Announcements
As a reminder, full choir rehearsals are on 10/23, 11/20, and 12/11. Students attended a full choir rehearsal on 9/25 and were excused from orchestra during this time. If I sent you to choir, it means you were on Ms. Norman's attendance list. If you desire to be removed from this list (and attend orchestra every scheduled day), please go and talk to Ms. Norman in person.
Another violin has gone missing. It is a 3/4 size violin in a student case (black, plastic, with silver edges) with no name tag. Please check your -- or your child's -- instrument to make sure it belongs to you. If it does not have a name tag, please add one! Even masking tape with your name on it is better than nothing.
Ms. Norman's daughter, Julie, is giving a recital at SUNY Albany next Thursday night. Julie was a very talented violinist, but this recital will feature her as a vocalist. Ms. Norman will be accompanying, and FMS students who attend will receive a special treat during their next orchestra period. Fliers will be up in the orchestra room with more information.
As announced in class, Seat Checks for all grades will begin next week. Performances (including concerts, seat checks, and auditions) make up 25% of the orchestra grade, so it is now more important than ever to pay attention -- and practice -- the assignments! Seat check material will be derived from the daily practice assignments.
What is a Seat Check?
Seat checks are mini-performances given alone or in small groups during the regular rehearsal period. I may ask one student to play by themselves, or I may ask a team* to play. At this point, I will count off so that they start together, but it is up to the student to know their music well enough that they can listen -- and stay together -- with the other members of their team as they play.
Each student receives a grade both relative to their own development as a musician and to their contribution to the team sound. Students may earn up to 25 points per seat check, broken down as follows:
If a student is present and plays their seat check, the lowest grade they can receive is 5 points (because I give one point in each category if they are present, playing, and trying their best). Students who have an unexcused absence forfeit their grade for that seat check, but those with a legal excuse may make up the missed seat check at another time.
Today's Practice Assignments & Rehearsal notes
6th Grade: Carmen, Carmela m12-20
In 6th grade rehearsal, we worked mostly on Carmen, Carmela. I spoke about the seat check process, and we practiced thinking about the elements of music by rating ourselves on scales of 1-5. This 6th grade ensemble has acquired more discipline than it had in the past, but there are still a few chatty people in each section. Please remember that participation grades suffer when students become distractions to others.
In general, we are becoming more comfortable with the switch from pizzicato to arco (and maintaining the tempo). The change in dynamics from mp to mf is also improving, and I challenge students to remember to change without me reminding them.
8th Grade: Fanfare & Frippery beginning - Letter C
A smaller 8th grade ensemble arrived in my class this morning, and I hope it was because of the confusing shorter week instead of illness. Nonetheless, we were able to do some good work with a 1st violin section, 1 stand of 2nd violins, 1 viola, and 2 cellists. Thanks to those students who remembered to come!
Our warm-up today was in the key of D (same as Fanfare), and we played scales using trills on each note. As with the 6th grade, we talked about seat checks. Although the practice assignment for next time is just Fanfare and Frippery, cellists should continue work on Mambo Incognito (especially at measure 25) and Cellos Ole.
*Remember that teams were pre-formed, but students selected their own team names. Don't remember your team members or team name? Check the board outside the orchestra room or refer to an earlier blog post.
