Final Exam Information

Final Exam Information

Information regarding the final exam was distributed in classes this week. The following post just reiterates what was announced in class.

When: beginning in June (in place of lessons)

How: recorded submission (to be done in school at assigned time)

What: Scales, Excerpts, Solo Piece

Worth: 35% of your 4th quarter grade (Combines performance, preparation, and lessons)

Scales: I will ask you to play scales from the following list: C, G, D, A, E, B, Ab, Eb, Bb, F (7th grade: C, G, D, A, E, Eb, Bb, F; 6th Grade: C, G, D, A). You may not use any materials to help you play these scales. I will choose what scales I'd like to hear. Know your key signatures!

Just like at NYSSMA, scales should be played at a comfortable, steady tempo with the best tone possible.

Scales will be graded as follows:

Correct Key Signature Yes No 10pts

Accuracy of Pitch 5 4 3 2 1 (x2 = 10pts)

Correct fingerings 5 4 3 2 1 (x2 = 10pts)

30pts total

Excerpts: An excerpt is a small section of music. I will choose 1-2 excerpts from our 4th quarter music for you to play. Your excerpt will be played with a metronome within a designated range. You must bring your own music to use. The excerpts that I will choose from will be announced in advance so that you can prepare them to the best of your ability.

Excerpts will be graded as follows:

Rhythm 5 4 3 2 1

Pitch/Notes 5 4 3 2 1

Dynamics 5 4 3 2 1

Articulation 5 4 3 2 1

Phrasing 5 4 3 2 1

Preparation* 5 4 3 2 1

*Came with all music, played from memory, ease of playing/familiarity with music, etc

Solo: You may choose any of the pieces we have worked on in lessons this year. Solos do not have to be memorized, but students have to provide their own music. If you went to NYSSMA this year, you can play that solo, and if you study privately and would like to play something that you worked on with that teacher that is fine!

Pick a solo that highlights your abilities. A harder solo played poorly will not showcase your musicianship skills as well as a slightly easier one that is performed with comfort and proper technique.

Solos will be graded as follows:

Rhythm 5 4 3 2 1

Pitch/Notes 5 4 3 2 1

Dynamics 5 4 3 2 1

Articulation 5 4 3 2 1

Phrasing 5 4 3 2 1

Preparation 5 4 3 2 1

The final exam is worth 100pts: 30 for scales, 30 for excerpts, 30 for solo. The last 10 points are to be earned through correct and appropriate posture.

Orchestra Update

As of today, all 6th graders have received practice music for the remainder of the year. In their packets are: Edelweiss, Fiddles Out West, Sea Song Suite, and Black and White. Students should focus their practicing this week on Fiddles Out West and the first parts of Sea Song Suite.

In 8th grade, information about the final exam was distributed along with new music. The concert review/NYSSMA reflections are due back to me on Thursday. Be specific with your responses! I am very interested in the depth of your reflections and your understanding of our spring repertoire. This assignment will be graded for quality of answers.

In rehearsal, we looked at very very small sections of two of our new pieces: Star of County Down and Brandenburg No. 3 ("Second" movement). Attention should be paid to m49-57 in Star of County Down and the first 9 measures of Brandenburg. Take everything very slowly so as to catch all those notes and accidentals, then work up to a comfortable tempo.

Final Exam Information

This week, 6th, 7th and 8th graders are receiving information about their final exam. The final will be worth 100 points and has 3 main parts:

1. Scales

2. Excerpts

3. Solos

All information, including requirements, procedures, and grading rubrics can be found on the handout they received. That information will be posted online later this week. Students should take some time this week to review the requirements and evaluate what elements of the final exam have already been mastered.

Chamber Strings

Today we worked on two songs: Dance of Iscariot and The Star Spangled Banner. Our national anthem is a new piece that they received today because we have been invited to play at the President's Achievement Awards ceremony on May 5th at 3:30pm. Chamber Strings will play right in the beginning, and they can leave right after our performance. Unfortunately, because it is a Wednesday, there are no late buses. Students should arrange to have their parents pick them up on this day.

