Final Exam Schedule

Take note of your final exam time. I will have passes available 1 day before your assigned playing time, and it is important that you check with your teacher during homeroom so that you will not be late. Bring all required materials with you as you will not have an opportunity to go to your locker during that time.

All day and time requests were honored. Students who did not choose a time for their exam were put into the remaining available time slots. If you have a field trip or other exam conflict, please notify me immediately. I will do the best I can to reschedule.

6^th Grade - A/C

Ryan Adkison 6/21 @ 10:10

Alex Beams 6/2 @ 2:00

Bridget Bellanger 6/11 @ 9:30

Michelle Burmistrova 6/21 @ 11:30

Ryan Dillon 6/17 @ 2:00

Bill Dong 6/17 @ 10:50

Katie Gonick 6/9 @ 2:00

Delaney Guntert 6/10 @ 11:30

Sara Kogelmann 6/17 @ 10:10

Cynthia Leonard 6/6 @ 11:30

Gretchen Long 6/11 @ 2:00

Matthew Lurie 6/7 @ 9:30

Eva Mazzella 6/3 @ 2:00

Michaela Mazzeo 6/9 @ 10:50

Britany Nauman 6/9 @ 11:30

Ahna Pearson 6/21 @ 11:30

Elizabeth Reedy 6/3 @ 2:00

Alfredo Salazar 6/4 @ 10:50

Elaine Santos 6/11 @ 11:30

Catherine Seita 6/11 @ 10:10

Sera Song 6/8 @ 10:50

Nora Stevens 6/11 @ 10:10

Aurora Trainor 6/9 @ 2:00

Rebecca Tucker 6/9 @ 9:30

Michael Zhu 6/3 @ 11:30

6^th Grade - B/D

Rachel Cardiff 6/7 @ 11:30

Marko Crnkovic 6/14 @ 10:50

Matthew Darby 6/3 @ 9:30

Megan Govin 6/3 @ 10:10

Sarah Hanlon 6/10 @ 4:15

Claire Hill 6/10 @ 9:30

Nataleigh Huber 6/11 @ 9:30

Winsor Jewell 6/18 @ 1:20

Jacob Kelley 6/10 @ 10:50

Matthew Krieg 6/14 @ 9:30

Lucas Laing 6/10 @ 1:20

Alana Lake 6/17 @ 10:10

Annie Lin 6/10 @ 11:30

Sydney Marotta 6/10 @ 1:20

Sabrina Milks 6/8 @ 9:30

Cory Parker 6/2 @ 9:30

Sophie Patka 6/2 @ 9:30

Joseph Petitti 6/4 @ 11:30

John Piechowiak 6/4 @ 10:50

Catherine Rafferty 6/14 @ 11:30

Allison Reiner 6/3 @ 9:30

Eliana Rowe 6/8 @ 1:20

Gabrielle Sanza 6/10 @ 9:30

Alexander Selsley 6/14 @ 9:30

Paul Trichilo 6/10 @ 10:50

Katie Yang 6/8 @ 1:20

7^th Grade

Markos Abebe 6/4 @ 11:30

Arianna Barnum 6/7 @ 10:50

Naila Brown 6/7 @ 10:50

Alicia Chen 6/17 @ 2:00

Elijah Clemente 6/21 @ 2:00

Vivian Dai 6/9 @ 10:10

Curtis Ericson 6/8 @ 11:30

Madeline Farry 6/17 @ 9:30

Thomas Fortune 6/4 @ 2:00

Emily Gunther 6/4 @ 2:00

Shaddai Henry 6/11 @ 11:30

Hannah Hernandez 6/21 @ 10:50

Jennifer Hoffmann 6/9 @ 10:10

Sazeed Huq 6/21 @ 9:30

Heather Krofft 6/3 @ 11:30

Rosemary Leicht 6/18 @ 10:50

Kristina Marinopoulos 6/18 @ 2:00

Allyson McAuliffe 6/7 @ 9:30

Christina Morawski 6/4 @ 9:30

Carrie Rose Mulligan 6/14 @ 1:20

Jo Ann Mulligan 6/14 @ 1:20

Walter Nyangaga 6/18 @ 11:30

Nihaal Pabba 6/9 @ 9:30

Natasha Permaul 6/14 @ 11:30

Amir Rastegar 6/9 @ 10:50

Jacob Rosenberg 6/21 @ 9:30

Gianluca Russo 6/17 @ 11:30

Gerardo Salazar 6/4 @ 9:30

Sophia Schermerhorn 6/21 @ 10:50

Rachel Swyer 6/18 @ 10:50

Erin Templeton 6/17 @ 11:30

Emily Toffenetti 6/14 @ 2:00

Rebekah Wolanski 6/14 @ 10:50

Michelle Yu 6/17 @ 9:30

Kevin Zeng 6/3 @ 10:10

Alana Zervos 6/21 @ 10:10

8^th Grade

Elise Burby 6/18 @ 8:50

Sarah Byerly 6/3 @ 8:50

Sydney Campbell 6/18 @ 11:30

Laura Chevalier 6/4 @ 8:50

Julia Chong 6/4 @ 8:50

Ali Gohlke-Schermer 6/10 @ 2:00

