Concert, 7pm @ Twin Groves
4th Grade
What we did this week:
- Learned about that mysterious thing called rosin!
- Learned how to hold our bows!
Assignment:
- p. 11-12, bow hold with the bow!
*Students should be practicing note naming at home via Staff Wars! This fun note naming game is a great way for our students to learn their notes.
Practicing Expectations:
Students should be writing down their assignment at each lesson. Our goal is to practice every day that we eat! We should be aiming to take our instruments out every day and practicing. There is NO time limit at this point. Students should be practicing each day for however long they are able to. Students should record their minutes for each day and get their practice record signed. If a student has practiced every day and has it signed, they receive a sticker! (This will be very important later this year...)
Parent Signatures on Practice Record:
Please make sure you are reviewing your child's practice record at home as well as writing your signature each week. We have some students who have been writing in their parents' initials themselves. Thanks for your support on this!
Lesson Schedules:
4th Grade Prairie Orchestra Lesson Schedule
Orchestra Lost and Found Box!
If your child is missing their books, accessories etc., please have them check the lost and found box on the stage at Prairie. If it is not in the box, please have them check around the room, since it is a shared room. Thank you!
5th Grade
What we did this week:
- Continued to work on our C Major Scale, practicing F natural and C natural
- Began working on "Tallis Canon", which is our next belt song and concert song.
- Received our concert songs for our next concert
Assignment:
- p. 34 and 35, Crystal City March
Practicing Expectations:
Our goal is to practice 15-20 minutes each day for 6 days. Students should record their minutes in the practice record and get it signed each week.
Students should practice each song in small parts at least 5x-10 every day.
Below are the steps on how to practice our songs in the book:
- Name the notes in rhythm, making sure to tap your foot to a steady beat beforehand.
- Name the notes AND finger the notes, making sure to tap your foot to a steady beat.
- Play the song pizzicato (plucking) making sure to keep a straight wrist.
- "Shadow bow" while fingering the note names to help practice our bowings
- Play the song with the bow, making sure to bow from your elbow.
Lesson Schedules:
5th Grade Prairie Orchestra Lesson Schedule
Topic of the Week:
All About the Bow!:
Since the 4th Graders are starting to work with their bows, and the 5th Graders continue to develop their bow skills, it is important to review the below information with the students at home while their practicing.
- Care for our bows: The bow is the tool that is used to create a sound on the instrument. The bow is very fragile, just like our instruments! The bow hair is made from horse hair, and it is very important that the students do NOT touch the hair on purpose, since the oils on our skin will turn the bow hair black and will ruin the bow.
When the bow is not being used and it is in the case, it is important that bow hair is LOOSE. Students know to turn their "adjusting screw" at the bottom of the bow to the LEFT to loosen the hair. When students take out their bows, the hair will need to be TIGHTENED. Students should turn the adjusting screw to the right enough so that a pencil can fit through between the bow hair and the stick part of the bow. Now we are ready to use ROSIN!
- Rosin and our bows: Rosin is made from tree sap and creates a texture on the bow hair so that the friction between the hair and the string create a sound. Students can only rosin their bow when the bow hair is TIGHT. Students should go up and down a total of 10-12 times. Students should rosin EVERY OTHER DAY THEY PLAY. Too much rosin can ruin the bow, so be careful!
- Holding our bows!: It is important that students practice the proper bow hold so that as they learn more techniques with the bow, they will be successful!
Violins and Violas: The two most important things about the bow hold are a CURVED PINKY and BENT THUMB! It is also important the the middle finger and thumb are lined up. Please see image below.
Cello: The most important thing about the bow hold is a BENT THUMB. It is also important that the middle finger and thumb are lined up as well as making sure to turn the wrist so that it does not collapse to one side. Please see image below.
Bass: Please see the image below for the bow hold.