In Dance of Iscariot, we touched upon a number of items:

1. Dotted/Accented eighth notes as seen in the 2nd violin and viola parts: Play these as low in the bow as you can get! Right next to the frog, with a slight bounce. To play in this location for any length of time in a consistent tempo is tiring. Only diligent practice with a mirror and a metronome will develop the muscles needed to maintain this character.

2. Accidentals between m56 and 76 in 2nd violin and viola parts and how to achieve them: We wrote in 2 sets of fingerings in these sections. The first stays in what we call "half" position because we set our fingers behind the tapes that they usually fall on. When we play this passage in half position, we can hit all the notes, but it makes for awkward string crossings. Instead, I highly recommend that the 3rd position fingerings be used (shifting to 2nd finger on the A# in m63 and staying in 3rd position until beat 4 of measure 65).

3. Accelerando in m84 for violins: We only have 1 measure to get to our Presto tempo at m85. As much as I'd like to be consistent, accelerandos have potential to be different every time. Practice pushing the tempo faster at varying degrees so that you will be comfortable no matter what happens.

4. Presto section: mark in your part how many repeated measures you have. Violin 1 plays the B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A figure for 8 measures (or 7 measures with the 8th measure accented). Violin 2 plays G-F#-G-F#-G-F#-G-F# for 4 measures before switching to the double-stopped section. Viola also has 4 measures before you change.

In attendance were:

Joe Sipzner

Gretchen Long

Alicia Chen

Katie Gonick

Erin Templeton

Arianna Barnum

William Wang

Bill Dong

Marko Crnkovic

Gianluca Russo

Karthik Ramesh

Catie Rafferty

Andrea Long

Cody Ingraham

We missed:
Rachel Swyer

Emma Pearson

Naila Brown

Katie Yang

Lessons for Last week of April

Attention 7th and 8th graders: please check here for updates on the lesson schedule this week. There will be a lot of changes due to ELA and other testing because I have to be in other places to help out. Lessons on Thursday should be normal, but Monday-Wednesday lessons could be mixed up quite a bit. I apologize for any confusion!

Congratulations!

This has been an exciting week for the musicians at Farnsworth! Congratulations to all 7th and 8th graders on their excellent performance Thursday night -- you looked and sounded wonderful!

I am very proud of all the students who participated in the NYSSMA Solo Festival this weekend in Ravena. I could not have asked for a better representation of our string program! The solo and small ensemble performances by Farnsworth orchestra students could not have been possible without the significant focus, determination, and preparation that you showed. I hope you are all very very proud of yourselves!

Hiawatha 7

Hiawatha 7 will be visiting the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center during science class (10:10 to 11:30) next week. Each class will go one day. Students in perf music will not miss their music class.

Please contact me this week if you are a member of this team and will be on the field trip on Tuesday, April 20th. We have a sectional from 9:30-10:10 that day, and I want to make sure that everyone who is scheduled at that time will be able to attend.

Chamber Strings

Welcome to a new month of Chamber Stringing!

The bulk of today's work was from Dance of Iscariot. We began with m38-52 and addressed the huge amount of notation found in the parts (such as: articulation, dynamics, and bowing). Each element of notation contributes to another and makes the general intention of the musical phrase more meaningful and easier to accomplish. Do your best not to become overwhelmed by everything you see on the page. Break it down using this process:

1. Rhythm Be able to chant all rhythms while keeping a steady beat. The rhythms in Dance of Iscariot are not challenging, but they may become confusing when heard with other parts.
2. Notes Check out any accidentals that occur. They are not outrageous or irregular, but they are accidentals! Once all notes have been learned, stick 'em alongside your rhythm chanting. Chant and pluck, chant and bow.
3. Bowings & Articulations Bow direction concerns are not usually my next recommended step, but they are important for steps to come. Use the breath markings as reminders to lift your bow and control direction. Those down bows should be taken at the frog to avoid any unpleasant sounds. Watch for accents, dots, and other articulation indicators and remember what we discussed about bow location.
   
4. Dynamics Once you've figured out the bowings and articulations, you can start putting them to use. Dynamics are what this passage is all about, and the bowings and articulations serve the greater dynamic purpose. Be careful of the subito changes!

