Jingle Bells -- 4th grade

Dear 4th Grade Parents in Particular,

I taught a lesson to the 4th grader right before the break.  After working through exercises on previous pages, we moved to Jingle Bells on page 20.  The student played it confidently and gracefully,  If your student is playing violin at home over the break, you might consider encouraging them to try Jingle Bells.  Some students may need a teacher to write in fingerings.  I will try to find a way to do this for students after the new year.

Blessings,

William Dolde

5th to 8th grade Specific -- Winter Festival

5th Grade  Our musical program remains the same as the one we have been practicing--Scarborough Fair, Jasmine Flower, Billy Boy, Carnival of Venice, O Tannebaum, Lovely Evening, Over the River and Through the Woods, and Jingle Bells.  Please have students bring instruments to the Butterfly Nursery Friday morning.  There is some chance your students will sit with me in the pavilion before the festival begins, and play music as parents enter.  If this happens, we may repeat songs; I may add solos that I play; or we may have to cut a song short if the rest of the festival needs us to.  I have asked the students to prepare to be flexible.

6th to 8th Grade  In recent weeks, students have shown remarkable recall (and strong technical improvement) on Christmas songs we played last year from Strings Extraordinaire (the first green book).  They also requested to reprise Pachelbel's Canon and played it well.  Because the students are so motivated, we have added some of these songs to our program and removed some of the less-rehearsed songs from More Strings Extraordinaire.  I have told students new to the school, students who have switched instruments, or students who have missed many classes in recent weeks not to worry if they feel unprepared for certain songs.  The ensemble as a whole sounds strong, and they can play what they can in a supportive way.

Friday's program will be:  (from the green book)  Pat-a-Pan, Two French Carols; then (from the blue book) Bluegrass Blastoff, German Dance, Daydreams, Fanfare Minuet; then (back to the green book) What Child is This, Carol of the Bells, and Pachebel's Canon.

Thanks for supporting our program,

William Geoffrey Dolde

4th Grade Specific -- Reading Sheet Music Help

Dear 4th Grade Families,

After a class last week which made it clear that our step into reading sheet music while playing the violin was frustrating because it was either too challenging or too easy, we had an indoor class in which I retold the story of the Bremen Town Musicians, and using the donkey, dog, cat, and rooster as metaphors for our 4 strings of the violin, related the reading of sheet music to mapping the journeys of these animals.  I showed a Whidbey Island map that students had drawn with Ms. White and compared the musical staff and measure lines with the grid the students used to help draw and read the map.  While some students still need more help, other students began to see more sense in musical notation.

As a follow-up, I have made copies of pages 18-19 in Strictly Strings Book 1.  On these pages I have written the left hand fingering above the notes--some students said they would find this helpful (and often a teacher in a private lesson will write in fingerings if it helps).  These copies are on the big desk in the lobby.  Please take one home.  We will start on pages 18-19 after the break, and some students might feel more confident with a preview.

The book Strictly Strings strives to help students read music.  After class on Tuesday, I observed one student in a private lesson feeling confident about reading music without the extra fingerings.  This is to say, if my added notations do not help, please do not use them--for some of us (like me), the fewer additional marks on the page, the more fluently we can read the sheet music.

Thanks for supporting our students at home,

William Geoffrey Dolde

5th grade -- no instruments Monday

I will not be present to teach 5th grade strings on Monday.  Carrie Fong will substitute and guide students in games in other activities.  The 5th graders are excited about the break from routine and the quality of their substitute teacher.  We will have our dress rehearsal for the Christmas Festival next Wednesday.  Although some students still find a few pieces very challenging, the ensemble as a whole is coming together well.

Thanks,

William

Instrument Labels for Christmas Festival

Grades 5 to 8

It is likely grade 5 strings will play at the beginning of the festival on Friday, December 17, and the middle school orchestra will play at the end of the festival.  Intrepid volunteers and I will act as roadies to set the instruments before the festival, to remove the fifth grade instruments and replace them with the middle school instruments while the choirs sing.  Our goal will be to do this without distracting from the Advent Spiral.

On Friday, December 17, students in grade 5 to 8 will bring their instruments to the Butterfly Room so that I can tune them.  5th grade students will walk down to the pavilion first thing to place their music book(s) on the proper stand.  Middle School students should leave their music book(s) right by their instrument case.  Please make sure your student has a name on her or his instrument case so that I can put her or his instrument in the right position.

After that festival, please retrieve your student's instrument from the Butterfly Room.

Thanks,

William Geoffrey Dolde

December 17th Festival -- grades 5 to 8

 4th Grade  We will perform the 5 songs from page 13 for the nursery next Tuesday.  We are reviewing them.  We are moving quickly through pages 15 and 16 (not quickly enough for some students) and will start pages 17 to 19 soon.  These often reprise songs we have already learned--while helping us to learn to read music.  Our goal will be to get to Jingle Bells on page 20 and let other students catch up.

A number of 4th graders forgot their instruments today.  I had enough spares.  A number are also forgetting or do not know where there books are; I do not always have enough extra copies.  Please confirm that your child has Strictly Strings and remind her to bring the book and instrument to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

5th Grade will hopefully perform for 20 minutes or so during the Christmas Festival on Friday, December 17.  We are practicing the following for the festival.  Jingle Bells from Strictly Strings Book 1 (page 20).  I have made copies for students who do not possess Book 1.  The rest of the songs are from book 2.  Our line-up is as follows:  Scarborough Fair (3), Jasmine Flower (5), Billy Boy (5), The Carnival of Venice (5), Oh, Tannenbaum (17), Lovely Evening (21), and Over the River and Through the Woods (23).  I have selected songs that will fit the mood of the festival.  After the holiday break, we will return to page 7 and proceed through the book in a more regular fashion for a while.

6th to 8th Grade  We are taking a break from Jazz Philharmonic.  We have learned a lot from the effort, but the songs will not fit the mood of the Christmas Festival.  We hope to play 20 to 30 minutes at the Festival and will play the following songs from More Strings Extraordinaire:  Bluegrass Blastoff (2), German Dance (3), Daydreams (4), Fanfare Minuet (5), Round and Round (6), Chatsumi and Rice Planting Song (6), Peasant Dance (7), and Simple Gifts (8).  If we master these, we will add a song or two.

