Students will learn how to set up, play and take care of their orchestra instrument! We will have about 3 or 4 concerts throughout the school year and rehearse basic songs as well as introductory orchestra pieces.
1) Click this link to go to the scholarship page
2) Click on "Click here to apply" and then fill out the online form
I encourage everyone to fill one out just in case you qualify for a cheaper price!
1) Click this link to go to the sign up page
2) Click "DCEIM, Douglas County HS 25-26"
3) If beginning orchestra (first year players) scroll down and click on page 2 and then find "Flagstone Beginning Orchestra" and add to cart, if intermediate/advanced orchestra (second & third year players) stay on page 1 and then find "Flagstone Intermediate Orchestra" (They mislabeled it, it should read "Flagstone intermediate/advanced orchestra") and add to cart
4) Once you've added the item to the cart, on the top right of the screen you'll find your cart, hit the orange "continue" and you can choose how you pay! When you get to the end of checkout you should be able to choose to pay monthly
Violin
Viola
Cello
Double Bass
I would highly recommend coming to our rental night on September 5th, 5-7pm @ Rock Ridge Elementary! Music & Arts and Golden Music will physically be there, you can rent from either of them and most are able to leave with their rental. If you are not available for the rental night you can still rent online from the companies here:
Music & Arts: click here
Golden Music: click here
For orchestra instruments, please rent until they are big enough for a full size (or 3/4 for double bass)! Students will continue to grow and I don't want you to have to purchase an instrument only to need to purchase another when they grow!
In order to improve in an ideal universe students would practice everyday, however that can be difficult a lot of the time. The expectation is that students practice a few times a week at home, here's what their practice will look like:
Students find a designated space at home
Set up their music stand
Play what they did in class, they have what they need to play in their practice logs in their music book
The main goal is to play from start to finish
If they can't, or they had a hard time with a section, they play the section that is difficult slowly several times
Setting up the habit to practice can be tricky, so I suggest setting a time that works for them! For example, every weekday after school at 5:30pm or Monday, Wednesday and Fridays after dinner. Students don't need to play for long periods of time!! At this stage, roughly 10 minutes is perfect. The most important thing is that they play at home consistently. The more you consistently use the neural pathways from your brian to your arms, hands and fingers, the more it becomes automatic and natural like learning how to properly type on a keyboard.
Each group meets twice a week, here are there times:
Beginning (First year) orchestra students: Wednesdays 4:10-5pm, Fridays 8:30-8:55am (start date: Sept. 10th)
Intermediate/Advanced (Second & Third year) orchestra students: Tuesdays 4:10-5pm, Fridays 8-8:55am (start date: Sept. 9th)
Please email me if you have questions on the schedule!
For Violin and Viola you'll need three other items! A music stand, shoulder rest*** and the music book that we'll use in class. The reason Violins and Violas need a shoulder rest is because they'll be on your shoulder most of the time and this makes it so much more comfortable for any player to hold the instrument! When you rent a Violin or Viola it should come with a sponge rest, however a shoulder rest will work much better for students! For Cellos and Double Basses you'll need just two items! A music stand and the music book that we'll use in class, click the amazon links below to grab what you need:
Music Stand: click here to grab the music stand that I would recommend
Violin***: Sound Innovation Book 1 and violin shoulder rest (1/2 size): Everest, violin shoulder rest (3/4 size): Everest
Viola***: Sound Innovation Book 1 and viola shoulder rest: Everest (It is a violin one, but beginner violas are violin size)
Cello: Sound Innovation Book 1
Double Bass: Sound Innovation Book 1
***: Everest shoulder rests are the standard for violin and violas! If you have questions about the sizing of your instrument, shoot me an email and we can figure out which is the correct size! smirandi@dcsdk12.org
Our Intermediate/Advanced orchestra will need three things this year! A music stand as well as book 1 & book 2 for their instrument. The reason students need book 1 & book 2 are because Intermediate students will be finishing working in book 1 while our advanced students help them and Advanced students will be finishing working in book 2 while intermediate students will play that music with them either modified so it's simpler or take the challenge to learn a new technique. Here are all the links you'll need:
Music Stand: click here to grab the music stand that I would recommend
Violin***: Sound Innovation Book 1, & book 2
Viola***: Sound Innovation Book 1, & book 2
Cello: Sound Innovation Book 1, & book 2
Double Bass: Sound Innovation Book 1, & book 2
***: If your child has a violin or viola, please refer to "(Beginning Orchestra) What other items do students need?" just above for shoulder rest information! If they don't have one please try to pick one up as it greatly helps students hold on to the instrument comfortably! If you have questions about the sizing of your instrument, shoot me an email and we can figure out which is the correct size! smirandi@dcsdk12.org
My goal is eventually make all first sound videos myself! However I'll need to have all the instruments first so please kindly watch parts of the videos linked below of professionals to have students start and continue good sounds!
Violin: click here to watch String Life! He will be using the viola but his information is great for violin! I recommend watching 1:17 to 1:47 for how to tighten the bow, 3:00 to 3:46 for how to hold the violin, 5:45 to 8:36 for the bow hold. Have students practice going from end to end on the bow on each string and making the best sound possible playing with how much pressure to use and how fast to bow
Viola: click here to watch String Life! I recommend watching 1:17 to 1:47 for how to tighten the bow, 3:00 to 3:46 for how to hold the viola, 5:45 to 8:36 for the bow hold. Have students practice going from end to end on the bow on each string and making the best sound possible playing with how much pressure to use and how fast to bow
Cello: click here to watch Thomann! I recommend watching from 1:33 to 2:42 for posture, and 4:52 to 7:00 for the bow hold. Have students practice going from end to end on the bow on each string and making the best sound possible playing with how much pressure to use and how fast to bow
Double Bass: click here to watch Kodi Huchinson! I recommend watching from 4:36 to 5:55 for holding the double bass, and 10:36 to 11:44 for bowing. Now you'll notice that he'll saying french bow and german bow, I'd recommend french bow since it's similar to the other string instruments and what most bassists will use. Only use German bow if you have a private teacher using that technique! Have students practice going from end to end on the bow on each string and making the best sound possible playing with how much pressure to use and how fast to bow