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Ms. Lee – Commack Middle School Orchestras llee@commack.k12.ny.us

The National Core Music Standards agree on one of my most important goals in teaching orchestra. The goal of independent music literacyallows students the ability to continue their music endeavors as life-long learners.

Classroom and Lesson Procedures

Arrive on time with your instrument, music, agenda, pencil, and supplies Silence during lessons, rehearsal, and the tuning process
Follow all orchestral etiquette signals No gum, food, or drinks
No sign outs during orchestra rehearsals

Students in Orchestra class will:

Further develop their posture, self-evaluation, and playing skills in lessons, rehearsals, and practice at home.

Continue to develop a greater understanding of musical elements, including pitch, rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, form, expression, phrasing, and style.

Deepen their appreciation for music through a wide variety of repertoire and performance opportunities.

Lessons
1. Students should attend their scheduled lesson for maximum progress. If students have a test or test review during their scheduled lesson, they must let me know and attend the next make-up lesson.
2. It is the student’s responsibility to give Ms. Lee their agenda for attendance signature verification. 3. Extra lesson schedule copies are available.
4. Make-up lessons and extra help will be posted on Ms. Lee’s CMS website.

Progress Reports *Missing music lessons
Rotating music lessons create a win-win situation because you receive individualized attention in both the music lesson and the extra help session of the class you missed. Groups are arranged by grade and instrument. Make-up lessons include a mixed group of violins, violas, cellos, and basses so it is best to attend the scheduled group lesson. *Music reading skills need improvement
Solid music reading skills are vital to developing your progress and skills. Please see Ms. Lee’s Music Reading Skills tab on the eboard.
*More home practice required
Learning a musical instrument requires consistent review of class and lesson concepts through practice at home. Students should schedule a minimum of five practice sessions per week. Two can be without an instrument.

Concerts
There are four winter and four spring concerts. The concert date assignments will be posted on Ms. Lee’s website. Tickets are not required and all are invited to attend.
NYSSMA
Piano NYSSMA and Instrumental NYSSMA participation is encouraged. All registration forms are available on the district music website. Please see Ms. Lee if you would like guidance in finding a private teacher.

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MYP Music, NYSSMA, and National Core Arts Standards Ms. Lee’s Orchestras – Commack Middle School
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Goal: independent music literacy .

Creating
	Criteria A
Knowing and Understanding
	Performing
	Criteria B Developing Skills

Scales	Formulas, circle of 5ths, Tonality

Technique
Left Hand:	Position (shape) Fingering Articulation Accuracy of Shifts

 Intonation (open strings, finger patterns)

Right Hand:	Shape (Grip) Bowing
Bow Distribution Articulation
Arm Position

Tone (speed, weight, placement)

Posture:	Balance shoulders over hips Soften muscles
1.     Neck 2.     Back
3.	Arms and hands etc.

Music Reading: 1. Rhythm (count and clap or say note values in rhythm)
2. Note Names
3. Finger Numbers 4. Pizzicato
5. Air bow 6. Slurs
	
Lesson Attendance (and optional private teacher) Extra Help
Small Ensembles

Interpretation
Dynamics:	 pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff, cres., decres. Bow speed
Bow weight Bow placement

Style:          match articulations and vibrato with time period of composition

Tempo:	metronome
translate Italian tempo words

Phrasing:	 group notes into sentences sing it to find answers
where did it sound good to take a breath

Expression: what story are you communicating to the audience

Artistry:	paint with sound tone color
stage presence and effective communication
play from the heart

Sight Reading
Accuracy of Notes, Rhythms, Articulations, and Dynamics

Connecting
	Criteria C Thinking Creatively
	Responding
	Criteria D Responding

Practice Design Cycle skills at home Experiment with practice process Quality of Practice Journal Experiments Quality of Composition Projects

NYSSMA Registration and Participation
LISFA Chamber Festival preparation and audition Relevant Research (ex: Historical background of
composer and music performance practice) Extra school performances
Non-school performances Summer music camps
	
Apply observations of other learners/performers to improve individual progress

Attend professional performances

Use NYSSMA adjudication comments for practice guidance and future solos

Adjust practice process to include improvements suggested in playing test comments

Audition results