Level I Orchestra

Learn the basics of playing a string instrument alone and with others in a group setting.

Students need to supply a string instrument and bow sized properly for the student's size, a shoulder rest that fits the instrument correctly, rosin, an extra set (or two) of dominant strings, and the Essential Elements for Strings book 1 for their instrument of choice.

Class 1 Students will learn the basic anatomy of their string instruments. The correct rest positions and playing positions. Anatomy of the bow will be discussed, and students will start practicing the correct bow hold that does not involve tension in the hands with various bow-holding exercises. Students will be introduced to the staff and the open strings and their positions on the staff and how they are transcribed on the staff using quarter notes and quarter rests. Students will be able to play through the musical exercises while displaying the use of pizzicato (plucking) on page 4 and 5 with the backup track by the end of class. Students will also learn the basics of following a conductor’s visual cues without needing vocal cues.

Class 2 Students will review page 5 and instruments will be marked with finger tape for their fingered notes. Students will learn the new note names and symbols for their first three fingers of the left hand and how to properly place fingers on the fingerboard to not strain the carpals of the hand. Students will start working on finger placement and playing the first three fingers for the left hand with the exercises while plucking on page 6 and page 7 if students are ready to move to that page.

Class 3 Students will review pages 6 and learn some more bow exercises as well as the bow builder box on page 7. Students will work on page 7 and look at the quiz on exercise #16 and practice for the next class and move on to page 8 and page 9 if they feel ready to move on. More bow-holding exercises will be explored and practiced.

Class 4 Select students who volunteer will be asked to demonstrate some of their favorite pieces from pages 7 through 9. Then students will be introduced to the A string on page 10 and the tetrachord that uses the first three fingers on that string. Students will then go over the exercises in page 10 with the minus track and will move on to the next page (page 11) if they feel comfortable with their understanding of the “A” String and the new notes on that string.

Class 5 Page 11 will be explored or reviewed depending on how the students felt during the previous class playing on the A string. Students will be introduced to the pieces “Song for Christine” # 33 and “Natalie’s Rose” #34 with the minus track and an instructor demonstrating the pieces. Then the pieces will be broken up in parts and plucked through in sections and then as a whole group. Then students will be asked to will out the essential creativity exercise on page 35. Then students will be introduced to the piece “Dreidel” #36 on page 13. Students will be asked to prepare one of the three new pieces, #34, #35 or #36 for the next class day.

Class 6 Students will be invited to play their favorite prepared piece from the previous class (#34, #35 or #36). Students will demonstrate proper bow hold and the rosin rap exercises on page 13 will be demonstrated by the instructor and then explored and practiced by the students.

Class 7 Students will demonstrate the rosin raps on page 13 learned at the previous class. Then the pieces on page 14 will be worked through together as a group. If students feel comfortable with the pieces on page 14 we will be able to work on the pieces on page 15.

Class 8 Instructor will introduce the Key signature of D Major and explain the tetrachords attached to that key signature and demonstrate how the first three fingers on each string follow the tetrachord patterns for D Major and A Major and how the two tetrachords combined create a scale. Students will review the new pieces on pages 14 and 15. Students will pick a piece from those pages and work in groups to practice their favorite piece from those pages. Then students will as a whole group run through all the pieces on those pages. If time allows, bow holds will be reviewed, and bow games will be played in preparation for the following class.

Class 9 Students will be introduced to playing the bow on the string ut

Students will be able to play and perform five simple pieces from the course curriculum as a group in a short concert for their parents and friends.