Courtland Ingraham 6/21 @ 2:00

Pranav Kannan 6/7 @ 8:50

Abigail Kedik 6/18 @ 9:30

Josh Lamb 6/7 @ 8:50

Andrea Long 6/11 @ 2:00

Mary Jean Mulligan 6/18 @ 9:30

Emma Pearson 6/19 @ 2:00

Karthik Ramesh 6/8 @ 8:50

Katie Randorf 6/8 @ 8:50

Joe Sipzner 6/8 @ 9:30

Naomi Tenenini 6/7 @ 11:30

Amy Toscano 6/10 @ 2:00

Michael Trichilo 6/9 @ 11:30

Mathilde Warren 6/14 @ 2:00

Andrew Xu 6/8 @ 10:50

Final Exam Times/Dates

I've decided that with all the testing, field trips, and other disruptions to the daily schedule, it would be better for me to give you the opportunity to sign up for the most desirable final exam time.

The list of available days and times has been posted on the storage closet doors in the orchestra room.
Please consult your A-pad planner before signing up for a time.


No 8:50am/Mod 1 times have been listed, but they are available if anyone is interested. Activity Period exams can also be arranged, but students should come talk to me about this ASAP.


Helpful Hint: Do not wait until the last minute to sign up for a time. Also, do not put off your final exam until the last possible date in the event of a last-minute conflict.

Students who are not signed up by Wednesday afternoon (this Wednesday -- May 26th) will be assigned a time and responsible for changing it with me at least 2 days before the exam if there is a conflict.

Please come prepared and ready to play!

Final Exam Excerpts

6th Grade

Violin A
Fiddles Out West: m29-37
Edelweiss: m37-44
Sea Song Suite/I. Drunken Sailor: m41-end

Violin B
Fiddles Out West: m13-16, m52-end
Edelweiss: m37-44
Sea Song Suite/I. Drunken Sailor: m41-end

Viola
Fiddles Out West: m13-17, m29-37
Edelweiss: m45-end
Sea Song Suite/I. Drunken Sailor: m41-end

Cello
Fiddles Out West: m13-29
Edelweiss: m1-12
Sea Song Suite/I. Drunken Sailor: m41-end

Bass
Fiddles Out West: m13-29
Edelweiss: m29-39
Sea Song Suite/I. Drunken Sailor: m41-end


7th & 8th Grade

Violin 1
For the Star of County Down: m41-49; m158-166
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 "Second Movement": m15-24
Viva la Vida: m9-16

Violin 2
For the Star of County Down: m49-57; m117-125
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 "Second Movement": m9-17
Viva la Vida: m9-16

Viola
For the Star of County Down: m33-41; m117-125
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 "Second Movement": m9-17
Viva la Vida: m9-16

Cello
For the Star of County Down: m57-75; m108-117
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 "Second Movement": m9-17
Viva la Vida: m9-16

Bass
For the Star of County Down: m90-104; m142-150
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 "Second Movement": m17-24
Viva la Vida: m9-16

6th Grade Assembly Concert

The FMS 6th Grade Assembly will take place on Thursday, June 24th in the Cafetorium.

The 6th Grade Orchestra, Band, and Choir will perform at this assembly, so students should plan on bringing their instruments to school that day.

Any student renting an instrument from school should plan on playing that instrument in the daytime performance. They can return their rental that day.

Chamber Strings

Our concert is less than 2 rehearsals away! Wednesday, June 9th -- the Dessert Concert @ FMS!

