February 6, 2017
Please check the calendar on the front page for updated rehearsal information. Times have now bee published for the UIL rehearsals at Poteet HS on Feb. 17/18 and acknowledgement letter were given to students last week.
Beginners are working on ties and slurs in their music. We will have a review day this Friday playing Trasketball!
Intermediate is working on using consistently good posture, playing position, and intonation in all music. Our biggest challenge is vibrato. They have also been sight-reading in preparation for UIL.
Advanced orchestra is focusing on style and phrasing in their music. We are trying to draw out more than what is written on the page!
January 9, 2017
The second semester is off to a great start!
Beginning Orchestra is getting into a new section of the book that introduces songs that use multiple strings and the use of key signatures. Key signatures happen at the beginning of music and tell musicians which notes to play sharp or flat. We will begin working on our Beginner Festival Music this six weeks. Instruments should be going home daily. All beginners have a practice record due each Monday, whether or not it is signed. Instruments should be going home daily.
Between now and March the Intermediate and Advanced Orchestras will be preparing for UIL Contest. We are working hard on our three stage pieces, as well as sight reading. What is sight reading? I'm so glad you asked! Sight reading is literally reading a piece "on sight" meaning you don't get to practice and prepare it ahead of time. We walk into a room and the judges ask us to get a piece out of the sight reading folder. Mrs. Algood has 7 minutes to go over the piece by counting, singing, clapping, anything BUT playing it on an instrument. During that 7 minutes students are ONLY allowed to shadow bow and ask questions if they have raised their hand. Once the 7 minute timer is done, we have one opportunity to play the piece for the judges. We put the music back into the folder and leave the room. It is a pretty intense process, but it takes all the skills we have worked on and applies/creates new music.
December 2nd
I'm sorry for the big gap in posts. The orchestra has been busy - fall concert for Intermediate/Advanced, demonstration concert for Beginners, All-City auditions, All-Region auditions, and class ensembles were all in addition to the "regular" class time activities! So now it is suddenly December, wow. All three orchestras are working to prepare their Winter concert music (concert details coming soon). Advanced Orchestra is also working on caroling music in small ensembles.
ORCHESTRA FOCUS
Beginning Orchestra - correct bow holds and playing parallel to the bridge with a straight bow stroke
Intermediate Orchestra - rhythm and intonation in the key of G
Advanced Orchestra - musicality and phrasing
September 23
Next week is the end of the first grading period. Beginning Orchestra students will take their Six Weeks Test on Wednesday. Intermediate and Advanced will start their recordings on Wednesday and should be done by Thursday. Please make sure you have turned in ALL your work to ALL your teachers! Beginners have a practice record due the first school day of each week, which must be signed by a parent.
September 12
We are now 4 weeks into the school year! All students should have ALL their supplies (instrument, book, pencil) as grades will now be docked when they are not participating.
My expectation of student practice is that you will take your instrument home DAILY and practice at least 5 days a week. For those classes that do not have practice records, you need to practice until you master the passage- no matter how long or short that takes. For some people, they may only need to practice a passage a few times and then will be able to play it. For other people, it may take many more repetitions. Remember, playing through your music is not practicing!
Practice Tips:
September 6th
The first two weeks of school have gone by quickly! We are waiting on a few violins to arrive for the beginner classes so we can be in full swing. Intermediate Orchestra has warm-ups and concert music to work on while Advanced Orchestra has warm-ups, concert music, All-City audition music, and possibly All-Region audition music. Everyone should be busy practicing at home!
Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year!
What do I need for this year?
If you are looking to rent or purchase an instrument, please see the "Join the Orchestra" page by clicking the link below the pictures at the top of the page.
Everyone needs an instrument in good working condition (fine tuners move easily, pegs aren't stuck, strings aren't fraying or gunky), rosin, shoulder rest if you play violin or viola, a cleaning cloth, and a pencil.
Beginners - You need to purchase Orchestra Expressions, book 1 for your instrument. You also need a folding music stand for home, which will also be used at the MISD Beginning Strings Festival. The concert uniform is an orchestra polo, khaki pants (or ankle-length skirt), and tennis shoes.
Intermediate - You must provide your own tuner! You also need to purchase a copy of Essential Elements, book 2 for your instrument. The cover is cream with purple accents. Books are available at the local music stores or on Amazon. Order early - they do run out in August! Concert uniform is all black dress clothes from head to toe. This means dress slacks, dress shirts, and dress shoes for guys. Ladies have the option to wear dress pants and blouse or a dress (dresses must be below your knee, no bare shoulders).
Advanced - You must provide your own tuner! You also need to purchase a copy of Essential Technique (book 3) for your instrument. The cover is cream with green accents. Books are available at the local music stores or on Amazon. Order early - they do run out in August! Concert uniform is all black dress clothes from head to toe (same as last year). This means dress slacks, dress shirts, and dress shoes for guys. Ladies have the option to wear dress pants and blouse or a dress (dresses must be below your knee, no bare shoulders).
Please check the calendar on the front page for updated rehearsal information. Times have now bee published for the UIL rehearsals at Poteet HS on Feb. 17/18 and acknowledgement letter were given to students last week.
