Upcoming Events
-Thursday, May 10th: Orchestra Extravaganza Concert @ 6:30pm (4th/5th Grade Orchestra)
*Please note that students willl need to arrive by 5:45pm that evening
4th Grade
What we did this week:
-Learned about 8th notes (and "Mississippi Stop Stop") and how to play them with our bows!
Assignment:
- p. 20, Staff Wars
*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...)
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 staccato (stopped bow strokes)
-Introduced hooked bows!
Assignment:
-p. 40 and 41, Storm, Staff Wars (C string/E string ranges only)
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:
1. Name the notes in rhythm, making sure to tap your foot to a steady beat beforehand.
2. Name the notes AND finger the notes, making sure to tap your foot to a steady beat.
3. Play the song pizzicato (plucking) making sure to keep a straight wrist. 4. "Shadow bow" while fingering the note names to help practice our bowings 5. 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:
Orchestra Grades on the Report Card
Trimester 2 ends today and report cards are coming out soon! Below are some important reminders to keep in mind when reviewing your child's grades.
4th Grade Orchestra: During Trimester 2, we introduced the bow! When students start working with their bows, it sometimes can affect our left hand technique and posture because of the coordination of using both hands at once and using different muscles. If your child receives a "D" on a target that they may have received an "M" for in the past, just know that it is most likely related to adjusting to the new skill of using both the bow and fingers at the same time. Please know that if your child receives a "D" for any target, these will also be assessed during Trimester 3.
5th Grade Orchestra: Even though the 5th Grade students have already had a year of instruction on their instrument, we do learn a lot of new skills in 5th Grade Orchestra. Because of this, sometimes our left hand technique as well as our bow technique needs adjusting time, even if the student has mastered this skill prior to this year. If your child receives a "D" on a target that they may have received an "M" for in the past, just know that it is most likely related to adjusting to a new skill. These targets will also be assessed during Trimester 3.