Orchestra Photos 2018!

Today, we did our yearly orchestra photo shoot.  This has become a fun tradition for the Memorial Orchestra, and a great way to end the year!

As always, we'll start with the most serious...

Then things get a little crazy...

After we took photos of the whole orchestra, some students wanted individual and small group shots:

You can download the full-resolution shots here: Orchestra Photos 2018

Links to previous orchestra photo shoots:
2017
2016
2015

Orchestra Lunch Party

This was a great year for the Memorial Orchestra!  Here are some photos from Monday's lunch party:

Orchestra Photos!

Last week, we did our yearly orchestra photo shoot.  This has become a fun tradition for the Memorial Orchestra, and a great way to end the year!

As always, we'll start with the most serious...

After we took photos of the whole orchestra, some students wanted small-group shots:

This is only about half of the pictures I took that day - to see the rest, check out the link below:

Orchestra Photos 2017

And for the 5th graders, here is a link to our photos from last year.

Orchestra Update and Assignment

Fourth Graders
4A:  Today the students were SO excited to get a packet of fun end-of-year songs.  They chose to play My House and Shake it Off.  These songs introduce some new notes (like low C), and they have some tricky rhythms!  

Assignment for 4A:

• My House
• Shake it Off
• Don't forget about the method book!  Please review all D string and A string notes, and keep working on your reading skills.

4B:  Today we played through a few pages in the Essential Elements book, to work on our reading skills.  We got up to page 20, reviewing old songs that we played earlier in the year.   Then, they got a packet of fun end-of-year songs, and the lesson group chose to learn Shake it Off.  The students learned the first two lines of the song.

Assignment for 4B:

• Practice the tunes on pages 21 and 22 in the book
• Keep reviewing the notation for all D scale notes
• Practice "Shake it Off" up to letter C

4C:  Group C also really enjoyed the packet. They chose to work on the Star Wars theme song. This one is a bit more difficult due to the low 2s (C natural and G natural), but they ready for the challenge!

Assignment for 4C:

• Low 2 warm-ups
• Practice Star Wars
• Review all D string and A string notes

Fifth Graders
5A and 5B:  Students arrived late to their lesson so we did not have much time to rehearse.  However, they did receive the same packet as the 4th graders, and chose to learn Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Assignment:

• Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Please note:  Thursday we are meeting at recess to take our end-of-year orchestra photos!  Please remember to bring in your instruments.  Thanks! :)

Here are some videos from 2 weeks ago, when the students were learning how to play bass lines to accompany melodies they are familiar with.  The students were asked to figure out the bass lines on their own, and I'm happy to report that they did this quite successfully - most of them getting it perfect on the 1st or 2nd try!

String Update and Assignment

Fourth Graders

4A, 4B, 4C:  The fourth graders have been rehearsing the Blue Danube Waltz.  Please count carefully, as this song has 3 beats in each measure!  They have done an amazing job so far, especially since they just got the song last week.  Some students also had time to review Final Countdown.

Assignment for 4th graders:

• D Scale
• Surprise Symphony
• Blue Danube Waltz
• Final Countdown 
• Strings Will Rock You

Fifth Graders
5A and 5B:  The fifth grade students have continued to work on the Blue Danube Waltz, the Final Countdown, and their Twinkle Variations.  Keep up the good practicing! :)

Assignment for 5th graders:

• D Scale
• Final Countdown
• Blue Danube Waltz
• Twinkle Variations
• Strings Will Rock You

Here's a quick video from their first orchestra rehearsal on the Blue Danube Waltz.  I only filmed 8 measures, and I regret the fact that I didn't film the first 24!  They really did an awesome job.

String Update and Assignment

Fourth Graders

4A, 4B, 4C:  All fourth grade students worked on their grade level song, the Surprise Symphony.  For Final Countdown, we talked about how important it is to be independent on your part.  We have been rocking this piece in lessons, and then struggling in orchestra.  Remember to keep counting, and you'll do great! :)

Assignment for 4th graders:

• D Scale
• Surprise Symphony
• Final Countdown 
• Strings Will Rock You

Fifth Graders
5A and 5B:  

Assignment for 5th graders:

• D Scale
• Final Countdown
• Continue to work on your Twinkle variations!  
• Blue Danube Waltz

String Update and Assignment

Fourth Graders

4A, 4B, 4C:  All fourth grade students worked on their grade level song, the Surprise Symphony.  (Scroll down for a video!)  They also continued to practice the Final Countdown.  It's a tricky one, but they have come such a long way and are more than halfway done with the piece!

Assignment for 4th graders:

• D Scale
• Surprise Symphony
• Final Countdown 
• Strings Will Rock You

Fifth Graders
5A and 5B:  The fifth grade students tried to see how well they remember Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  We played it from memory as a warm up, then discussed what variations means.   The students will be able to compose their own variations to perform at the spring concert, either alone or with a small group.   I can't wait to hear what they come up with!  The students also rehearsed Final Countdown.

Assignment for 5th graders:

• D Scale
• Final Countdown
• Start to work on your Twinkle variations!  
• Strings Will Rock You

Here are some 4th graders practicing their accompaniment part for the Surprise Symphony - I can't believe they just started this tune!

String Update and Assignment

Fourth Graders
4A, 4B, 4C:  All fourth grade groups reviewed the notes on the D and A strings.  We are continuing to work on our reading proficiency, so practicing this skill is important!  The students played a few tunes from the Essential Elements book, then started a new song for the Spring Concert - Strings Will Rock You.

Assignment for 4th graders:

• Page 15
• Strings Will Rock You
  

Fifth Graders
5A and 5B:  The fifth grade students also reviewed their notes - by playing an awesome game called Staff Wars!  You can purchase and download the app HERE.  We listened to two songs that we will be playing in the spring: Blue Danube Waltz and Final Countdown.  Then, we started to play Strings Will Rock You.

Assignment for 5th graders:

• Strings Will Rock You
• D Scale:  Half notes, then quarter notes, then eighth notes...followed by sixteenth notes if you can!  

2016 Winter Concert Photos

We want to extend a HUGE congratulations to the fourth and fifth graders for their amazing performance this past Wednesday!

The students have worked so hard to prepare for this concert and we are so proud of them.   Here are some photos from the morning and evening performances:

Thank you to Mrs. Farrand, Mrs. Gianis and Mrs. Panag for contributing the photos above.

The following were sent in by Mrs. Schultz....thanks again!