Beginners are working on ties and slurs in their music. We will have a review day this Friday playing Trasketball!
Intermediate is working on using consistently good posture, playing position, and intonation in all music. Our biggest challenge is vibrato. They have also been sight-reading in preparation for UIL.
Advanced orchestra is focusing on style and phrasing in their music. We are trying to draw out more than what is written on the page!
January 9, 2017
The second semester is off to a great start!
Beginning Orchestra is getting into a new section of the book that introduces songs that use multiple strings and the use of key signatures. Key signatures happen at the beginning of music and tell musicians which notes to play sharp or flat. We will begin working on our Beginner Festival Music this six weeks. Instruments should be going home daily. All beginners have a practice record due each Monday, whether or not it is signed. Instruments should be going home daily.
Between now and March the Intermediate and Advanced Orchestras will be preparing for UIL Contest. We are working hard on our three stage pieces, as well as sight reading. What is sight reading? I'm so glad you asked! Sight reading is literally reading a piece "on sight" meaning you don't get to practice and prepare it ahead of time. We walk into a room and the judges ask us to get a piece out of the sight reading folder. Mrs. Algood has 7 minutes to go over the piece by counting, singing, clapping, anything BUT playing it on an instrument. During that 7 minutes students are ONLY allowed to shadow bow and ask questions if they have raised their hand. Once the 7 minute timer is done, we have one opportunity to play the piece for the judges. We put the music back into the folder and leave the room. It is a pretty intense process, but it takes all the skills we have worked on and applies/creates new music.
December 2nd
I'm sorry for the big gap in posts. The orchestra has been busy - fall concert for Intermediate/Advanced, demonstration concert for Beginners, All-City auditions, All-Region auditions, and class ensembles were all in addition to the "regular" class time activities! So now it is suddenly December, wow. All three orchestras are working to prepare their Winter concert music (concert details coming soon). Advanced Orchestra is also working on caroling music in small ensembles.
ORCHESTRA FOCUS
Beginning Orchestra - correct bow holds and playing parallel to the bridge with a straight bow stroke
Intermediate Orchestra - rhythm and intonation in the key of G
Advanced Orchestra - musicality and phrasing
September 23
Next week is the end of the first grading period. Beginning Orchestra students will take their Six Weeks Test on Wednesday. Intermediate and Advanced will start their recordings on Wednesday and should be done by Thursday. Please make sure you have turned in ALL your work to ALL your teachers! Beginners have a practice record due the first school day of each week, which must be signed by a parent.
September 12
We are now 4 weeks into the school year! All students should have ALL their supplies (instrument, book, pencil) as grades will now be docked when they are not participating.
My expectation of student practice is that you will take your instrument home DAILY and practice at least 5 days a week. For those classes that do not have practice records, you need to practice until you master the passage- no matter how long or short that takes. For some people, they may only need to practice a passage a few times and then will be able to play it. For other people, it may take many more repetitions. Remember, playing through your music is not practicing!
Practice Tips:
- Tune your instrument FIRST!
- Set a goal (something particular like correct bowing, intonation, rhythm, at tempo)
- Use a metronome and/or tuner
- Only do a SMALL chunk at a time
- Warm-up with a scale, finger pattern, etc.
- Clap/count/note name
- Pizzicato to make sure the left hand knows it's job
- Add bow only after the left hand is secure!
September 6th
The first two weeks of school have gone by quickly! We are waiting on a few violins to arrive for the beginner classes so we can be in full swing. Intermediate Orchestra has warm-ups and concert music to work on while Advanced Orchestra has warm-ups, concert music, All-City audition music, and possibly All-Region audition music. Everyone should be busy practicing at home!
Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year!
What do I need for this year?
If you are looking to rent or purchase an instrument, please see the "Join the Orchestra" page by clicking the link below the pictures at the top of the page.
Everyone needs an instrument in good working condition (fine tuners move easily, pegs aren't stuck, strings aren't fraying or gunky), rosin, shoulder rest if you play violin or viola, a cleaning cloth, and a pencil.
Beginners - You need to purchase Orchestra Expressions, book 1 for your instrument. You also need a folding music stand for home, which will also be used at the MISD Beginning Strings Festival. The concert uniform is an orchestra polo, khaki pants (or ankle-length skirt), and tennis shoes.
Intermediate - You must provide your own tuner! You also need to purchase a copy of Essential Elements, book 2 for your instrument. The cover is cream with purple accents. Books are available at the local music stores or on Amazon. Order early - they do run out in August! Concert uniform is all black dress clothes from head to toe. This means dress slacks, dress shirts, and dress shoes for guys. Ladies have the option to wear dress pants and blouse or a dress (dresses must be below your knee, no bare shoulders).
Advanced - You must provide your own tuner! You also need to purchase a copy of Essential Technique (book 3) for your instrument. The cover is cream with green accents. Books are available at the local music stores or on Amazon. Order early - they do run out in August! Concert uniform is all black dress clothes from head to toe (same as last year). This means dress slacks, dress shirts, and dress shoes for guys. Ladies have the option to wear dress pants and blouse or a dress (dresses must be below your knee, no bare shoulders).