Upcoming Events
-Friday, May 4th: End of the Year Party Permission Slips/Fee Due. Please log-on to the Membership Toolkit to locate these items. Please click here if you would like to volunteer!
-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
-Wednesday, May 16th: D96 Band/Orchestra End of the Year Party @ Bowlero from 3pm-6pm. STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE SCHOOL EARLY THIS DAY.
4th Grade
What we did this week:
-Introduced 4th finger A to Violins and Violas!
-Continued to work on our concert songs! Please see below:
D Major Scale (p. 24 #87)
Bile 'Em Cabbage Down (p. 24 #89)
Mozart Melody (separate sheet)
Allegro (separate sheet)
Assignment:
- preview p. 23, Concert Songs, 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
5th Grade
What we did this week:
-Worked on Surprise Symphony for our Belt Week next lesson!
-Worked on our concert songs! (Please see below)
Surprise Symphony (p. 42 #182)
Jupiter (in our new book)
Storm (separate piece)
Assignment:
- Preview p. 8, Concert songs, 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
5th Grade Orchestra
As the end of the year starts to approach, it is already time to register for Orchestra for the 2018-2019 school year! This year we are providing online registration in advance so that we can plan over the summer for the next school year.
Some information about 5th Grade Orchestra:
-Schedule is very similar to the current 4th Grade schedule. Students meet weekly and occasionally twice a week for lessons and weekly for rehearsal (during recess).
-Lessons are on a rotating schedule (just like 4th Grade Orchestra). Schedule will be given to students prior to school starting.
-Students can do both Band and Orchestra. The schedules do not conflict, but it is a commitment since students have lessons for each and 1-2 recess rehearsals for each.
-Since the students have a year under their belt, students will continue working in their books but most of their concert songs will be outside of the book.
If your child definitely wants to participate in orchestra next year, please register at the following link. Please make sure to fill out the form completely:
5th Grade Orchestra Registration
If your child is unsure about participating in orchestra next year, the best thing to do would be to register for next year and if need be we can make adjustments in the fall.
Reminder: If your child also wants to participate in Band in 5th Grade, they CAN do both! More information about Band will be coming to you in May from Mr. Nagle!
All registration forms must be submitted online by Thursday, May 24th. Please let me know if you have any questions! I look forward to another great year with the students!