7th Grade Final Concert

The 7th grade Orchestras will present their final concert Monday, May 10th at 7pm in the Awtrey Theatre. The students have worked so hard to prepare a concert that is enteraining yet also evident of the skills they have learned this year. THIS WILL BE AN EVENT TO REMEMBER!!! We have something for everyone including 70's funk music, Broadway tunes, classic 70's tv music, and of course Justin Beiber!!!!

There will be lights, video, pictures, singing, and yes playing!!!! I look forward to seeing you there with your  family, friends, neighbors, and EVERYONE else to cheer them on!!!

• All students need to wear jeans, their concert long sleeve white dress shirt, and black dress shoes.  Students may wear a tie or a hat if they want to :)
• All students need to arrive in the Orchestra room by 6:30pm ready to tune

 This will be last concert of the year and students will not need their instruments after this concert.  We will be learning using our ears and composing with our minds.

Seating for 4th Period

Please read the list below by stands (see example below)
Stand One       Stand Two
1.                      3.
2.                      4.


1st Violins
Tic Tac      Julie           Abbie          Gabby
Taco          Rode          Omar          Joey

2nd Violin
Bobby              Patrick        Ryan           Maria             Malik
Froot Loop       Shai            Cheeto        Morgan          Oodle

3rd Violin
Dwayne          Nick              Catrina
Edgar              Jarena

Viola (this will change)
Jahnee           Ashley           Jameela          Slur             Sketchy
Kirstin           Chowder       Ms. T             Laura

Cello (this will change)
Caleb           Snoopy             Carolina
Momo         Pee Wee           Swiss Cheese

Bass
Noah
Jo

Festival Info.

7th Grade Festival is this Thursday, March 18th at Lovinggood Midlde School. 

All students need to bring their concert attire (black pants, white dress shirt, black tie, black socks, black belt, and black dress shoes) to school Thursday because all students are required to stay afterschool in prepartion for the festival.

Students will eat in the cafeteria afterschool if they paid their $5 for pizza.  We will leave Awtrey at approximately 5:15 and arrive at Lovinggood by 6pm.  All Full Symphony students will watch the Awtrey 8th Grade performance and then proceed to the cafeteria until their performance time arrives. 

The 4th period 7th grade Festival schedule goes as follows:

1. 6:20--Warm-Up
2. 6:40--Performance in the Theatre
3. 7:00--Sight-Reading

Once 4th period students have finished their portion of the Festival process, they may leave with a parent when they check out with MC first. Any student that leaves without FIRST checking out with MC will receive disciplinary consequences.

The 5th period 7th grade schedule goes as follows:

1. 7:40--Warm-Up
2. 8:00--Performance
3. 8:20--Sight-Reading

We should arrive back to Awtrey no later than 9:30pm for all students riding the bus back to school. 

EQ: How to prepare music for ajudication?

Monday:  Students will work on a steady tempo for Midnight Tango and Eastside using a metronome and having students internalize the beat. Students will work on creating timbre in Prelude by moving the melodic line forward.

Students will work on a steady tempo for Stringtown and Entrance using a metronome and having students internalize the beat. Students will work on intonation and articulation in Momentum.

Tuesday:  Students will continue the work from yesterday and possibly record to assess our progress.

Wednesday:  Students will use the STARS method to practice sight-reading for festival. These pieces will be recorded so that students may compare/ contrast their performance with professionals.

Thursday:  Students will continue the sight-reading process along with reading through their festival pieces just to keep the music under their fingers.

Friday:  Students will record and assess their progress for the week on these pieces. Students will assess themselves using the rubric from festival.

Learning Goal
Student will learn how to keep a steady tempo in their music and create timbre using horizontal movement.
Students will successfully perform sight-reading pieces at or above their level.
Students will learn how to assess themselves using the appropriate terminology. Students will learn how to diagnose and fix ensemble problems while playing.

EQ: How do you create emotion in music using dynamic and articulation

Monday:  Students will be working on Prelude from measure 13 to the end with a focus on rhythm and balance. Students need to listen to the recording on the blog regularly and try to imitate the tone/ sound of the professional orchestra.  We will also work on dynamics and uniform articulations in Eastside Boogaloo especially from 63 to the end.

Students will be working on Queen of Sheba from 33 to the end with special emphasis on measures 73 to the end.  Students need to practice the slurs using a fast bow while keeping their fingers moving.  Students need to also focus on play C natural (low 2) on the A string so that we have PERFECT intonation for this piece.  Lastly students will work on Stringtown Stroll especially the cello melody and balance at measure 19 during Preston's solo.

Tuesday:  All classes will focus on sight-reading techniques along with Prelude and Queen of Sheba.

Wednesday and Thursday:  All classes will be in the theatre working on Festival music in preparation for the Pre-Festival concert Thursday at 7pm in the Awtrey Theatre.  

Friday:  Students will listen and reflect on Thursdays concert.  We will also continue working on sight-reading techniques.

Learning Goals

1. Students will play with perfect intonation
2. Students will apply sight-reading techniques to Grade II music and perform with good intonation and rhythm
3. Students will use dynamics and articulation as a means of expression within their music

There are 9 people who are currently FAILING Orchestra right now because they did not take their scales test at the beginning of the nine weeks.  You are responsible for making this assignment up no later than Monday, March 5th by the end of the day.  You must play the C, G, D, A, F, and B-flat Scales one octave going up and down.  Please use the methods below to complete the assignment.

Methods to Make-up this assignment.

1. You can email a video of yourself
2. Have someone during class video tape you
3. Schedule a time for me to listen to you

Festival Season

Festival season is approaching very soon.  All 7th and 8th grade students will have their Pre-Festival Concert Thursday, February 25th at 7pm in the Theatre.  The purpose of this performance is to provide students with a sneak peek of what the real Large Group Performance Evaluation will be like.  Festival is basically like the CRCT of the music world and students will be judged on many different levels to determine if we are Superior (I), Excellent (II), Good (III), Fair (IV), or Poor (V).

All students must participate in Festival and permission slips are due Thursday, February 25th.  The cost for food and registration is $5, which needs to be paid by the 25th as well.  Parents are welcome to attend the event and/ or chaperone the event.  I have sent home information letters and permission slips with all details but just in case you may find them on the right side of the Main Blog.  I have also provided basic information below as well.

Students may bring electronics on this field trip because we will leave Awtrey at 5:30 and not return until 9:30pm.    Any student wishing to leave after their performance/ sight-reading from Lovinggood must see MC (with their parent) prior to their leaving.

Thursday, March 11th (Lovinggood Middle School)

8th Grade Orchestra:  6:40 performance time

Full Symphony:         8:20 performance time

Thursday, March 18th  (Lovinggood Middle School)

7th Grade (4th period) Orchestra:  6:40 performance time

7th Grade (5th period) Orchestra:  8:00 performance time

If you are a parent who would like to ride the bus as a chaperone or drive large instruments either turn in the forms with your child or send me an email.