For this concert, we will play: O Mio Babbino Caro, Be Boppin' Bourree, and Dance of Iscariot.

Today, we played all three pieces in their entirety and rehearsed sections from O Mio Babbino Caro and Be Boppin' Bourree. I was happy to hear that our dynamics discussions from last week's O Mio rehearsal stuck and made this week's music more beautiful! Also, kudos to the cello section who restrained themselves from pushing the tempo forward (as is so easy when playing staccato or pizzicato) in Be Boppin'. I am hardly concerned with the fact that it is not perfect yet, but rather, am happy that you have realized -- and begun to address -- that weaker area.

Next week I WILL start with Dance of Iscariot. So many good things are happening with this piece! Among them:

• dynamics (especially impressive in 1st violins)
• bow location (thanks for staying in the lower half with those dotted/accented 8th notes violas)
• accents (yay 2nds!)
• tempo considerations (both maintaining and changing when indicated -- great, cellos!)

In attendance today were:

Alicia Chen

Gretchen Long

William Wang

Bill Dong

Marko Crnkovic

Karthik Ramesh

Catherine Rafferty

Andrea Long

Naila Brown

Katie Yang

Excused because of Earth Science field trip:

Joe Sipzner

Emma Pearson

Absent:

Katie Gonick

Erin Templeton

Arianna Barnum

Gianluca Russo

Rachel Swyer

Cody Ingraham

Students who have missed 2 or more rehearsals should come see me to arrange a time to play excerpts. Because our concert is coming up so quickly and we have had so few rehearsals, it is important that you be keeping up with your share of practicing even when you are absent. A satisfactory performance of the following excerpts is necessary to participate in our concert:

Violin 1:

Be Boppin' Bourree - m5 (take 2nd ending) - 11; m 21-1st ending

O Mio Babbino Caro - m5-9; m57-end

Dance of Iscariot - m29-38; m44-52; m59-67

Violin 2:
Be Boppin' Bourree - m5-12; m16-19

O Mio Babbino Caro - m45-53 (counting rests!); m59-end

Dance of Iscariot - beginning; m38-49; m67-76

Viola:

Be Boppin' Bourree - m11-15; m 23-end

O Mio Babbino Caro - m21-25; m59-end

Dance of Iscariot - m29-38; m42-49; m59-76

Cello:

O Mio Babbino Caro - m17-25; m35-49

Be Boppin' Bourree - m5-13; m23-end

Dance of Iscariot - m29-35; m44-50; m86-end

Lesson Group Updates - Monday/Tuesday

M1

2 lessons so far (5/3 @ 8:50, 5/10 @ 10:10)

Materials: Seitz excerpt sheet, Major Scale Sheet, Orchestra music

Notes: all have begun to record major scales as part of their final exam submission

Most recent assignment: Bb Major scale in 2 octaves; Memorize excerpts #1 & #2 from Seitz sheet; Learn notes, rhythms, and bowings from excerpt #5; Special attention to "Second Movement" m15-18

M2

2 lessons so far (5/3 @ 11:30, 5/10 @ 2:00)

Materials: Allegro sheet, Major Scale Sheet, Orchestra music

Notes: significant absences; Gerardo has begun to record scales for final exam submission

Most recent assignment: finish memorizing Allegro (last week's assignment was to memorize the first/second/last line); review key signatures of major scales

M3

2 lessons so far (5/3 @ 9:30, 5/10 @ 10:50)

Materials: Minuet in G excerpt sheet, Major Scale Sheet, Orchestra music

Notes: our biggest obstacle is intonation! Pay attention to your tapes, and use solfege to find starting pitches; Kristina, Nihaal, and Rachel have begun to record scales for final exam submission

Most recent assignment: Memorize excerpts #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 @ quarter=60-80bpm for the next lesson. Remember to chant the steady rhythm before using your bow. Continue to practice the F Major scale, and look at Brandenburg "Second Movement" m15-17

M4

2 lessons so far (5/3 @ 10:50, 5/10 @ 8:50)

Materials: Minuet in G excerpt sheet, Major Scale Sheet, Orchestra music

Notes: generally good with key signature identification and finger placement! Practice in front of a mirror to improve posture.