Update on what we are working on

4th Grade  As I had hoped, students are enthusiastic about playing the songs on page 13, and it warms my heart to witness them practicing the songs in small group during warm-up and tuning time.  We also played 3 songs at the altar for the Day of the Dead as our first performance and may play songs my nursery class the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

A number of students are still forgetting instruments and books.  I know the schedule shift makes it hard to get used to, but please help your student remember an instrument and book on Tuesdays and Fridays.

We will skip page 14 in Strictly Strings and work on page 15.  Students need use only open strings (no left hand fingering), and this provides students a chance to make their eyes and minds familiar with reading notes on a musical staff.  I refer to the donkey, dog, cat, and rooster from The Bremen-Town Musicians to help them.  To scare the robbers, the donkey stood on the ground, then the dog on top, the cat above that, and then the rooster.  In a similar way, a note way down below the staff is likely to be the donkey sounding, thick, low g string--while, by contrast, a note at the top of the staff is likely to be sounded on the thin, sharp, rooster-sounding e string.

5th Grade  We will continue to work on songs on pages 3 and 5.  The students enjoy playing them.  A student who has mastered the A part for Scarborough Fair could learn the B part as well.  We have started working on the G major scale on page 6, and will work on those scale exercises, as well as Frere Jacque on page 7.  If we do really well, we will start La Cucaracha before Thanksgiving.

6th to 8th Grade  We are polishing the songs in More Strings Extraordinaire--pages 2 to the beginning of 6, as well as Ghoulish Gavotte on page 12--with the idea of performing them in the future.  In Jazz Philharmonic, we will give the first two songs a rest, and work on "daydream" and "devious," as well as the exercises on pages 10 to 13.

Thanks for your support of our students and school.

William Dolde

Day of the Dead

Dear Families,

Here is a reminder of the schedule.

4th grade needs instruments on Tuesdays and Fridays.
5th grade on Mondays and Wednesdays.
6th to 8th grade on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

On Monday and Tuesday (unless another teacher wants the space), students and I will crowd into the lobby to play music in celebration of those we remember at the altar.

With warmth and light,

William Geoffrey Dolde

Halloween Music, Forgotten Violins

Dear Parents,

There were a number of instruments forgotten this week, particularly in 4th grade.  It can confusing with our shift and schedule and missed class.  As a reminder, 4th graders need instruments on Tuesdays and Fridays, 5th graders on Mondays and Wednesdays, and 6th to 8th graders on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

4th Grade Detectives  Students are at very different levels of technique and comfort with how music works.  We will stay on the songs on page 13 for a while to let students catch up.  If a student is not receiving regular private lessons and remains confused about the notation on page 13, a parent could go over the information presented on pages 9 to 12.  If, for example, a student forgets how to play F#, page 9 is entitled "Learning E and F# on the D string" and will help remind student and parent.  If students find the songs on page 13 very easy, of course, it would be good for them to work on and practice other material (such as Suzuki) with their private teacher.

5th Grade  While we will continue to work in Strictly Strings Book 2 on page 3 (Scarborough Fair) and the four songs on page 5, students who have mastered the material (or others who are motivated) can work on "Danse Macabre" and "A Scary Night" on page 12.  A number of students seemed interested in learning Halloween material when I introduced these songs in class.  They contain some new technical challenges (low first finger, double stops, tremolo).

6th to 8th Grade  Students still seem to enjoy playing Bluegrass Blastoff, German Dance, Daydreams, and Fanfare Minuet on pages 2 to 5 of More Strings Extraordinaire.  I will keep playing them (though not all songs every class).  We have moved on to "Round and Round" on page 6 and "Ghoulish Gavotte" on page 12.  Students seem to enjoy Jazz Philharmonic; with the exception of an industrious cellist, however, students are avoiding taking solos.  We are gaining good experience playing swing rhythms and off-beats, nonetheless.  I plan to put the first 2 songs to rest for a bit and introduce "Daydeam" (pages 10 and 11) today and "Devious" (pages 12 to 14) next week.

Upcoming Schedule Irregularities

4th Grade  Will have class tomorrow, October 8, and next Tuesday.  I will not be present on October 15.  Students will have a substitute, and will not need to bring violins to school that day.  We will continue working toward page 13 in Strictly Strings 1 (meaning we will try 11 tomorrow and 12 next Tuesday).  Once we can play those familiar songs, we will stay on that page for a few weeks to allow students to catch up.

5th Grade Has class as usual next week.  On Monday, October 18, I will not be present.  Students will have a substitute and do not need to bring their instruments to school.  Students who have mastered exercise 4 on page 4 and the songs on page 5 of Strictly Strings 2 can look at "Scarborough Fair."  It is a challenging arrangement, and I don't expect the whole orchestra to play it now; I will give time each class for students who are learning it to play it as an ensemble; perhaps other students can sing while we play.  We will continue with all 4 songs on page 5.

6th to 8th Grade Schedule is normal.  Please bring both books to class.

Thanks for supporting our program.

William Geoffrey Dolde

2 books in middle school

Beginning Tuesday, 6th to 8th grade students will need both books for our strings classes.

Location : 730-734 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102,

4th Grade DAYS CHANGE FOR STRINGS

Because we are blessed to have Eurythmy for our students this fall, and because some of our students will use Thomas Berry Hall at the Whidbey Institute for their classes, and because the availability of that hall was limited, schedules for classes had to be adjusted.  This affects fourth grade strings.

4th grade strings will now be on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.  All other grades keep their same strings schedule.

No Middle School Instruments Thursday

Tomorrow, Wednesday, our 4th and 5th grades will have feats of courage during the school day rather than their strings class (5th grade will of course need instruments for our dress rehearsal).

Middle School will miss their games class tomorrow to run the feats of courage.  On Thursday, we will provide them a chance to play volleyball in place of our regular jazz orchestra class.  Students do not need to bring instruments to school on Thursday.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

With Michaelmas coming up, students in grades 5 to 8 will need their instruments Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

4th graders will need their instruments on Monday only.

Friday Michaelmas Rehearsal, What we are working on

Dear Families,

Students in grades 5 to 8 will need to bring their instruments to school on Friday for our first Michaelmas rehearsal.


Thank you to parents who have paid for their student's books.  If you have not yet paid, you may put a check to WIWS ($7 for grades 4 and 5, $14 for grades 6 to 8) in the Finance Director's folder at the base of the tower.  Please mark yourself off as paid.

