Instruments, What to Practice

Dear Families,

With Michaelmas rehearsals coming up, some students will need to bring instruments on extra days in the coming weeks. Please see your child's grade below.

I also list recommended material to practice in the coming weeks. If your child is taking lessons outside of school, that teacher may of course choose to give additional material for your child to practice.

4th grade We will need our violins on Tuesday, September 15, and all Tuesdays and Thursdays after that. Ms. Lindstrom may have additional practice days and will let you know what those days are. After Michaelmas, I may be able to offer some additional help on Fridays to students not receiving lessons outside of school.

I will give specific practice recommendations after our first on-instrument class next week. Be prepared that I will recommend children practice left hand fingering and right hand bowing separately at first. I encourage you and your child to be patient.

5th & 6th grades
This Friday, I will have sectional rehearsals with 5th graders in the afternoon. Please have them bring their instruments then as well.

In coming weeks, with Michaelmas rehearsals, 5th & 6th graders will need to bring instruments to school on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays--and on Monday, September 28 as well.

To Practice
1. G major scale
2. Improvising with the G major scale
3. Jolly is the Miller Boy (in G), by ear if possible. I'll give support in school to students who need it.
4. Largo (Dvorak) from Strings Extraordinaire.
5. D major scale.
6. Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow (in D), by ear if possible.

While reading music is a valuable school, learning to play be ear--especially for an outdoor festival in which stands and music can distract from the experience--is also very important. It is a good challenge, and with a large ensemble of strings and guitar, if all students do their best (some playing the melody, some playing open strings), we will sound great.

7th & 8th grade guitar

No guitars, Monday, September 14 (field trip).
Do bring guitars on Wednesday the 16th , Thursday the 17th , and Friday the 18th,
And Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of the following week.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Michaelmas week.

Students have a purple guitar book they are writing themselves to help them practice.

Practice:

1. Fingering and strumming the G major chord.
2. Fingering and strumming the D major chord.
3. Switching back and forth between the two chords.
4. Playing the chord progression for Jolly is the Miller Boy.

Next Wednesday we will work on Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow.

In these two folk songs for Michaelmas, the chords change more quickly than I would choose for beginning guitar students, but I want students to stretch themselves and do their best; even if not every note rings out in their chord, the rhythm of their strumming will support the dancers.

With warmth and light,

William Geoffrey Dolde