MS Orchestra
MS Orchestra Meet five days a week from 11:55AM to 12:40PM
This is the class combined by 7th and 8th grade students who had at least one year orchestra or
ensemble experience. In this class, the students will continue to develop their
playing and ensemble skills witch included scales and arpeggios within 3
sharps and 3 flats keys; fingers and bowing exercise; intonation and rhythm plus some important
listening skills. The playing level for this group is from 2 to 4.
Course Guidelines
Goals
Students in MS string orchestra will learn the orchestra masterpieces from world famous composers
throughout music history. The students will also learn the music styles with intermediate level’s
orchestra playing skills in the string orchestra setting.
Skills
- Develop students listening skills from the beginning level during the class including major
minor scales, intervals, harmony progressing, and pitch recognizing.
- Reinforce the playing skills using the solo or soli part to challenge students and give the
individual instructions for the music phrase, dynamics, tempo and counting on different rhythms.
- Improve the students’ awareness and playing abilities of the tone quality and pitch adjustment
in the string orchestra with a widely variety music and their styles.
- Expand on student knowledge of playing the music in string group and how is the relationship
between their individual parts, sections and whole orchestra.
- Learn the communication with the conductor and section leader during the playing including
fingering, bowing, phrasing, dynamic, counting and the tempo changing.
- Develop students sight-reading skills at the beginning of each new song and some arranged
music. Exam it by calling individual student during the class or in the playing test.
Activities
- Two evening concerts will play in campus.
- One music festival or competition during the year.
Assessment
- Graded playing test including the site-reading once each trimester.
- One theory (writing or listening) test during the 2nd trimester.
- Graded daily playing skill exams for each individual during the class period
and the rehearsals.