All students have received their book (with the exception of 2 8th grade pianists).  Middle school students will receive their 2nd book on Tuesday.  A somewhat alarming number of students are forgetting their music books.  I prefer not to take away from the experience of students ready to play music by doing a book inspection; please check in with your child to make sure that she or he knows where her or his music book is.

Below is what we are working on in class, and what students might do well to work on at home.  Some students will need lots of help with our school songs; others would well working on different material in their private lessons so that they do not risk becoming bored in school.

4th grade


We will work on pages 9 and 10 of Strictly Strings next week.  This will seem very fast for some students, and very slow for others.  My intention is to move quickly through the exercises on pages 9 to 12 to move to the "Songs for Fun" on page 13.  At that point, we will stay with those songs for a number of periods to allow students to catch up; more confident students will (ideally) enjoy playing familiar folk songs.

Especially if your child is not having regular lessons, you as a parent could really help by reading over the page with your child.  The Strictly String series provides clear and useful information (perhaps too much without a parent or teacher helping) at the start of each page.  I chose this series this year because last year's 4th grade parents found it hard to help their children at home unless they had a good deal of musical experience themselves.

5th grade


Our focus will be on "Oats and Beans" and "Jolly is the Miller Boy" for Michaelmas.  Some 6th to 8th graders will be playing with us, so it is quite fine if 5th graders learn easier harmony parts.  We will also work on Strictly Strings 2, page 4, exercises 1 and 4, and will begin the songs on page 5 (Jasmine Flower, Billy Bow, Carnival of Venice, and Touch of Blue).

6th grade


Our Michaelmas songs sound great.  We will touch upon them but focus on new material.  While we will review pages 2 to 5 of More Strings Extraordinaire, I will also distribute Jazz Philharmonic on Tuesday.  We will work on the two songs, "Groovin' for the First Time" and "De Blues."  This new series provides opportunity for improvisation; it also requires alertness.  Although the notes are easy, there is a great deal of syncopation.  I chose this series because the rhythmic and improvisational skills can transfer well to other instruments should our students pursue jazz in high school.

With warmth and light,

William Geoffrey Dolde

What we are working on

Classes sound great in the pavilion.  The attitude of the students was wonderful and positive.  Below is what we are working on and what you can support in home.

Especially in the 4th grade, but also possible in other grades, some students will master the material I present quickly.  In general, I'd recommend rather than speeding through the book we are using in school, your child work in parallel with a different book (such as Suzuki grade 4, Smart Violin 2 or comparable in grade 5, and beyond in 6 to 8), rather than risking becoming bored with material the class is trying to catch up on.

Grade 4  There was great enthusiasm, even from students who had never played before.  It was also a challenge for some to move from a violin camp where playing was always in groups of 2 to 4 to a group of 19.  That being said, they did well as a group.

As a group, we will work on Strictly Strings Book 1, page 7, all 6 exercises.  For some students this will be very easy, for others a challenge.  For those who could race through Twinkle, Twinkle, the work will be to play in the same tempo as classmates (much as they have to sing together in choir).  Please have your child look at this page at home; if it is really easy, allow your child to move on.  If it is really intimidating, the Strictly Strings series has lots of written coaching to help parents coach children at home.

Grade 5  "Oats and Beans and Barley Grows" sounded really good.  I will provide sheet music to students who need it, particularly those who switched instruments.  "Jolly is the Miller Boy" was a challenge for some last year, and continues to be.  I have written out parts to help those switching instruments.  We will play with grades 6 to 8 for Michaelmas.

For now, please skip page 3 (Scarborough Fair) in Strictly Strings 2.  It is more challenging than the songs on the subsequent pages.  Time permitting, we will work on all the exercises and songs on page 4 and 5 in the next week or weeks.  If these are really easy for your student, he or she could begin learning both the A and B parts of Scarborough Fair on page 3.

Grade 6 to 8 sounded solid on the Michaelmas songs.  I distributed parts for new students.  After a rocky start the first day, "Bluegrass Blastoff" on page 2 of More Strings Extraordinaire sounds really good, as does the "German Dance" on page 3.  We will continue with these 2 songs and move quickly to Daydreams and Fanfare Minuet on pages 4 and 5.

After Michaelmas, I will pass out the second book for this class, Jazz Philharmonic.


Respectfully,

William Geoffrey Dolde


With warmth and light,

William Geoffrey Dolde

p.s.  Grades 5 to 8 will play string instruments for Michaelmas on September 29.  Grade 4 will be dancing.

Payment Sheet at the Base of the Tower

Dear Parents,

    I have placed a sheet with the names of students from grades 4 to 8 at the base of the tower (the circular steps that lead up to administration).  When you pay for your student's music book(s) ($7 in grades 4 and 5, $14 in grades 6 to 8), please mark yourself off as paid on the sheet.  Please make checks out to WIWS and place in Paul Arand's (financial director) folder.

Later today I will describe what each class is working on.

Thanks,

William Geoffrey Dolde

Updated Summer Lesson Schedule

Dear Families,

     I have added names for all families requesting summer lessons.  This link should give the most up to date sense of openings still available.  All lessons will be at my cottage in Cottage Glen, right near Scatchet Head.

https://docs.google.com/View?docID=0Ac3h2G0LFxkwZGc4NXhwNGtfMTQ5ZnptNW5zZ3M&revision=_latest

Thank You

Dear Families,

      Thank you for bringing your students' instruments to school a day early.  They are ready to play at Thomas Berry Hall for today's 9am assembly.

       I will drive student instruments back to school so that all instruments except for WIWS rentals are ready to go home with your students at dismissal time.  If you wish to procure your student's instrument sooner--right after the assembly--that is fine.  Please meet me in the dining room at Thomas Berry Hall.  It will help if you make sure I know you've picked up the instrument so I don't think I've lost one.  Thank you.

I've had reports that I have not been successful in making it possible for you to sign up for lessons on line.  Here is a version of my summer lesson schedule to view.   Please email me, and I will write in lesson times for your child.

With warmth and light,

William Geoffrey Dolde

Instrument Reminders

4th grade -- Instruments needed Tuesday.  Ideally bring them and leave them with William on Thursday and he will transport to the assembly.  Otherwise the student or parent can bring to the assembly.

5/6 -- no instruments Tuesday.  Do give instruments to William Thursday unless parent or student will transport instrument her or himself on Friday.

Next Year -- lessons, instruments, music books

Dear Families,

      I have been in contact with next year's 4th grade.  Some of the information I shared with them may be useful to students in other grades.

