6th Grade

GMA Orchestra: 6th Grade Syllabus

School: Greenville Middle Academy

Directors: Anne Matthews, Margaret Walser

School phone: 864-355-5654

Extra help available as needed


COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Strings 6: This is a beginning level strings course with no prior experience necessary. This course is a beginning instruction for violin, viola, cello, and string bass. Beginning-level middle school literature will be studied. The curriculum includes the development of fundamental skills, concepts, composition, cooperative learning, music as it relates to history and culture, and strings techniques. The class will include an expectation for the purchase or rental of an instrument and individual practice at home. Concert performances will be an outgrowth of the study of musical concepts.

PREREQUISITE: None


SUPPLIES:

Method Books:

Essential Elements for Strings Book One, New Directions for Strings Book One

Other:

Students will need a composition notebook (bound) and a pencil each day. In addition, music will be distributed that should be kept in the folder provided and brought to class each day. Students are expected to procure an instrument in proper working order with rosin, shoulder rest for violin and viola, and rock stop for cellos and basses.


GRADING POLICY:

  • Major Assessments (50%): Performances, major tests
  • Minor Assessments (50%): Practice records, daily grades, minor playing tests, journal, quizzes


The teacher will monitor and adjust classroom procedures and schedule as needed. For specific course objectives and standards, please visit the South Carolina Department of Education at www.ed.sc.gov.


COURSE CONTENT STANDARDS/OBJECTIVES:

National Music Education Course Standards

Standard 1-Singing alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music

Standard 2-Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music

Standard 3-Improvising melodies, variations and accompaniments

Standard 4-Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines

Standard 5-Reading and notating music

Standard 6-Listening to, analyzing and describing music

Standard 7-Evaluating music and music performances

Standard 8-Understanding relationships between music, the other arts and disciplines outside the arts

Standard 9-Understanding music in relation to history and culture.


SOUTH CAROLINA MUSIC EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT STANDARDS

Component 1: Aesthetic Perception: Concept development: Pitch, Rhythm, Harmony, Texture, Form, Tempo, Dynamics

Component 2: Creative Expression: Skills development: Singing, Playing, Movement, Reading, Writing, Creating, Listening

Component 3: Musical Heritage: Historical and Cultural: Personal heritage, Musical heritage, Social heritage, Historic heritage

Component 4: Aesthetic Valuing: Application of Knowledge and Skills: Cultural background, Function of music, Judgment, Structure and Elements, Valuing Course Objectives:


SIXTH GRADE ORCHESTRA COURSE CONTENT INFORMATION:


The following course objectives are based on the National Music Education Course Standards, and the South Carolina Music Education Achievement Standards.


UNITS OF INSTRUCTION ALIGNED WITH STANDARDS S.S = State Standard


  • Demonstrate proper instrument and bow hold (S.S 2)
  • Label parts of the instrument (S.S 2)
  • Demonstrate proper care of the instrument
  • Read notes on all strings in first position (S.S 1, 2)
  • Be able to play and write counts for whole, half, quarter, dotted half, eighth notes, and corresponding rests in 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4 time (S.S 1, 2, 4)
  • Play with a solid tone and demonstrate understanding of good intonation (S.S 1, 2, 4 )
  • Recognize difference between half and whole steps, visually and aurally (S.S 1, 2, 4)
  • Imitate simple rhythmic and melodic patterns (S.S 1, 2, 4)
  • Play one octave scales and arpeggios in keys of D,G,C, and F major (S.S 1, 2)
  • Demonstrate detache, pizzicato, 2- 4 note slurs, staccato, legato, detached slurs up to 4 notes, hooked bowing, and slurred staccato (S.S 1, 2, 4)
  • Demonstrate understanding of accidentals, sharps, flats, and naturals, scale structure, key signatures, and musical terminology appropriate to level (repeat sign, d.c., d.s. al coda or al fine, double bar, bar line, measure, down bow and up bow, dynamics (pianissimo, piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, forte, and fortissimo), and tempo markings (Allegro, Andante and Adagio) (S.S 1, 2, 4)
  • Identify composers of music being learned; discuss social and historical perspective of various composers (S.S 1, 2, 3, 4)
  • Identify elements of and perform music of various cultures (S.S 1, 2, 3, 4)


Text: Essential Elements (E.E.) 2000 Bk. 1


SYLLABUS FOR FIRST QUARTER:


Unit I.


a. Caring for and understanding your instrument

b. History, parts, how to hold, general care and first song, “Fiddle Tune”

c. Names of strings, clef, plucking open strings (#1-9)

d. Basic vocabulary

e. Notes on the D string- Includes 4th finger on D

f. Pizzicato notes on the D string (#10-22)

g. Basic rhythms, quarter notes/rest values clap and say, vocabulary


Unit II.


h. Notes on the A String

i. Pizzicato notes on the A string (#22-32)

j. Basic rhythms, quarter notes/rest values clap and say in 4/4 time, and vocabulary

k. Introducing the Bow

l. Bow hold, bowing notes on the D and A string Exercises (#47-66)

m. Vocabulary, rhythm and composition exercises

n. Repertoire for Fall Concert


Unit III:


o. Intro to half notes/rests and left hand pizzicato (#77-86)

p. Defining, writing, clapping and saying half note patterns

q. Performance of songs using half note patterns

r. Fourth finger skills and reinforcement

s. Repertoire for concerts

t. Incorporation of skills in repertoire (#87-92)

u. Performance practice of songs using skills units V-VI


Syllabus for Second Quarter:


Unit IV:


a. Intro to ties and slurs (#108-115)

b. Defining ties and slurs

c. Performance of songs using ties and slurs

d. Repertoire for concerts


Unit V:


e. Introduction to G string notes (#93-102)

f. Writing, identifying and performing new notes on the G string

g. Intro to G major scale and patterns

h. Whole notes/rest values (#150-153) 1 week

i. Performance practice of songs using whole notes/rest values

j. Repertoire for concerts


Unit VI


k. Intro to 3/4 time (#103-107)

l. Defining, writing, clapping and saying 3/4 patterns

m. Performance of songs using 3/4 time and dotted half notes

n. Composition project/Intro to special effects (IB)

o. Repertoire for concerts


Syllabus for Third Quarter


Unit VII


a. Intro to eighth notes/rests, tempo markings, and 2/4 time (#66-76)

b. Defining, writing, clapping and saying eighth note patterns

c. Performance of pieces using 8th note rhythms

d. Definition of Allegro, Moderato, Andante

e. Definition and performance of pieces using 2/4 time signature

f. First and second endings

g. Repertoire for concerts


Unit VIII


h. Incorporation of skills in repertoire (#116-125)

i. Performance practice of pieces using skills units IX-X

j. Repertoire for concerts

k. F natural, whole/half steps and chromatic patterns (#136-134) 3 weeks

l. Writing, identifying, and performing above mentioned skills


Unit IX:


m. Intro to C Major (#135-143) Defining C major key signature

n. Performance of repertoire using C major patterns

o. Performance of pieces using mixed finger patterns

p. Repertoire for concerts

q. C string notes for viola/cello-Review of G and A for violin/bass (#144-145) 1 week

r. Performance and note reading skill/reinforcement

s. Repertoire for concerts


Syllabus for Fourth Quarter:


Unit X:


a. Review of E string notes (#156-166)

b. Performance practice using e string notes for violin / bass


Unit XI


c. Bowing Techniques (#167-176)

d. Introduction to staccato

e. Introduction to hooked bowing


Unit XII


f. Dynamics (#181-182 f, p, mf, mp, pp

g. Solo repertoire (#188-195)

h. Repertoire for final concert