Backing up, we skimmed m29-38. This piece is all about character and atmosphere and ideas, and this is a great passage to think about. Upper strings, while not necessarily playing melody, should be sneaky and smooth. Continue to use broad strokes in the middle of your bow, but release pressure to keep the volume low. Cellos continue the short, half step motive with a sinister sound.

Aaaand then we get to the fugual section! Entrances are broken down like this:

52-59: 2nds and violas

59-67: 1sts

67-76: cellos

Let's aim for more of a capoiera approach instead of the musical fighting we discussed :)


We ended with a bit of "B" Suite for Strings, of which we will only play I. Be-Boppin' Bourree. Cellos, for now, take the dots off those notes. We will do a lot more work on feeling the microbeats so as to keep a steadier pulse. In the meantime, practice without dots and with metronomes so that we can later establish a feeling of carefree, relaxed lightness in that opening.

Some things to think about when practicing:

• Slurred half steps: slide! gliss between notes! jazz it up!
• Practice taking different endings and repeating
  
• Use the bowings to help with those picky dynamics!
  

In attendance were:

Joe Sipzner

Katie Gonick

Alicia Chen

Arianna Barnum

Gretchen Long

William Wang

Bill Dong

Marko Crnkovic

Rachel Swyer

Emma Pearson

Catie Rafferty

Karthik Ramesh

Andrea Long

Naila Brown

Cody Ingraham

We're sorry we missed:

Erin Templeton

Gianluca Russo

Katie Yang

Limited number of NYSSMA Lessons Available!

If you do not already have a NYSSMA lesson scheduled for this week and would like one, come see me during homeroom tomorrow to take one of these available times:

Monday 4/12 AC

11:30

Wednesday 4/14 AC

11:30

NYSSMA Solo Festival - Times & Information

Festival Site: Ravena Coeymans Selkirk HS
ID:30 Zone:7
Address: Route 9W Ravena, NY 12143
4/16/10 & 4/17/10

**Please plan to arrive 45min - 1 hour prior to the time you are scheduled. This will allow you time to park, find the gym to warm up, locate your room, and fill out your forms.**

No photocopies are allowed at the NYSSMA festival. I have highly encouraged students to memorize their solo pieces so as evidence for full preparation. If you are still experiencing difficulty with your memorization, please discuss your concerns with me and/or contact John Keal Music to order additional copies of the original music.

Barnum, Arianna: Saturday 12:20pm Room S4

Burmistrova, Michelle: Saturday 2:15pm Room S2

Chen, Alicia: Saturday 11:05am Room S4

Darby, Matthew: Saturday 10:15am Room S2

Dong, Bill: Saturday 11:20am Room S4

Gonick, Kathryn: Saturday 10:20am Room S5

Krieg, Matthew: Friday 7:00pm Room S2

Lake, Alana: Saturday 1:55pm Room S2

Long, Gretchen & Andrea: Saturday 11:30am Room S5

Mulligan, Carrie Rose: Friday 7:10pm Room S4

Mulligan, Jo Ann: Friday 7:20pm Room S2

Mulligan, Carrie Rose, Jo Ann, and Mary Jean: Friday 4:35pm Room S4

Mulligan, Mary Jean: Friday 5:45pm Room S2

Pearson, Emma: Saturday 2:40pm Room S3

Rafferty, Catie: Saturday 10:15am Room S3

Russo, Gianluca: Saturday 2:35pm Room S5

Selsley, Alex: Saturday 1:45pm Room S5

Sipzner, Joey: Saturday 10:55am Room S2

Swyer, Rachel: Saturday 2:25pm Room S2

Templeton, Erin: Saturday 10:55am Room S4

Trainor, Aurora & Katie Gonick: Saturday 10:45am Room S2

Wang, William: Saturday 2:30pm Room S4

Yang, Katie: Saturday 10:45am Room S4

Yu, Michelle: Saturday 11:15am Room S2

Directions to Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School

Ravena High School is located on Rt. 9W, approximately ½ mile north of the village of Ravena, and approximately 12 - 13 miles south of Albany from exit 23 of the NYS Thruway.