Lessons

Parents and students have had good experiences with a number of teachers on the island, and I recommend all of them.  The words that follow do not intend to prioritize one teacher above others.  I encourage you to find the best fit for your student and you.

Teo Benson will be offering semi-private violin lessons to 4th graders during the year.  Contact Teo at the above phone or email to discuss details.  Free lessons are available through a Dreyfus foundation grant for families with financial need (as of right now, you would self-select).  If fewer 4th graders have lessons with Teo, he would offer private lessons instead.  To give 4th grade students a strong start, the free lessons will be held for those students first.  Other free or low-price options may be available for 5th to 8th grade students, including my sliding scale experiment (see below).

Other available strings teachers include Kat Fritz, Kimmer Morris, Elizabeth Lovelace, Linda Good, and others of Island Strings http://www.islandstrings.com/id2.html.  I recommend speaking to parents and investigating for yourself; I think there are many great teachers.  Other teachers include James Hinkley of Joe's Island Music, Quinn Fitzpatrick, Talia Toni Marcus, Roxallane Medley, and me http://www.islandstrings.com/id29.html.  Again, this list tries to avoid being in priority order.  I do not omit any teachers on purpose.


In order to make affordable lessons more available, I am offering an experiment this summer.  On Fridays, at my cottage near Scatchet Head, I will offer half hour lessons on a sliding scale from $1 to $25 per half hour.  If you can afford $25 per lesson, I encourage you to explore other teachers as well; I have no interest in forcing down the prices of other teachers; rather, I think our strings program at school will be stronger if every student takes a lesson (even if for some of the students in older grades it is only occasionally).  Contact me at wdolde@gmail.com with interest; I will try to make an easy on-line sign-up available.  If this proves viable, I will try weekend morning lessons on a sliding scale during the school year.  I plan to make a way that payment can be anonymous (money put in a basket I do not check until multiple lessons) so you can feel free to pay what works for you.


Acquiring an Instrument for Next Year
Our school collection of violins, normally reserved for 4th grade students, is in need of a vacation.  I encourage families to procure a high-quality rental from Joe's Island Music, Island Strings, Click Music, or elsewhere.   This link from Island Strings provides a list of options http://www.islandstrings.com/id20.html.

As I discussed in the 4th grade parent meeting, Shar Music from Michigan (an established company founded by violin professors from the University of Michigan) provides high-quality, inexpensive violins for purchase ($139) or rental ($9.99 a month to rent after a $26 initial deposit).  Half of the rental money goes toward purchase; you can upgrade to finer violins and larger sizes.  The same luthiers who look over the expensive violins ensure the quality of student violins, making this a reliable choice for student violins.  Please visit http://www.sharmusic.com/Pages/Rentals/Flex-Plan/ and read the fine print.


I was pleased with an upright bass my family purchased for me from Allegro Violins in Portland (greatviolins.com).  His cello and viola prices are particularly competitive (beginner violas in the $300 range, cellos in the $400 range).

Music Book
Next year's 4th grade will use Strictly Strings Book 1.  As we discussed, it works best if a student owns her or his book and it is a clean copy.  Please write a check to WIWS or provide $7 to me (which I will turn in); thank you to parents who pay for next year in advance.  This will allow me to order the books early and have them for you this summer if you wish.


Next year's 5th grade will begin with Strictly Strings Book 2.  The price will also be $7.  Thanks to families for paying in advance.  It is possible we will move quickly enough to purchase another book for $7 later in the year.


Next year's 6th to 8th grade will use More Strings Extraordinaire and Jazz Philharmonic.  The price for the 2 books will be $14.  Again, thanks to families that pay in advance.


With warmth and light,
William Geoffrey Dolde

Bringing and Returning School Violins

Dear Families,

       With end of the year trips and other events, our schedule for strings will be slightly different next week.

4th grade will have an abbreviated strings class next Tuesday; please bring instruments.
5th grade will be away, 6th grade will not need instruments next Tuesday.

Because the Friday assembly is at 9am and I intend to tune and set the instruments early Friday morning before school starts, please have students bring their instruments and music books to school on Thursday as they would usually do.  I will secure the instruments and transport them to Friday's assembly.

Some students may have lessons on Thursday or intend to practice Thursday night.  This is wonderful.  The student or parent will then be responsible for transporting the instrument and music to the Whidbey Institute.

For families that have rented violins from WIWS this year, I will retain the violins after Friday's assembly.  Other students would do well to take their violins from Joe's or elsewhere home with them on Friday.

4th graders made a reasonable request to perform some new music and some music they now feel more comfortable with.  Our program will be:  Take a Walk, Take a Rest, March of the Crazy Ants, Hummingbird, and Oats and Beans.  (we have removed Smooth Sailing and Jolly is the Miller Boy from the program).

5th and 6th graders will join 4th grade for Oats and Beans, then play Que Bonita Bandera, Pachabel's Canon, and Hava Nagila.  The canon sounds lovely and is challenging for our students--largely because the sixteenth notes inspire them to speed up more than they need to.  It would do well for 5th and 6th graders to practice the canon (especially with a metronome or a steady beat) as often as possible before next Friday.

Thanks for your support of the strings program,

William Geoffrey Dolde

Professional Development Feedback for William

Dear Families,

       At this busy time of year, I seek your feedback in relationship to my 3 professional development goals this year.  Please do not feel obligated to write anything; I have taken in a lot of feedback already.  What will be most useful to me are concrete and specific observations, suggestions, or commendations rather than global praise or criticism. Email wdolde@gmail.com or place written feedback in the Dolde parent folder if you wish to remain anonymous.  My goals to comment on are below.

1)  To harmonize my work in early childhood and the music program; that is, rather than having work in one domain diminish my work in the other, my goal was to bring the two sides of my teaching together.

2)  To balance work and home life, especially in light of the increased teaching load of early childhood and strings.

3)  To communicate well with my colleagues and work in cooperation with them rather than individually.


Thanks for your time,

William Geoffrey Dolde

Final Assembly, help, next year

Welcome back from your various trips.  Below, I believe, is a reasonable program for what to practice for our final assembly.

