Grade Level Opportunities

6th Grade

Our program starts in the 6th grade! Mrs. Henzel and Mrs. Waring teach the basics of violin, viola, cello, and bass to students.  The students and their teachers begin the transformation from curious about the instrument to skillful! 

The students begin by learning the parts of the instrument, then learn how to pizzicato the notes, and after what seems like forever (probably only a month or so), they finally get to use the bow!  This progression helps lessen the screeches so often associated with learning a new instrument.  The winter concert is the first time you see the group play together, and the difference you hear between that show and the one in the spring will amaze you!

At the end of the 1st semester, Mrs. Henzel and Mrs. Waring offers an after school Chamber Orchestra with the intention of extending the experience for those who want a challenge. This group focuses on small group performances such as duets, trios, and quartets to prepare them for similar opportunities in High School. Entrance into this orchestra is audition based. There is an audition to determine initial seating.  Auditioning at this age, without the fear of not getting in, is great experience for the kids. The kids meet once per week after school at their Middle School and also play at the Chamber Dessert and a Show Concert.

7th Grade

Instruction during this year reviews the basic note reading skills learned in 6th grade and expands to the higher and lower strings of each instrument.  Students continue to work from their method book in lessons and prepare for their concerts using repertoire that focuses on more advanced fingering and bowing skills. 

Students will learn how to tune their instrument themselves, the beginnings of extended techniques, vibrato, and shifting. 

At the end of the 1st semester, Mrs. Henzel and Mrs. Waring offer an after school Chamber Orchestra with the intention of extending the experience for those who want a challenge. This group focuses on small group performances such as duets, trios, and quartets to prepare them for similar opportunities in High School. Entrance into this orchestra is audition based. There is an audition to determine initial seating.  Auditioning at this age, without the fear of not getting in, is great experience for the kids. The kids meet once per week after school at their Middle School and also play at the Chamber Dessert and a Show Concert.

At this age, students also can get some experience playing for judges by practicing and performing at Worlds of Fun! Experience with playing in ensembles, both large and small, teach students to focus, maintain commitments, and to bear a certain amount of scrutiny with poise and grace as judges rate their performances. 

8th Grade 

Instruction during this year reviews the extended techniques learned in 7th grade and continue to grow in their playing.  Students continue to work from their method book in lessons and prepare for their concerts using repertoire that focuses on more advanced techniques and bowing skills. 

At the end of the 1st semester, Mrs. Henzel and Mrs. Waring offer an after school Chamber Orchestra with the intention of extending the experience for those who want a challenge. This group focuses on small group performances such as duets, trios, and quartets to prepare them for similar opportunities in High School. Entrance into this orchestra is audition based. There is an audition to determine initial seating.  Auditioning at this age, without the fear of not getting in, is great experience for the kids. The kids meet once per week after school at their Middle School and also play at the Chamber Dessert and a Show Concert.

At this age, students also can get some experience playing for judges by practicing and performing at Worlds of Fun! Experience with playing in ensembles, both large and small, teach students to focus, maintain commitments, and to bear a certain amount of scrutiny with poise and grace as judges rate their performances.

High School 

In high school, students may experience the fruits of their labors and still continue to grow and learn new skills and techniques. All freshman take the Freshman Orchestra class.  In 10th through 12th grade, students are in the Ray-Pec High School Orchestra 

In all of the orchestra classes, students really showcase their years of practice and instruction!  In three or four orchestra concerts per year, the students perform challenging arrangements of mostly classical pieces with a few medleys of holiday music or themes from films for good measure.   Watching the level of accomplishments grow each year culminates in the high school concert experience.  You might wonder how you got away without paying for tickets because the pieces are played so amazingly!

Outside of school, students can also participate in the Solo and Ensemble Festival in March every year and the Large Group Festival. Some of the participants receive ratings that make them eligible for competition at the state level, which is held at the end of April.  Auditions for the District Orchestra and the Missouri All-State Orchestra also occur each year in November and December.

While the program may grow and change from year to year, rest assured the structure is sound, and the state of our program is strong! It’s a program with something for a variety of levels of interest, skill, and commitment!