Testimonials

Orchestra has been a very helpful class for me. I was the person who never had a hobby until I joined orchestra. Music is my life and orchestra gave me a chance to truly explore it. Getting to play songs that were familiar to me gave me such joy. And now, I have a hobby that I thoroughly enjoy to this day. Playing music becomes difficult at times but it is very rewarding once you are able to accomplish your piece. If worried about stage fright, know that nobody is paying attention to just you. Mistakes are barely audible when everyone comes together. To this day I have terrible stage fright but I am still able to accomplish concerts no problem. Once on stage and actually playing, you feel more comfortable and your stage fright eventually dissipates. Overall I would highly recommend joining orchestra for the reason that it has changed my life and I am sure it will change yours too.

I like orchestra because it includes fun experiences and learning through the beautiful world of music. In orchestra, you learn how to play a string instrument, read music, play with other people/instruments, use a tuner, and so much more. I love working with other people and working with a team. Which is exactly what orchestra is! You are playing your music while another person is playing their music, you have to listen and learn. Orchestra takes hard work and dedication, but also includes fun field trips and concerts.

You should the AOMS orchestra because you will make new friends, have new experiences, and pick up a new passion. Some students who pick orchestra as their elective get scholarships for college! You also get to be part of something that hundreds of people are part of, the world of music! Plus, you can rent an instrument from the school, and get taught by the best orchestra teacher ever, Ms.Hall! Pick orchestra as your elective at AOMS today!

Hi! My name is Carys Guckenberger and I am a part of the AOMS Orchestra. We have so much fun playing our instruments and going on field trips as well as performing for friends and family! In Orchestra you can pick between playing Bass, Cello, Viola, and Violin, all of which sound awesome both alone and all together. You will learn interdependence and make friends you’ll get to grow with for 3 years. Playing a musical instrument also has many benefits for the brain that help with problem solving and memory. I really enjoy Orchestra and hope you choose it for your elective this year!

Orchestra has helped improve myself musically and personally. It has broadened my understanding of music theory, different genres of music, and the emotions of music. I have learned to adjust quickly when making mistakes and significantly improved at sightreading. Collaboration and teamwork skills from Orchestra have also made me the musician I am today. The warm, friendly environment has encouraged me to come out of my shell and be more open to people. Everyone supports each other and radiates positivity, especially our amazing teacher, Ms. Hall. You will make memories of a lifetime with exciting concerts, field trips, and fundraisers. The friendships I’ve made in Orchestra are the strongest I’ve ever had in my life. They have become my family.

Our Orchestra teacher, Ms. Hall, is always so patient, dedicated, hardworking, and caring. She is with all of our orchestras every step of the way, no matter how difficult the challenges. Ms. Hall is so talented and knows how to play all of the instruments in orchestra. You will have the best learning experience from her incredible knowledge.

Being in Orchestra has helped me form bonds with others who are also very passionate about music. It has helped me form a great community of people I trust. I’ve grown so close with students in Orchestra over the years that I think of them as my second family. We all get to participate in activities like field trips to Disneyland, performances, and fundraiser events. Exposure to different kinds of music in Orchestra has made me a more well rounded musician. Orchestra has also helped me improve my skills on the violin as I have learned to cooperate with other musicians. I wouldn’t have been able to really flourish in my journey without Ms. Hall, our orchestra director. She has made a big impact on me and many others, so I would like more people to feel the love of our family.

I truly believe that orchestra is a great elective to choose. In the beginning of 6th grade, I didn’t know what elective to choose and I just chose orchestra and didn’t know what I was going into. When I started, I was immediately welcomed and I was glad that I chose this elective. Also, Ms. Hall is a great teacher and she is my favorite teacher. She also makes class fun, we get to play kahoots, and if there was no COVID, we would get to go on field trips and perform 4-5 concerts. Now, at the end of the year, I feel emotional to leave this great family because I’m moving. If I could, I would certainly stay in the AOMS orchestra as long as I could. Now, because there are not enough 5th grade students choosing orchestra, there is going to be one beginning orchestra class instead of two. If you don’t know what elective to choose, orchestra is an AWESOME choice!

AOMS Orchestra helped me learn so much, and it allowed my brain to learn a new side of music. I made so many new friends and got to experience so many exhilarating things, including concerts, field trips, and more! Along with that, having Mrs. Hall as a teacher is one of the best things that happened to me at Aviara. She empowers and inspires her students so much, and she creates so many opportunities for all of her students and lets them express themselves. Orchestra is an elective no one will regret choosing.

Throughout my 3 years, every year was very fun and Ms. Hall is a great teacher. I started playing in sixth grade and now I am able to play in the Sage Creek chamber orchestra so I am very glad I had Ms. Hall to help me start my pathway in music. Also, just because violins, violas, cellos, and basses are used in classical music, it doesn’t mean it’s all you play. People may see orchestra as “boring” because they think classical slow music is all you play but that is definitely not true and Ms. Hall will pick out very fun pieces throughout the year. The people in the orchestra are very nice as well and I made many new friends every year. So just because your friends picked a different elective, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take orchestra if you’re interested because you’ll make new friends very quickly. There are also many outside opportunities and field trips so you get to perform in different places. That was probably one of my favorite parts of being in an orchestra. I am part of the AOMS class of 2020 so it was right when the pandemic hit. It may be different from when I was in the AOMS orchestra but Ms. Hall is working very hard to make up for the time lost through the pandemic and make the orchestra a better group constantly. Basically, orchestra is great so you should join :) Also, you don’t have to worry about breaking your eardrums like you do if you’re in band 👍