Taft Orchestra

Whether you are joining for the first time in 4th grade, or returning for 5th grade, welcome to a great year of orchestra! This page is to share the important information that you need to know. If you have any questions, you can contact me at any time my email or Bloomz.

What will happen in class

Our classes will include a couple of activities everyday

• musictheory.net and Blooket: students will practice reading and identifying notes while their instruments get tuned. As they reach certain milestones, students will get prizes from my treasure box!

• Orchestra Karate: this is an adaptation of Recorder Karate. As students work through their Essential Elements book, they will have opportunities to earn their “Orchestra Belts” using the Essential Elements Quizzes. These are not for a grade, and students can earn their belts at any point in the school year.

• Other Music: students will practice additional music outside of the Essential Elements Book that is provided to them. This is what we play for our concerts!

What is needed for class

Your student will need to bring their instrument to and from school (except for students who play Bass, which we have classroom instruments for). Due to the number of students in orchestra, and sharing the classroom with Taft bands, we do not have enough space to store the instruments in the classroom.

They will need to have:

• Their instrument

• The necessary accessories for the instrument (this includes rosin, a cleaning cloth, violins and violas need a shoulder rest or sponge, cellos need a rock stop)

• Their Essential Elements Book One for their instrument

• Their school issued Chromebook

• A pencil

• trimmed fingernails (due to the position required to play the instrument, fingernails must be trimmed short. If they are long, or are fake/press-on nails, this holds the finger in an unnatural position that can cause injury over time!)

“Homework”

Since orchestra only happens twice a week, your student is expected to practice at home for their “homework.” This will include working on their music for concerts or Essential Elements Book songs in between the days when they have orchestra. Students do not have to move ahead or try things on their own (unless they want to!) They only need to practice what they have already done in class to keep it fresh in their mind. This allows us to move forward in class and learn new things, rather than spend it reviewing things we’ve already done. Students are expected to practice in between orchestra classes (about 10-15 minutes, twice a week) so they are sufficiently prepared for the next class!

Concerts

Taft orchestra will have two concerts during the school year. Rehearsals for these concerts will usually happen the week of the concert during the school day, however I will communicate if that changes. Check the Orchestra Boosters Calendar for concert dates!

Students will need to arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of the concert. This is so that I can tune all the students and make sure they are prepared. Students will meet in the Little Theater at the High School, the performance will take place in Archer Auditorium.

Students need to wear all black to the concert. This is called concert black attire, and is our “dress code” for concerts. Button downs, polos, blouses, skirts, dresses and dress pants are all acceptable. Please do not wear leggings, jeans, t shirts or hoodies. If you have any concerns about this, please contact me, we have solutions available!

If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at any time. We’re so glad to have you as a member of the Ashland Orchestras, and I look forward to teaching you as a part of your musical journey!

-Ms. Taylor