String Project- Advanced Orchestra

September 13, 2019

Lesson 1, Unit 1

Main Ideas/Objectives
• By the end of this lesson, the students will:
o Review the proper care and maintenance of the string instrument.
o Demonstrate Rest, Ready and Playing Position.
o Demonstrate excellent posture and playing position.
o Demonstrate a balanced bow hold.
o Perform as an ensemble with steady group pulse.
Materials
1. Name tags for Teachers and Students; printed name plates for stands.
2. Advanced Orchestra Packet
3. Weekly Practice Tracker
4. Recordings of concert repertoire
Set Up
• 2-3 rows divided by instruments; semi-circle
• Stands; 1 per stand
Procedures
• Tuning Procedure
o With A playing in the background, teachers will individually tune each student:
▪ Encourage students to tune with good tone and excellent posture.
▪ Make individual adjustments as needed.
▪ Students will shadow bow through new music packet.
• Introduction
o Teacher Introductions: Ms. Boyd and Mr. Fuentes
o Assistant and Intern Introductions
• Rest Position, Ready Position, Playing Position
o Rest Position: teacher is away from the podium, backs are allowed to be against
chair.
o Ready Position: teacher walks to podium; students are at the edge of seat with a
lengthened back and eyes on teacher.
▪ Stomp feet to remind students to place feet flat on the floor.
o Playing Position: teacher puts instrument/hands up; instruments also go up.
▪ Practice going from Ready Position to Playing Position quickly and quietly.
o Practice all steps 3 times.
• Right Hand Skill Building
o Balanced bow hold
▪ Review a balanced bow hold on each instrument.
▪ Promote relaxation.
o Crunchy Bows
▪ Use arm weight to bring the bow stick to the bow hair.
▪ We will call this 10+ pounds of weight.
▪ Move your bow slowly and make a “creaky” door sound.
 ▪ Speed up the bow to make a big and clear sound.
o Open String Echo Patterns with funky beats metronome
▪ Set your bow halfway between the bridge and the fingerboard; “My turn,
then you”
• 4 Quarter Notes (Long Bows)
• 2 Half Notes (Slow Bow)- Encourage frog to tip
• 1 whole note (Ve-ry Slow Bow)
• 4 Quarter Notes
• Mississippi Stop-Stop Rhythm
o Open String Cycle (Low to High/Bass: High to Low)
▪ 4 Quarter notes per string
▪ 2 Half notes per string
▪ 1 Mississippi Stop Stop per string
• REMIND STUDENTS OF RIGHT HAND ELBOW LEVEL.
o Bowing, Rhythm and Style Sheet (Letters A-F)
▪ Play as D Major Chord with steady pulse and big sound
• Cello/Bass: Open D
nd
• Viola/2 Violins: F#
• Violin 1: A
• Left Hand Skill Building
o Review proper left hand posture; adjust students as needed.
▪ Students should use curved “tabletop” fingers.
o D String Echoes (repeat as needed)
▪ DDEE
▪ D E F# F#
▪ D E F# G
• D Major Scale and Arpeggio
o Play D Major Scale; play top note 2x’s
o Play D Major Scale in a Round
o Review Arpeggio
▪ Add in fun “speed drill”
• Allegro from Concerto for Two Trumpets
o If time permits, listen to piece to get big picture.
o Count, Air bow and Play: My Turn, Your Turn
▪ 1 and 2 and 3 – 4 –
▪ 1 – 2 – 3 and 4 and
▪ Play both rhythms in layers
o Read through piece- main focus: steady pulse and rhythm; breakdown rhythm as
necessary.
o Rehearsal Strategies:
▪ Piece Breakdown:
• Count/clap and air bow specific sections.
• Sing or say finger numbers/note names in rhythm while fingering
with left hand.
 • Perform pizzicato
o One group pizz. and say while other group points at notes
and says notes on pitch.
o One group pizz. and say while other group shadow bows
and says note names on pitch.
o One group pizz. and say while other group plays with bow.
• Play rhythm on open string
• Start slow and slowly increase speed.
▪ Big group, small group, big group, solo
• Keep everyone engaged!
▪ “Popcorn” around the room.
▪ Break down by measure if needed.
• Stretches
• A Beethoven Lullaby
o If time permits, listen to piece to get big picture.
o D Major Half Note Scale and Round
▪ Play each note 2 times
▪ Make sure students sustain and even sound.
▪ Try with different dynamics.
o Read through piece- main focus: steady pulse and rhythm; breakdown rhythm as
necessary.
o Rehearsal Strategies:
▪ Piece Breakdown:
• Count/clap and air bow specific sections.
• Sing or say finger numbers/note names in rhythm while fingering
with left hand.
• Perform pizzicato
o One group pizz. and say while other group points at notes
and says notes on pitch.
o One group pizz. and say while other group shadow bows
and says note names on pitch.
o One group pizz. and say while other group plays with bow.
• Play rhythm on open string
• Start slow and slowly increase speed.
▪ Big group, small group, big group, solo
• Keep everyone engaged!
▪ “Popcorn” around the room.
▪ Break down by measure if needed.
• Storm
o If time permits, listen to piece to get big picture.
o E minor pentascale:
▪ Play each note 2 times; Play round
▪ E, F#, G, A, B
o Read through piece- main focus: steady pulse and rhythm; breakdown rhythm as
necessary.
o Rehearsal Strategies:
 ▪ Piece Breakdown:
• Count/clap and air bow specific sections.
• Sing or say finger numbers/note names in rhythm while fingering
with left hand.
• Perform pizzicato
o One group pizz. and say while other group points at notes
and says notes on pitch.
o One group pizz. and say while other group shadow bows
and says note names on pitch.
o One group pizz. and say while other group plays with bow.
• Play rhythm on open string
• Start slow and slowly increase speed.
▪ Big group, small group, big group, solo
• Keep everyone engaged!
▪ “Popcorn” around the room.
▪ Break down by measure if needed.
o