4th grade  from Smart Violin, Take a Walk, Take a Rest, and Smooth Sailing (the first 2 pieces work well with our guitar students, so I have decided to use them for performance); our 2 surprise by ear songs

5th & 6th grade  from Strings Extraordinaire, Que Bonita Bandera, Canon, and Hava Nagila (n.b., we will not perform Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring this year)

7th &8th grade will accompany 4 and 5/6 ensembles above; we will also perform one or two Spanish songs and a humorous version of a children's song

The final assembly will likely be on Friday, June 11, at 9am.  Because of this earlier start time (very appropriate for the last day), I need your help so that I can have the instruments ready.  It may be that I request students who can part with their instruments and music for a night load my van with instruments on Thursday; I can secure the instruments, arrive early Friday, and tune them.  Students who bring instruments on Friday would walk them to Thomas Berry hall themselves and tune up themselves (next year our pavilion may free us from some of these logistics).  More information to come as we finalize plans; I wanted to give you a heads up.

I have demonstrated the cello and viola to the rising 5th grade.  Unless I hear huge objections from the parents, I would also like to demonstrate the upright bass.  If a child or two wants to take up the bass, it would help the sound of our ensemble; the bass is currently welcomed into our public high school wind ensembles.  Parents would have to be prepared for the challenges of transporting the instrument, acquiring one (rentals are more expensive; in some places more than cello), and we'd have to find space to store the instruments when students bring them to school (so we might say no more than 2 basses should any family be interested).

In 5th grade we will focus more on ensemble playing than technique, so it is particularly important that students switching to viola, cello, or bass take lessons and start practicing this summer.  We will likely use Strictly Strings Book 2 to start the school year next year; new viola, cello, or bass players would do well to work through Strictly Strings Book 1 this summer (violin students would be welcome to do the same if a review seems helpful).


With warmth and light,

William Geoffrey Dolde

Reminder -- Instruments Home for 4 and 6

With 4th and 6th grades at Potlatch or Mt. St Helen's, students will not need their instruments at school next week.  Please make sure your child brings her or his instrument home.

Students played well this week.  As we prepare for the final assembly, I will keep expectations realistic in light of missed classes for trips and the like.

Make-up Performance

Thank you to the students who performed at Mayfaire.  I was particularly impressed that they stuck with it in the cold weather.  A number of students were not present, and as promised, I am providing make-up opportunities for these families.  I have contacted them directly.  I am also giving the information here because other students are invited to join them; these make-up performances are not punishments, but an opportunity to close the circle pedagogically (and to help classmates know that when I expect all students to perform--even if not at the actual event--I will be true to my word).


Here is the schedule.  If the weather is lovely, we will play just in front of the lobby; if cold or rainy, in the lobby.

Thursday, 8:05am  5th and 6th graders playing from Fiddler's Philharmonic in the lobby.
Friday, 8:05am  4th graders playing from Smart Violin in the lobby.
Friday, 2:30pm  7th and 8th graders playing from Rise Up Singing by the big rock (or in the lobby in case of rain).

Again, all students are welcome.  Students who were not present at our Mayfaire performances are expected to be present must have an excuse in writing if they cannot be present.

Sincerely,

William Dolde

Looking Ahead to Final Assembly

I've had a request to describe my plans toward the end of the school year.  While this is not everything, this may help you and your student plan what to practice.

No instruments needed Monday and Tuesday next week   I have other activities planned for our classes.  After that, guitarists should bring an instrument (if possible) Mondays and Wednesdays, and strings players on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

4th grade  will work on ensemble playing and playing by ear with two familiar folk songs that we will play for our final assembly.  I will provide more details in a separate email because I want them to be a surprise.  As we prepare for Mayfaire, I notice how well our students are doing; some are trying so hard to play every note just right, however, that they are not noticing that they are playing at a different tempo from the rest of the group.  I think taking on some familiar songs with absolutely no sheet music--as scary as this can be for some--and no worries about bowings and other similar details will be a way to help students to listen to and observe each other as they play.

We will balance this with continued music reading from Smart Violin.  Next Thursday we will look at pages 16 & 17, the G Major Scale, Take a Walk, and Take a Rest.  For these 3 songs, we will try to all read the printed music in the book (the scale makes this particularly possible) rather than from color-coded pages I produce.  Before the year ends, we will play Smooth Sailing (probably for the assembly).  As time allows, we will skip ahead to other songs in G major--"Poetic Soul" on page 24 and "Perfect Day for Playing" on page 25.  I also know students have Potlatch, and if our playing folk songs by ear is helping the group, I will focus more on this than on Smart Violin.

That being said, some private instructors might choose to cover all the songs in Smart Violin this spring or summer, which is great.

5th & 6th Grade  will play Simon Tov, Fiddler's Frolic, Que Bonita Bandera, Pachelbel's Canon, and Hava Nagila from Strings Extraordinaire.  We will play some number of these songs at our final assembly (again, I know class trips are coming up).  We will also attempt  Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring in class again with an eye toward determining if it will work to perform it with a choir at our final assembly.

7th & 8th Grade will collaborate with our Spanish program on several songs for our final assembly.  We will also select two graduation songs from Rise Up Singing by sampling many songs.  We will also accompany the 4th and 5th & 6th strings at the final assembly.

Logistics for Sunday's Mayfaire

In light of the recent theft of guitars, I encourage parents to be particularly aware about where instruments are on Sunday.  Last year, many violins were left in my classroom for a couple of days after Mayfaire (and I was not even the strings teacher at the time).  I encourage you to do whatever is possible to make sure your child's instrument and music leaves Mayfaire with you (whether taking it to your car right after your child's performance or finding some other way to keep track of it).

4th grade  Will perform near the Maypole at 11am.  If the weather permits, I will encourage younger (e.g., nursery and toddler age) children to dance to our 4 songs.  Please have 4th graders present in the Butterfly Room by 10:45am to tune and warm up.  Our performance should conclude by 11:15am.

5th & 6th grade  Will play for a 3rd grade dance at about 12:45 and will play our long set for the community dance.  Please have students in the Butterfly Room with their instruments by 12:15pm for tuning and warm-up.  Please have students turn in their copies of Fiddler's Philharmonic to me after our performance (except for the families that purchased the book).

7th & 8th grade  Will play guitars at 10am by the Maypole.  I will provide the guitars and have them tuned.  Please have students present at 9:55am so that we can commence at 10am.  After our performance (about half an hour to 40 minutes), students who are not signed up for the 10am cafe slot will help me carry the guitars to my car.  Our performance is a sing-along, so parents should bring their singing voices; I will provide lyric sheets. 

6th grade instruments Friday

6th graders will have a rehearsal with me Friday afternoon (5th grade will be getting ready for their play).  Please have 6th graders bring their instruments Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week.

