Morton Junior High School Orchestra

2025-2026 Junior High Orchestra concerts

Monday March 16th optional concert to attend - Heidi White Scholarship Concert - Info below

Thu Apr 30th - Spring Concert at 7pm in the Kiln at the Junior High for 6th through 8th grade

Thu May 14th Peace Plays in Peoria - field trip during the school day for 7th and 8th grade orchestra

Heidi White Scholarship Concert

Monday, March 16th at 6pm at Grace Church

This form is the application for the annual Heidi White scholarship. Every year, we offer multiple partial scholarships to students to attend summer fine arts activities, private lessons, camps, or workshops. There is a suggested list for string players below.

This concert and scholarship are in memory of Mrs. Heidi White, who passed away suddenly at the age of 27 in 2004 after complications from childbirth. Mrs. White was the music teacher at Jefferson School and the choir director here at MJHS. The Heidi White Memorial Concert is Monday, March 16, at Grace Church beginning at 6:00. Admission is $5. Admission begins at 5:15, and the seating opens at 5:30. Proceeds from the concert support the Heidi White Memorial Music Endowment at the Morton Community Foundation. Scholarship winners will be announced at the concert.

Heidi White Scholarship Form

Recommended In-State Music Camps for all students

Heart of Illinois Camp (local!) https://www.hoisummermusicclinic.com/

ISU Music Camp - https://finearts.illinoisstate.edu/events-activities/string-project/summer/

U of I in Urbana-Champaign https://music.illinois.edu/engagement/isym/

Also consider taking lessons with a private teacher through the summer or all year long - Private Teachers You can generalize the amount of lessons 8 and then assume a price of between $20-40 for each half hour of a lesson. So a whole summer of half hour lessons at $30 could be $240.

Recommended Out-of-State Music Camps for advanced students

Birch Creek in Wisconsin - https://www.birchcreek.org/summer-music-academy-registration

Blue Lake in Michigan - https://bluelake.org/lifelongartssessioninfo#stringorchestra

Interlochen in Michigan https://www.interlochen.org/music/camp-programs#programs

If you are unsure of which of these may be appropriate, please reach out to Mr. Akers. Heart of Illinois and private lessons are the perfect ones to get started!

Resources

Hanbook

Note quizzes

https://www.noteflight.com/home

https://www.therhythmtrainer.com/

Introduction of instruments

https://isleoftune.com/

Orchestra Listening Practice

Google extension to slow down online recordings

Virtual Piano

4four.io Join the class using my teacher code - D2am1

Learn music theory in slow lessons with musictheory.net

blog on importance of orchestra

blog on the challenges of playing in orchestra

Makemusic.com

Compose music with Flat.io on ipads

Play drums and synths with https://midi.city/

Private Teacher List

Required Book for 7th and 8th grade Orchestra

I hope you all have had a wonderful summer! This year, I am asking all 7th and 8th grade orchestra students to purchase their own method book. We will be using Essential Elements book no. 2. Make sure you purchase the book for the correct instrument. It is available online, however I highly suggest you purchase this through Kidder Music. They are available on their website, kiddermusic.com or you could give them a call and have it delivered straight to the MJHS, so that it can be ready to roll day one. Kidder Music - (309) 692-4040. I have a handful of extras laying around, so let me know if you need one. Thanks! Let me know if you have any questions. I'm excited for another year of making great music and having fun!

Recommended Summer Music camps

6th grade practicers

Cheyenne L – 53 hours
Jaxon H – 50 hours
Nashan F – 47 hours
Nasia F – 47 hours
Parker W – 31 hours

7th grade practicers

Neeva P – 72 hours
Zidane G – 49 hours
Elijah J S – 48 hours
Adelynn M – 28 hours
Trinity H – 18 hours

8th grade practicers

Lila H – 43 hours
Reese W – 42 hours
Sophie D – 33 hours
Lilyana W – 14 hours
Shane R – 12 hours

Morton Schools partner closely with Kidder Music. If you're looking for something, calling them should usually be your first move. They can handle buying/renting instruments, music, supplies, lessons and much more.

Kidder Music: (309) 692-4040

Professional orchestras to see!

Peoria Symphony Orchestra - LINK

Knox Galesburg Symphony - LINK

Illinois Symphony in Bloomington - LINK

Chicago Symphony Orchestra - LINK

Heartland Festival Orchestra in Washington - LINK

St. Louis Orchestra - LINK

Other Performing opportunities

Peoria Youth Symphony and Suzuki Program - Auditions are in early August each year and by appointment in December.

Illinois Chamber Music Academy in Morton

Solo and Ensemble with IGSMA Friday, March 8, 2024; Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL

ILMEA - Illinois Music Education Association district festival auditions by October 1st by video and concert on November 1st

Jr. Prelude

Tips:

Practice slow - Keep finger nails short - listen to recordings

Help each other - Slow down recordings - Ask questions

download apps on your phone for tuners and metronomes for practing at home

Practice the hard parts slowly until there are no hard parts

practice the way you want to perform

Four T's - Time, Tune, Tone and Technique - focus on maximizing these fourskills

Go back to easy songs to focus on your skills, otherwise you might only be practicing how to read music

More Tips:

When practicing alone - pretend that you are your own teacher

Practice slowly with a metronome - Search up other fun songs

Practice! - Reward yourself after a practice session

Practice things right slowly the first time - Don't practice making mistakes quickly, they can be hard to unlearn

Have fun! - Take some time to just play random notes and make up your own songs

Play for your friends and family, get comfortable with playing in front of people, this will grow confidence

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