Classes

6th Grade Orchestra (Beginning Level) 🎻

The 6th Grade Orchestra is the entry point for students, primarily focused on building fundamental skills.

• Focus: Students learn the basics of their instrument (violin, viola, cello, or bass), including proper posture, bow hold, finger placement, and instrument care.

• Curriculum: The class emphasizes music literacy, covering how to read standard musical notation, rhythm patterns, and basic music terminology.

• Repertoire: Students play unison and two-part beginner pieces, focusing on simple scales and short exercises to develop tone quality and intonation. This level concentrates heavily on establishing solid habits for future success.

7th Grade Orchestra (Intermediate Level) 🎶

The 7th Grade Orchestra builds directly upon the foundation established in 6th grade, introducing more complex concepts and techniques.

• Focus: Students refine their technique, focusing on shifting positions (e.g., third position), more advanced bowing styles (like staccato and slurs), and achieving a richer tone.

• Curriculum: Emphasis shifts to ensemble playing and musicality. Students learn to follow a conductor more precisely and play with greater dynamic and expressive variety. They are introduced to minor scales and more complex key signatures.

• Repertoire: Students perform three- and four-part arrangements, preparing for their first formal assessment experiences, such as the KMEA Large Ensemble Assessment.

8th Grade Orchestra (Advanced/Performance Level) 🌟

The 8th Grade Orchestra is the program's advanced ensemble, focused on high-level performance and musical independence.

• Focus: Students are expected to demonstrate technical mastery and musical maturity. They solidify advanced techniques, including vibrato, complex rhythms, and varied bowing specific to the repertoire.

• Curriculum: The class focuses on sight-reading skills, deeper music theory, and preparing for high school orchestra. Students often take on leadership roles within the sections.

• Repertoire: This ensemble performs challenging, collegiate-level or advanced high school literature and is the group selected for special performance opportunities, such as the KMEA State Conference. Students at this level also frequently participate in the District Solo and Ensemble Festival.