Instruments this week

With Mayfaire and Mayfaire rehearsals and other complexities, some students will need to bring instruments more this week, some less; please look for your child's grade below.

4th Grade  No violins needed Tuesday (tomorrow).  Yes, violins on Thursday.  Plan to bring them on Sunday.  We play at 11am:  Hummingbird, Diddle Fiddle, Hilltop Stomp, and March of the Crazy Ants.

5th and 6th Grade  Bring instruments on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  We will play "Country Gardens" for a grade 3 dance.  We will play for the community dance in the following order:  Kesh jig, Swallowtail, I'se the Byse, Cripple Creek, Bile 'em Cabbage Down, Road to Boston, Old Joe Clark, St. Anne's Reel.  At Mayfaire, we will play as part of the Maypole dances at 12:30pm.

7th & 8th Grade  I will bring guitars Wednesday.  At Mayfaire, we will play at 10am.  I will also bring guitars for students to use Sunday.

William Away Until Thursday

William Dolde will return to school on Thursday, April 15.  Students do not need to bring string instruments to school on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week unless your student's class teacher lets you know specifically that she or he has plans to use the instruments for another purpose (such as in a play).

When students do bring their instruments, beginning on Thursday, plan to have them bring them back and forth to school on instrumental ensemble days rather than leaving them at school.

Guitars -- Mondays and Wednesdays
Orchestral Strings  -- Tuesdays and Thursdays

A few students have 2nd instruments that they leave at school to make it easier to walk back and forth.  If you choose to do this, please consult with your child's class teacher for the best way to leave an instrument in an unobtrusive way.

Young Artist's Concert Sunday, 2:30pm

While I know many of our students will be part of the Children's Theater production at the same time, I recommend attending the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra's Young Artist concert this Sunday, March 21, at 2:30pm.  The four young soloists (two violinists, one flautist, one horn player) are inspiring.  One student is free with a paying adult.  An adult may bring additional students for $5 each.  For more information, visit the orchestra web site.

All three of the ensembles I teach showed motivation, attention, and pleasure in their recent classes.

Looking Toward Mayfaire

On Sunday, May 2, instrumental students in grades 4 to 8 will perform at Mayfaire.  As I have written before, this will be a required performance and of a much larger scale than in past years (students are playing at times when adults may have performed in the past); this is to replace the annual March WICA concert.  I expect all 4th to 8th graders to be present with their instruments.  If a student has an obligation elsewhere, please let me know; if possible, I will arrange an additional, alternate time for your student to perform.  I find students gain much more from my classes when they are working toward a performance.

We will be working in earnest.  With the April break (and I will be absent the first 3 days after break), Mayfaire will come upon us quickly.

4th grade

Our set list will include Hummingbird (page 13), Diddle Fiddle (14), and Hilltop Stomp (15) from Smart Violin.  We may add more songs (or reprise familiar songs) once we become comfortable with these three.  To aid students, I will produce color-coded copies; we will also work on note reading, and I applaud the private teachers for doing so as well.  Remember, there are CDs of the songs from Smart Violin in the Dolde parent folder that you are welcome to borrow to help your student.

5th & 6th grade

We will reprise Country Gardens from Strings Extraordinaire.  We will work to performing two longer sets of jigs and reels (without stops) from Fiddler's Philharmonic.

Jig set:  "I'se the B'y" (6), Swallowtail Jig (14), Kesh Jig (22)
Reel set:  Cripple Creek (4), Bile 'em Cabbage Down (7), Road to Boston (10), Old Joe Clark (12), St Anne's Reel (30)

If we master these, we will add a waltz or two.  I encourage you to purchase the book for your student.  The sign-up list is still at the base of the tower stairs.  Because so few parents have (which is fine), I am not keeping an extra inventory to avoid burdening the music cost center--this means your student must remember the book (as they should always--it is good to form this habit).

7th & 8th grade

We will perform a number of Celtic and/or British and/or Summery songs for a sing-along (expecting Joe Dunkley to come and help us again).  All songs will come up from Rise Up Singing.  Here is a list of some songs we will be playing; we will add others as we master these.

Star of the County Down (Ballads),  John Riley (Ballads), Scarborough Fair (Dreams), Loch Lomond (Outdoors), Wild Mountain Thyme (Outdoors), Take me Out to the Ballgame (America)

4th grade violins playing Friday

In the interest of clarity and elegance, our 4th grade violinists will be our representatives for grandparents' day.  Please make sure their violins are at school.

Working with the 4th grade teacher's schedule, William will tune up the 4th grade violins in their classroom.  At a little before 8:30, we will play in the hallway (right outside the door) for 15 minutes or so--pretty much every song we have played this year to make a satisfying medley for the grandparents.  Students will then pack away and continue with their main lesson.

Thank you to students in other grades who were prepared to play; the logistics seem best if 4th grade are our players.

I continue to work with all the instrumental groups to prepare for Mayfaire.  Expect more details soon.

Rendezvous Performs Tomorrow during 5/6 strings

Troels Oxenvad and Elizabeth Lovelace (the duo Rendezvous) will perform for and speak to our string instrumentalists at 2pm tomorrow, Thursday.  5th & 6th graders need not bring instruments to school tomorrow.  4th graders will have violin class as usual (please bring instruments) and then stay with me in the common room for the performance final period.

As sometimes happen, the best time for the performance is after the official school day for 7th & 8th graders.  We encourage these students to attend as an after school activity (I will be with them until 2:45pm) but are not requiring them to be present.

With warmth and light,

William Geoffrey Dolde

Fiddler's Philharmonic in for 5th and 6th Grade

Dear 5th and 6th Grade Families,

      I will distribute copies of Fiddler's Philharmonic to students on Tuesday. I am impressed with the series; it gives many familiar and less familiar Irish and American tunes (a number of which students hear me play) in ways that the whole orchestra can play them.  The challenging breaks are well written and should motivate students who may have already learned the standard form of a tune such as Swallowtail Jig.  There are also easier back-up or bass parts for students for whom that is right at the moment.

      There are no fingerings written in.  I recommend considering buying the book to keep ($8 to Paul's inbox, check off your student's name on the list at the base of the tower) so that your student, you, or a private teacher can write in fingerings where helpful.

