Embedded Files
Q: Does my child have to try out to be in the Snellville Middle School Orchestra?
A: Your child does not have to try out to be in the orchestra – we accept anyone and everyone.
Q: Does my son or daughter have to have any prior experience in music in order to be in the orchestra?
A: No. I start from the very beginning and I teach all of the students how to hold and play the instruments, and how to read music.
A: If your student does have prior experience in music, on any instrument, there are plenty of optional activities that will pose more of a challenge for those students. Please refer to Enrichment Opportunities tab.
Q: What if my son or daughter is left-handed? Does that mean that he/she will be unsuccessful on the violin, viola, cello, or bass?
A: It does not matter if your student is right or left-handed. When playing a stringed instrument, the left hand is used to play the notes, while the right hand is used to bow. Students can be taught how to play a string instrument regardless of which hand is their dominant hand.
Q: What instruments are offered as a part of the orchestra class?
A: Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass (Highest to Lowest Sound)
Q: Would my son or daughter have to stay after school or come before school every day to be a part of the orchestra program?
A: Orchestra is a class that takes place during the connections time each school day as a part of your child's schedule. Though we may have optional opportunities that take place before and after school, orchestra events generally only occur during the school day.
A: We do have concerts that will take place during the evenings, but these are times that are set aside for the students to showcase the performance skills that they will learn. Our concerts are a great celebration of all the hard work that your child has put into learning how to play his/her instrument.
Q: Do we have to buy an instrument for my son or daughter to be in the orchestra program?
A: We highly recommend that students rent/purchase their own instrument. We have enough basses in the classroom for students to use a school-owned instrument every day, so that they do not have to tote the instruments back and forth. Renting/purchasing a bass to have at home for practice and to have for concert/festivals/ etc. is ideal. You can rent/purchase an instrument from a local music store or online. Daily practice time is a key factor in your child's success in orchestra. If you are going to purchase an instrument online please make sure it a from a music store site.
A: Students who choose to play violin and viola rent or purchase an instrument from a local music store or online.
A: If ordering online, please make sure to check the quality and read the reviews before you purchase.
A: Some places to rent/purchase instruments from: Music and Arts, Shar Music, Ronald Sach's, Sound Associates, Music Go Around, Atlanta Strings, Gwinnett Discount Music, just to name a few.
Q: Can my son or daughter decide to join orchestra in their seventh or eighth grade year?
A: Students can only decide to join orchestra in the sixth grade. We build the fundamental skills during the sixth grade year so that we can progress to more advanced and exciting things in the seventh and eighth grade years. Currently, we do not have a beginning 7th and 8th grade class for students to join. This is subject to change depending on the needs of the connections.
A. We do have exceptions as some students transfer to our school with orchestra experience. You would need to let the office know, so your child can be placed in the appropriate orchestra class.
Report abuse