String Update and Assignment

Fourth Graders
4A:  The students have been doing an excellent job on viola and cello!  Today we reviewed the D string notes:  Open D, E, F#, and G.  It can be a little tricky to get all of these notes in tune, but the students did a great job!

Assignment for 4A:

• Continue to practice the D string notes.
• Please work on the A string notes too! (Open A, B, C#, and D)
• Start to take a look at our first orchestra piece, Salamander Samba.

4B:  Today the students performed a song that they chose from page 14 or 15 in our book.  They did such a great job that I had them all play again so I could record videos! (Check them out at the bottom of this post).  We also practiced the A string notes and played through some of the songs on page 10, then learned how to read open G and open E on the staff.

Assignment for 4B:

• Practice ALL of the A string and D string notes.
• Play the D scale, ascending and descending (up and down)
• Start the Salamander Samba

4C:  Today we continued to reinforce the notes on the D string, then we moved to the A string.  We also worked on string crossings with the bow!

Assignment for 4C:

• Practice ALL of the A string and D string notes.
• D scale, ascending and descending (up and down)
• Start the Salamander Samba

Fifth Graders
5A: Today we spent most of our lesson working on St. Nick's Canon on the Housetop.  The rhythm can be a little bit difficult, so make sure that you count first before you play!

Assignment for 5A:

• Work on the beginning of Canon on the Housetop, up to rehearsal 13.  This is the part we will focus on in orchestra on Thursday!
• You may start to practice the First Finger Suite.

5B:  Today we focused on St. Nick's Canon on the Housetop.  There were many note mistakes, so please review all of the notes in the D major scale!

Assignment for 5B:

• Canon on the Housetop, up to measure 22.
• You may also start to practice the First Finger Suite.

Please note:  Orchestra this Thursday is for 5th grade only