Morton Junior High School Orchestra

2026-2027 Junior High Orchestra concerts

Fri 10/16 - 7th and 8th Orchestra Concert 6pm at JH Kiln

Thu 12/10 - 6th-12th grade Orchestra Concert 7pm at HS Bertha

Fri 2/19 - 6th-12th grade Morton Orchestra Festival at HS Bertha

Thu 4/29 - 6th–8th grade Orchestra Concert 7pm at JH Kiln

Fri 5/13 - Possible date for 7th and 8th grade Field trip concert for Peace Plays in Peoria, a concert during the school day at the riverfront museum.

Other dates and opportunities

Wed–Thu 8/26–8/27 - Instrumental Demo Days at Elem Schools High School orchestra students visit schools to recruit 6th grade students

Thu 8/27 - 6th Grade Instrumental Parent Meeting

Wed 9/2 - 6th grade orchestra Registration at the Junior High Kiln

Fri 9/4 - Jr. Prelude Auditions are due for 7th and 8th graders - optional

Sat 11/7 - HS/JH ILMEA All-District - Optional - Info below

Fri 2/12 - 7th and 8th grade Solo and Ensemble

Required Book for 7th and 8th grade Orchestra

I hope you all have had a wonderful summer! 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. For 8th graders, it is the same book as last year, If you don't have your own book at home, please pick that up. 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. Kidder Music - (309) 692-4040. I have a handful of extras laying around, so let me know if you need one. Let me know if you have any questions. I'm excited for another year of making great music and having fun! Thanks!

Jr. Prelude Audition information

Curriculum

Join the Youth Music Illinois program!

https://www.youthmusicillinois.org

YMI has 4 levels of orchestras from beginners to advanced groups that perform high level pieces. Dolce String ensemble, Preparatory Orchestra, Concert Orchestra and Youth Symphony. Rehearsals are in Peoria at First Federated Church at 3601 N. Sheridan Rd. The top level (youth symphony) meets on Sundays from 3-5:30pm Concert Orchestra and Prep orchestra meet Thursdays from 6:30-8:30pm and Dolce meets Thursdays from 6-7. There is a fall season and spring season each year. You may audition at the beginning of each season.

Auditions will be held Sun Aug 16th and Wed Aug 19th. Fill out the form on this site to set up an audition or reach out to Lidia Riley at execdir@youthmusicillinois.org. At the audition you'll be asked to perform a solo that is 2 mintues or less, sight read a short piece of music and also several scales. The scales are listed below.

2026 fall audition information

To audtion for preparatory orchestra - Solo of up to 2 minutes, sight reading, 2 octave G, D, and C major scales and one octave G and D minor scales

To audition for concert orchestra - Solo of up to 2 minutes, sight reading, scales as follows - Violin 2 ocatve G, D, Amm, viola and cello 2 octave G, D, Dmm, bass 2 octave C, G, Amm2

to Audition for Youth Symphony - Solo of up to 2 minutes, sight reading and scales as follows - 3 octave E, Ab and Dmm

If you are taking private lessons, talk to your private teacher about selecting a solo. If you have been practicing your audition for ILMEA this year already, that could be a great selection if you are unsure.

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, repairs, 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

Youth Music Illinois (YMI) 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 more infor HERE audition materials HERE

Jr. Prelude

ILMEA All District and All state information

Deadline to sign up with Mr. Akers is Fri Sep 11th

Audition videos are due to Mr. Akers by Thu Sep 24th more info to come - Excerpts and scales, scales will be released 9/9

All District festival at Western Illinois University will be Sat Nov 7th

All State Festival at the Civic Center in Peoria, tentatively Rehearsal Thu Jan 29 9:30-4:30, Rehearsal Fri Jan 30 8:30-1:00, Concert Fri Jan 30 at 6pm

District you are basically guaranteed to be a part if you audition, but if you score high enough, you will also get to go to All state orchestra

ILMEA district 4 site

Parents,

Consider becoming a member of the Morton Orchestra Parents. This group helps run the Wreath fundraiser each year to support our young musicians. We only meet a couple times leading up to the fundraiser and then once after it. Consider getting on our email lists - HERE our first meeting is at MJHS in the orchestra room on Tue 9/8 at 7pm.

Resources

Handbook

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

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

Recommended Summer Music camps

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!

Schedule for festival on Friday 2/19/2027

6th grade students will be bussed from their schools after elementary school lets out

7th and 8th grade students will walk together to the HS after school.

3:30 6th grade performs

3:40 6th grade clinic

4:00 break for transition

4:05 7th grade performs

4:15 7th grade clinic

4:45 break for transition

4:50 8th grade performs

5:00 8th grade clinic

5:30 break for transition

5:35 HS performs

5:50 HS clinic until 6:20

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