Division:  Middle School

Department: Fine and Performing Arts:  Orchestra

Course Title/Code:  Beginning Strings    ARTBS100 

(6^th Grade, year-long/ 3 days per week) 

Course Description: Open to sixth-grade students only. Students learn the fundamentals of music notation and develop basic skills in the individual and ensemble practice and performance of their instrument. Emphasis is placed on developing technical skills on their instrument as well as in listening, valuing, creating and studying the elements of music and musicians from a variety of historical periods and musical genres. String players rehearse separately from woodwind, brass, and percussion players. Performances may include pieces for Full Orchestra as well as for Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra 

Goals

Students in MS beginning strings will learn how to play string orchestra instruments at the beginning level. Students will also learn basic musical terms and theories by playing short melodies and popular tunes. By the end of the school year, they will be able to play  orchestra songs in the level one step.  

Skills

• Introduce the instruments and basic playing skills. With many fun exercises, develop student’s fingers and hands to individual working skills.  
• Reinforce music reading skills at student’s current level and use the solo or chamber music parts to challenge the experienced students.
• Learn to play different keys of the scales to improve students’ playing abilities and tone quality.
• Expand on students’ knowledge of playing music in a string group and develop the relationship between their individual parts and the whole group.
• Learn communication with the conductor and section leaders during rehearsals and performance.

Activities 

• Two evening concerts will be played on campus (required).
• One outside campus music activity or festival during the year (optional but encouraged).

Assessment 

• Graded home practice sheet returned once a trimester.
• Graded playing test once a trimester.

Students will be expected to purchase the  designated performance outfit. 

Resources: printed, internet & intranet sites, computer programs