From the north, east, west: Take NYS Thruway to exit 23 (Albany). Bear right onto Rt. 9W south. Travel approximately 12 - 13 miles. The school will be on the right.

From the south: Take NYS Thruway to exit 21B (Coxsackie). Bear right onto Rt. 9W north. Travel approximately 7 - 8 miles, through the village of Ravena. The school will be about ½ mile north of the village, on the left.

There is ample parking on the Ravena campus. Upon entering the campus, the High School is the building to the right.

1) Cars should park in either the large main lot on the left, or in the first lot on the right.

Both of these parking lots are adjacent to Rt. 9W.

2) Busses should park in the huge paved area straight ahead, between the High School (on the right) and the Middle School (to the left).

3) Percussion equipment may be unloaded at the gym entrance, which is closer to the percussion warm up area. Turn at the first right after entering the campus and go straight towards the football field and around to the left behind the building. Look for signs; someone will be there to assist you.

4) ALL PARTICIPANTS SHOULD ENTER AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR REGISTRATION. (Except percussionists unloading equipment at the gym entrance.)

Dress Rehearsal & Sectional Schedules

Review the dates for dress rehearsals, concerts, and sectionals and mark the times in your A-pads. Please also know the name of your stand partner and the approximate stand number prior to your arrival at the dress rehearsal. All dress rehearsals will be held onstage. Sectionals will be held in the orchestra room.

Bring your own copy of the music to all dress rehearsals and sectionals!!

Cellists and 6th Grade Bassists: due to the limited number of instruments available in our classroom, please make arrangements to bring your instrument from home on the day of your assigned dress rehearsal.

Monday, April 12, 2010
2:00-2:40pm: 7th & 8th Grade Orchestra Dress Rehearsal on Stage

Tuesday, April 13, 2010
8:50-9:30am: 6th Grade Orchestra Dress Rehearsal on Stage

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
9:30-10:10: 7th & 8th Grade Orchestra Dress Rehearsal on Stage

Thursday, April 15, 2010
6:45pm: 7th & 8th Grade Orchestra members arrive
7:30pm: 7th Grade Concert Concert (with combined 7/8 orchestra)

Monday, April 19, 2010 - 1:20pm - 7th/8th Sectional in Orchestra Room
Joe Sipzner, Walter Nyangaga, Gerardo Salazar, Shaddai Henry, Christina Morawski, Elijah Clemente, Naomi Tenenini, Alyson McAuliffe, Arianna Barnum, Katie Randorf, Michelle Yu, Rachel Swyer, Emma Pearson, Rebekah Wolanski, Andrea Long, Jennifer Hoffmann, Cody Ingraham, Sophia Schermerhorn, Curtis Ericson, Thomas Fortune

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 9:30am - 7th/8th Sectional in Orchestra Room

Ali Gohlke-Schermer, Alicia Chen, Mathilde Warren, Erin Templeton, Pranav Kannan, Jo Ann Mulligan, Carrie Rose Mulligan, Josh Lamb, Sazeed Huq, Kevin Zeng, Amir Rastegar, Natasha Permaul, Laura Chevalier, Karthik Ramesh, Naila Brown, Sarah Byerly, Abigail Kedik, Jacob Rosenberg, Julia Manobianco

Tuesday, April 20, 2010
10:10-10:50am: 6th Grade Orchestra Dress Rehearsal on Stage
6:45pm: 6th Grade Orchestra members arrive
7:30pm: 6th Grade Concert

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - 8:50am - 7th/8th Sectional in Orchestra Room

Mary Jean Mulligan, Vivian Dai, Andrew Xu, Gianluca Russo, Kristina Marinopoulos, Markos Abebe, Alana Zervos, Maddy Farry, Amy Toscano, Nihaal Pabba, Michael Trichilo, Elise Burby, Heather Krofft, Julia Chong, Hannah Hernandez, Sydney Campbell, Rose Leicht, Emily Gunther

April 23, 2010
12:50pm 7th & 8th Grade NYSSMA Majors Evaluation Festival