Most recent assignment: Bb Major scale in 2 octaves; Minuet in G excerpts #1, #2, #3 @ quarter=60-80bpm; Minuet in G excerpts #4 and #5 at a comfortable tempo

M5

2 lessons so far (5/3 @ 1:20, 5/10 @ 9:30)

Materials: Allegro, Major Scale Sheet, Orchestra music

Notes: need to develop the back, shoulder, and abdominal muscles needed to hold instrument horizontally. Pitch suffers as a result of poor playing posture.

Most recent assignment: Eb Major scale; finish memorizing Allegro

T1

1 lesson so far (5/4 @ 10:10) and one tomorrow

Materials: Seitz excerpts, Orchestra music

Notes: focus on intonation! Sometimes the "half steps = fingers touching" rule does not always apply. Use your ears to listen for intervals!

Most recent assignment: Bb Major scale; Seitz excerpts #1 & #2 @ eighth=84-108; Brandenburg "Second Movement" m15-16

T2

1 lesson so far (5/4 @ 8:50)

Materials: Fiocco Allegro, Orchestra music

Notes: some students have begun to record scales for final exam submission; Shifting excercises in Brandenburg must be done s l o w l y or else you'll just be practicing incorrectly. Practice doesn't make perfect -- perfect practice makes perfect.

Most recent assignment: Bb Major scale in 2 octaves; Fiocco Allegro m36-39 @ sixteenth = 80-120; m18 in Fiocco Allegro @ eighth=80-120; Brandenburg "Second Movement" m15-25

T3

1 lesson so far (5/4 @ 2:00)

Materials: Bartok Folk Dances/Duets, Gavotte from Orchestral Suite #3, Orchestra Music

Notes: great attendance and very good effort being shown by this lesson group! Remember that accidentals carry through the measures. In Gavotte II, hear sol-mi-do in the key of A major (use do to find mi -- tune mi and sol for double stop), and keep 2nd finger down

Most recent assignment: Eb Major scale in 2 octaves; Gavotte II: m16-18; both parts of Maypole Dance (No. 2, Andante, G Major, cut time)

Chamber Strings

Our spring Chamber Strings performance will be on the Dessert Concert on June 9th. On this concert, we plan to play:

Be Boppin' Bourree

O Mio Babbino Caro

Dance of Iscariot

Today, we worked mostly on Be Boppin' Bourree. When playing in the jazz genre, it is fun to break some of the "rules" of classical music. Some of these rules include:

• Not adding glissando (slippy-slides) between notes that call for use of the same finger.
• Playing 8th notes as straight du-de's that can be futher divided into du-ta-de-ta's.
  

However, in order to break the rules, we must know how to follow them properly. As an ensemble, we had great difficulty playing our parts to a metronome set at quarter=80bpm. As Be Boppin Bourree consists only of eighth notes and quarter notes, playing with a slow metronome tempo should be an easy task. Remember: tempo is in YOUR hands. I can conduct, I can tap, I can count out loud, but what it comes down to is that you must be able to know where you are, where you're going, and how long it takes to get there. Practice with metronomes! I want to be able to break some rules really soon!

In contrast to the hurried tempos in and careless articulations in Be Boppin', O Mio Babbino Caro was really beautiful this week. Cellists are now getting a good sense of what I have been asking for in those measures with 3 notes slurred (and marked with tenutos). We discussed and tried a lot of dynamics in rehearsal. The piece doesn't have many dynamics marked, so we should ask ourselves:

• Do few dynamic markings mean little change in dynamics?
• Are phrases marked with dynamics or do we have to add them in?
• How do I know what is a phrase? (Hint: watch the youtube video of Renee Flemming singing this!)
• How do I get from one dynamic marking to the next? (crescendo vs. subito)
• How does my dynamic compare to the markings in other sections?
• How can my bow help me achieve a good sound at this given dynamic?
• Is there anything I should write in to remind me of dynamics?
  

Speaking of bowing, we can also pay attention to when bow changes occur. Are you changing at the exact same time as your stand partner? As your section leader? As your friend in another section?

In attendance were:

Joe Sipzner

Katie Gonick

Alicia Chen

Erin Templeton

Gretchen Long

William Wang

Bill Dong

Marko Crnkovic

Rachel Swyer

Karthik Ramesh

Catie Rafferty

Andrea Long

Naila Brown

Cody Ingraham

We're sorry we missed:
Arianna Barnum

Gianluca Russo

Emma Pearson

Katie Yang