Hi!
Look below to see what we did this week. We only have 5 rehearsals left in the semester, so I want to make sure everyone practices at home!
You should also be aware that students will be required to wear “concert black” for our concert in December. Concert black is the standard for orchestras and just means formal black clothing from head to toe. Please no jeans, no tennis shoes, and definitely no white socks! Our concert will be on Friday, December 8th at 6:30pm in the Inspire Cafetorium.
The students from the Denver Orchestra Academy are invited to perform with my Brighton Orchestra Academy concert! It will be on Monday, December 18th at 7:00pm. Students will be expected to attend a rehearsal that morning at 9:00am. Both events will take place at Prairie View High School in Henderson — just 20 minutes up Highway 2. My Brighton Orchestra Academy has more students, so the Denver students could get to feel what it’s like to play in a larger orchestra. Let me know if you are interested!
Without any further ado, here are some reviews:
Middle School Orchestra
While we had a bit of a rough focusing day, we still got some work done! I gave the students new books because I was not liking the ones I had given them at the beginning of the year. I was trying something new, and it didn’t work out! So please feel free to keep both books, but we will mostly be working in the Essential Elements book from now on.
We worked on Twinkle, Twinkle and then worked on reading the notes on the staff on pages 6 and 7 of the Essential Elements book. We then learned Rolling Along (#19 on page 8), which is also known as Mary Had a Little Lamb! We then started learning Lightly Row, which is #22 on page 9. Students should practice these 3 songs (Rolling Along, Lightly Row, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) at home because we will be playing them for our concert.
Elementary Orchestra
We had a great rehearsal! I gave the students a new book because I was not liking the ones I had given them at the beginning of the year. I was trying something new, and it didn’t work out! So please feel free to keep both books, but we will mostly be working in the Essential Elements book from now on.
We reviewed Twinkle, Twinkle, and I gave a couple of harmony parts to the more advanced players. This will make our Twinkle, Twinkle sound extra great! We also worked on reading notes on the staff on pages 6 and 7 in the Essential Elements book. I then introduced “Rolling Along” (#19 on page 8), which is also known as Mary Had a Little Lamb! Students should be working on learning Rolling Along and Twinkle, Twinkle for the concert. We also reviewed Baby Shark, and I’m *thinking* about letting them play it for the concert, ha!
Have fun practicing at home, and please let me know if you ever have any questions or concerns. Thanks!