coyne.eric@iowacityschools.org
NWMS 6th Grade
Coralville Central
One group lesson per week consisting on average of about 2-4 students for 20-30 minutes.
Lesson groups are scheduled by the following considerations:
Student ability level.
Similar instrumentation.
Individual student needs including (but not limited to) IEPs, 504s, and homeroom class attendance.
Other specials class scheduling such as art, music, guidance, PE, and library.
Instruction on the skills necessary to play their instrument such as:
Proper technique
Musical literacy (note/rhythm/symbol reading)
Theory
Musical expression and interpretation
...and much more!
Start of day or end of day school rehearsal for approximately 40 minutes
Beginning rehearsals take place at each individual elementary building.
Instruction on the skills necessary to play in an ensemble such as:
Critical listening
Matching and blending sound
Following conducting patterns/gestures
Group communication
...and much more!
A TON of fun learning how to play music with others!
Hoover-Friday AM (Steele)
Lemme-Tuesday AM (Steele)
Lincoln-Wednesday AM (Steele)
Longfellow-Friday PM (Tygart)
Lucas-Monday AM (Steele)
Mann- Monday PM (Steele)
Shimek-Monday PM (Yang)
Twain-Wednesday AM (Tygart)
Wood-Thursday (Tygart)
Alexander- Thursday AM (Steele)
Borlaug-Wednesday AM (Marston)
Coralville Central-Monday PM (Marston)
Hills-Thursday AM (Yang)
Horn-Tuesday PM (Marston)
Weber-Wednesday AM (Steele)
Wickham-Thursday PM: 1:15-1:55 (Yang)
Garner-Thursday AM
Grant-Tuesday AM
Kirkwood-Friday AM
Penn-Wednesday AM
Van Allen-Monday AM
TBD
TBD
Both with field trips morning of!
Dec 1 7PM LHS
April 30 7PM LHS
Attendance:
Attendance of all lessons, rehearsals, and performances (unless excused), is crucial to your student's success in orchestra. In order to learn the skills necessary to play a string instrument, your student must be present!
Practice:
This is probably the most important key to success for orchestra students. As directors, we teach your student the skills and information necessary to learn a string instrument. However, once it has been taught, it is up to your student to then learn those skills by practicing what they have been taught. Your student will essentially be learning a new language and a new way of conveying thoughts and emotions. Those that learn to speak a new language fluently spend years practicing that language many times a week until it begins to feel natural; learning an instrument is a similar challenge. We as teachers will meet your student where they are, offer many supports, and teach them how to practice so that they can make progress in the shortest amount of time possible. However, at the end of the day, time and focus it what it really takes and those that practice, often receive the most joy and fulfillment from orchestra.
Your student's instructor will work with you to determine how often and for how long your student should be practicing.
Growth Mindset:
Lastly, we as directors will work tirelessly with your students to keep them engaged and excited about orchestra. However, learning an instrument can be difficult at times and the amount of new information can feel overwhelming to some. If your student ever expresses their frustrations with the desire to quit, we ask that you encourage your student to push through those frustrations as they are often temporary speed bumps on the road to growth.
We firmly believe that every student is capable of learning an instrument and we will work to ensure that your student holds that same belief for themselves.