With warmth and light,

William Geoffrey Dolde

Dancing Tuesday, Mayfaire

On Monday, February 22, guitar students will have class as usual. Many students took their guitars home; please make sure they are back at school. Please also confirm that your student still possesses Rise Up Singing.

By contrast, 4th through 6th graders may leave their stringed instruments at home on Tuesday. We will be devoting our 4th and 5/6 class times to dancing with Walter Dill (he is leading the community dance on Friday). If one ever wants to be a fiddle player, dancing is essential; it is helpful to musicians of all sorts, so I am more than pleased to offer this alternative class on Tuesday.

Confessions of a first year strings teacher

When I filled in for this position, I made many assumptions based upon my experiences as a public school student who played the violin. I realize some of my assumptions were wrong, and I want to list them here to avoid confusion. Despite this, our instrumental program seems strong.

A. I was incorrect when I thought the grades teachers could pack in orchestra practice time with everything else our rich curriculum has to offer (the exception being guitar students working with the recorders). Unlike my own school experience, every element of the Waldorf day is important, so it becomes clear that other elements would be lost if teachers had practice time in class every day. Unless your class teacher tells you differently, your child only needs the instrument in school on days of class with me.

B. For similar reasons, I realized that even if I had the time (which I only had in theory), to pull students out of class for extra small or group lessons during the day was depriving them of valuable experiences with their class. We did this a few times; I do not expect to do this again. For students who need extra help, I will recommend lessons outside of school time (I would be willing to be one of these teachers at the standard rate). Because we also received a grant for free lessons, it seems much more reasonable to expect parents to find the help outside of school time.

C. To teach fiddle tunes by ear does not work so well in a mixed ensemble. It is not fair to the violas and cellos. If I lowered everything a 5th, it wouldn't be so fair to the violins and would not sound so great. I love the mixed ensemble, so I am not wishing the cellos and violas away; I am just noting that it does not work so well to teach by ear.

D. Not really a false assumption, just a clarification. I am a trained early childhood teacher who happens to love music, and I think I have been a good fit for the instrumental program. I am also the nursery and parent & child teacher, and on the upcoming assembly and Easter Festival, my responsibilities will be in early childhood, so I will not be preparing the strings or guitar students to perform at these two events.

That being said, with the break, spring will move quickly, and we will work on long programs for Mayfaire and the final assembly. Here is a preview.

Mayfaire

We expect all 4th to 8th grade students to attend Mayfaire with their instruments. This is a mandatory performance. With the possible (but also not possible) exception of the guitar students, I will expect students to play without sheet music. As with Michaelmas, I find outdoor performances work so much better when we are not relying upon stands and music books that can be blown about by the wind. Playing by memory or ear is an important and useful skill.

4th grade

A number of the songs in Smart Violin work well as dance tunes. We will keep working through the book and likely accompany 3rd or other grade dancers with songs such as Diddle Fiddle, Hilltop Stomp, Perfect Day for Playing, and others. We have lots of time to prepare. We will also play the other songs, in order, in Smart Violin.

5th & 6th grade

I have ordered Fiddler's Philharmonic for all the students in 5th & 6th grade. It should come in next week. It scores fiddle tunes for full orchestra and has more challenging and easier parts. The book costs $8 per student. Although my letter at the beginning of the year stated I might ask parents to buy two books, I will allow students to borrow and return the book (with no writing and good condition). I recommend that you purchase book; your student's private teacher can make marks, and your student will have a useful book of tunes looking ahead.

It was challenging in the fall to keep track of money going two places. To make it easier, I will put a 5/6 roster up at the base of the tower. When you put your check to WIWS or cash for $8 in Paul's mailbox, please mark yourself off as paid next to your child's name. I will wait a few weeks and then use this list to collect back unpaid for books after Mayfaire.

We will try to practice every tune in the book. My vision is that rather than having adults play for the community contra dance, the 5/6 graders will play a long, long medley (we might need every song in the book). Your students rise to the occasion with challenges, and this seems just right for them.

Guitar At present I do not necessarily plan to have the guitarists accompany 5/6 or 4. I want them to be able to dance to the music played by others, and they may have responsibilities elsewhere during the fair.

I will, however, work with teachers and class parents to make sure that all the guitar students are available for 45 minutes or an hour or more to play British and Celtic folk songs such as Scarborough Fair, John Riley, Wild Mountain Thyme from Rise Up Singing to set the mood before the dancing; it will likely be a sing-along with lyrics available for parents. In past years we have had adults such as me or Elizabeth warm up the space. My plan this year is to have students playing instead.

I write you this so that you can plan. I will of course be working with the faculty and parents who are setting up Mayfaire and will make adjustments to the strings contributions to harmonize well.

With warmth and light,

William Geoffrey Dolde

Sunday Island Strings Recital

Some of our 4th to 8th grade students might enjoy the Island Strings student recital this Sunday at 2pm at the Unitarian Church on 525.

Reviews and Challenges

Dear Families,

Over the February Break, I will meet with Ms. Kenney and Ms. White to plan violin, strings, and guitar participation in the March assembly and/or Easter festival (that is, we might do one or the other, or some hybrid). As such, we will use our next 3 classes to review and preview without a specific performance in mind.

4th Grade
I gave out my color-coded versions of "March of the Crazy Ants," "Woke Up Early," and "A Fantastic View." We will work on these 3 pieces mainly in the next few classes. We are also using them to notice some aspects of musical form and technical aspects (rest, staccato, and the like).

This would be a time I would start arranging chances for me or others (James Hinkley, Kat Fritz?) to demonstrate the viola and cello as students think about next year, but I would like 4th grade parents to collect thoughts (to your teacher or class parent?). One 5th grader parent told me she appreciated knowing that taking up the viola and particularly the cello might involve higher rental costs and more necessity for more frequent lessons (because of learning to read a new clef; of potentially playing melodies different from the rest of the group). As such, I would be willing not to demonstrate viola and cello and not talk about it with the students if parents prefer.

I would love to have some students join our cello and viola sections next year. I have played the cello for 7 months and surprised beyond belief at how much I adore playing it. I don't want to deny this possibility for students, but I also want parents to have their eyes wide open as to logistics and what this means (more practicing, very consistent lessons, more expensive instrument procurement, bigger instrument to move back and forth) and can adapt.

