Students progress from beginning to advanced levels of orchestra with auditions as a requirement to determine student's ability and placement for the appropriate level.
Graham has traditionally had three levels of orchestra.
Beginning String Orchestra (Orchestra, Level I)
Prerequisite: None; beginners welcomed! CSMA experience recommended.
Do you like the soothing sound of a string instrument or wonder how to play an instrument? If yes, this is the class for you. The String Orchestra (Level I) class offers instruction on violin, viola, cello, and string bass instruments with a focus on developing talent and skills with the joy of making music with vibrating strings! Students are expected to perform in four concerts during the year and will review and learn posture for playing position, bow skills and finger dexterity, music literacy (reading music), aural skills, stage presence, concert etiquette and collaboration. This class is ideal for those who have already participated in CSMA music during the 5th grade or who have one year of playing experience or no experience. Instruction also offers possibilities to play the String Bass! ALL GRADE LEVELS are welcome! Beginning through first year experience is supported—all that is necessary is the desire and motivation to study an orchestra instrument!
Intermediate String Orchestra (Orchestra, Level 2)
Prerequisite: Completion of Orchestra I, two or more years of private lessons or experience playing a string instrument (violin/viola/cello/bass) with Graham and CSMA teacher recommendation and audition/placement interview required.
Have you played your string orchestra instrument (violin/viola/cello/bass) for two or more years and want to relieve stress and have some fun playing music during the school day? The Intermediate String Orchestra II class is ideal for students who already have successfully completed Beginning Orchestra (Orchestra 1) (violin, viola, cello, bass) or who take extracurricular private music lessons for two or more years. Instruction offers continued focus on the refinement of tone quality, technique, aural skills and music literacy, dynamic expression, musicality, and possibilities to play the String Bass! Students will perform in four school concerts during the academic year and also have opportunities to develop skills in music festivals and to have fun performing at local events in the community and guest musicians/music teachers. The Intermediate orchestra is open to ALL GRADE LEVELS. Come and have fun making an impact on our community through orchestra!
Advanced Orchestra (Orchestra III, Level III)
Prerequisite: Successful Completion of Orchestra II, or CSMA Honor Orchestra recommendation or Audition/Placement Interview.
Do you like performing, and listening to beautiful music? The Advanced Orchestra (level III) is open to ALL GRADE LEVELS who meet the prerequisite. Students who have three or more years of experience will feel comfortable at this level. The class concentrates on advanced technical and musically expressive skills in the ensemble-focused setting. Membership in the advanced groups is selective as advanced reading, musicianship and student responsibility are required in addition to mandatory concerts (both extracurricular and at school concerts). Leadership, collaboration, listening, responsibility and talent are developed through musical expression. In addition to four school concerts during the academic year in the Advanced Orchestra, students will have opportunities to perform at CMEA (California Music Educators Association) music festival during the weekends and opportunities to perform chamber music (duet, trio, quartet, quintet) for the community. Please email Ms. Chiao at schiao@mvwsd.org regarding placement information or teacher recommendations. *Special note: 8th graders in Advanced Orchestra may attend a special trip we call "Tour." Information about this trip will be given during the first trimester of the academic school year. Advanced Orchestra Students in 7th and 8th grades may also be invited to perform in Solo and Ensemble Honor Orchestras.
It will give the student leadership, organization skills, teamwork, confidence, listening skills, problem solving strategies, cross-curricular advantages in social studies, math, language arts, and self-discipline. Please click on the following articles to see how playing in orchestra will prepare one for skills in college and beyond:
Playing an instrument gives higher executive brain skills than just listening to music (courtesy of common health website)
Playing in an orchestra gives you career benefits courtesy of oxford-royale website.
Reasons why you should join orchestra- courtesy of connolly music
How to listen when tuning and/or how to tune their own instrument.
Executive skills to perform on their instrument with both the bow and left hand.
Performance of rhythmic patterns.
Scales, arpeggios and warm-ups.
Sight-reading music at first sight from easy to progressively difficult levels.
Tunes/Songs in multiple keys.
Bowing patterns and bow distribution for an even melody and tone.
Left hand finger patterns for increasingly complex chromatic patterns and accidentals
Technique for producing a beautiful sound with musicality.
Musical phrases that say something beyond the mere notes.
Cross-curricular connections to visual art, history, cultural/ethnic studies, and language.
How to contribute to and to have a unique voice in the musical community through playing a stringed instrument.
For more resources on string skills, please visit the following website: String Skills