5th & 6th Grade

I found a different version of Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring. This is still by far the hardest and longest piece we have attempted this year. We may do our best with it for 2 weeks and put it aside (I fondly remember tackling Rite of Spring without the need for public performance when I was in high school), or some or all of us may play it as 7 & 8 choir sings the choral part. Please have your student bring this to her or his private teacher. Please do let me know if the private teacher says it is way too difficult for this age group (e.g., the 1st violins have to shift to 2nd or 3rd position or do an awkward stretch up to high C). This will be a useful reality check for me.

It could still be possible that a small ensemble could accompany the choir; I know some of our students have been working hard on the violin part. As always, I find extreme challenges can really help us grow.

7th & 8th Grade

Some students want to learn bar chords, which I am introducing. I have asked the students to pick songs from Rise Up Singing. I am also observing that it is helpful if I pick songs. We will sample a variety of songs in the next 3 classes and tailor our work to our performance after the February break.

With warmth and light,

William Geoffrey Dolde

Bravo to 4th to 8th grade

All three instrumental ensembles sounded great in their recent rehearsals. Thank you to the students, parents, and private teachers for all the hard work. Some of the songs are challenging, yet as an ensemble, even the challenging songs came across well. I think it a good experience to realize the group can support you even if you cannot play every note--this is helpful not just in music, but in life.

PLEASE REMEMBER INSTRUMENTS AND MUSIC THURSDAY.

Please forgive some jokes and antics on my part on Thursday. I imagine some of the students are or will be nervous, and I am trying to help them relax and enjoy the performance. I have never seen Itzhak Perlman perform when he hasn't made a number of jokes, so I don't think I'm being disrespectful to the music.

Special note to 4th grade parents. I told your students that I would tell you to come early to watch the rehearsal if you think it will make your child more comfortable (10:45am). I told them I'd tell you to come late (at 11am) if your presence would make them more nervous. They laughed. You will have to decide for yourself when to come.

With warmth and light,

William Dolde

CDs for 4th grade, songs for 7/8

4th Grade

Two home-made, low-tech CDs of every song in Smart Violin are in the "Dolde" parent folder. Feel free to borrow one and return it when the time seems right. If all the CDs are gone, and you would like a copy, please let me know--if you provide me with a blank CD, I will burn a copy for you to keep.
I was talking with one of the private instructors about how many students are progressing rapidly; if your student seems to be thriving, don't feel you have to get a CD. Other students seem more uncertain, however, and if hearing the songs frequently help them support the ensemble on January 28, I encourage you to support them in that way.
I had my first rehearsal for our upcoming Saratoga Chamber Orchestra concert. The music is all from 20th century American composers and is quite challenging. I practice a lot and can't make the violin parts sound great by the first rehearsal, but by concert time, our ensemble and individual work will make beautiful music. I want the 4th graders (and older students) to get this sense, too--it is OK if something seems really challenging; the group will help carry the music along, with students participating in the appropriate way.

Guitar

I will send home with students Wednesday the entire repertoire for our January 28 assembly. Guitar students are playing 9 songs (3 with 4th grade strings, 3 with 5/6, 1 with a Spanish class, and 2 sing-alongs for the audience).
I recommend that students with younger siblings playing violin play duets at home.

If you have a 4th to 6th grader and would like the guitar chords to the songs they are playing (so you or they could play along at home), please let me know, and I will make extra copies for you (I received permission from the publishers to make copies for the purpose of providing guitar chords).

With warmth and light,

William Dolde

More specifics for repertoire for January 28

4th Grade

My goal will be for us to perform Dana the Manatee (p 9), Eclipse (10), and Seesaw (11) from Smart Violin at the assembly (with guitar students backing us up). Although March of the Crazy Ants (8) is a good song, the sheet music is harder to read, so we will skip over that as a group for now (I know some students have mastered it individually) and return to it after the assembly.

I think a number of students will become quite proficient with 3 songs, and students who feel unsure will be able to contribute and be carried by the group.

I am of course ready to adjust if it becomes too stressful (these will be new songs for many of the students).

5th & 6th Grade

6th graders made a reasonable plea to keep Handel's Processional off the program for January 28--they've performed it at assemblies for 2 years in a row. We will aim to perform the Chorale (all students should practice both the A and B parts for this one), the Gavotte for 2 violins, and King William's March (again with guitars backing us up).

4th to 6th -- Instruments and Books, Tuning

Students in grades 4 to 6 need to bring instruments and books (Smart Violin in 4, Strings Extraordinaire in 5 & 6) to school tomorrow, Thursday.

Tuning Hopefully weather will cooperate and keep moisture in the air. Some 4th graders have been under the impression that a private teacher has said it is OK for a student to turn the pegs at the end of the violin. We have had some broken strings, bent bridges, and loss of class time. I have clarified with some of the private teachers--to my knowledge, teachers are consistent in stating the following:

Beginning violinists should refrain from trying to tune their violins using the pegs at the scroll.

Many teachers wait a number of years before teaching tuning in this way (because of the possible damage to the instrument).

I have observed some students in grades 5 & 6 successfully and responsibly tune their own or other student's instruments using pegs. This is fine, and I am glad to see students help one another. During the tuning fiasco of dry weather, I had some reports of students deliberately marring their tuning to delay class. Because this was not a problem when weather allowed most instruments to stay in tune (and would be really obvious when most instruments are in tune), I expect this potentially disrespectful behavior to vanish. It also signals that I should move the pace in class quicker and make sure the material is challenging (which means some students may need to practice more at home). Please contact me if you have concerns.

4th Grade

We will review Smart Violin from the start, now reading notes and using solfeggio techniques (do-re-mi and soforth; this will help us make sense of transposing songs from A major to D major). Students familiar with note reading and the songs in the first pages may find it best to work on complementary, appropriately challenging material with a private teacher (as some teachers already do). It is my intention to move through Smart Violin with steady progress throughout the coming months. For some students, this may be challenging; I have received permission from the publisher and am in the process of making a low-tech recording of every song in the book to assist students who may be struggling.

5th & 6th Grade

We will have new seating for the January 28 assembly. We will rotate seating for each assembly; our strings program is for all students, not by audition, and I am therefore resisting creating a hierarchy of seating; rather, I want students to sit in new combinations to work on their listening in an ensemble. Cellos and violas will sit in the middle with violins on either side; this will make it easier for the audience to hear the distinct melodie of the bass and alto registers, and will mean students (violins in particular) will have to work hard to listen to one another.

We will review--briskly--pre-Christmas material in Strings Extraordinaire and focus on Choral, Processional, Gavotte in D, and King William's March (pages 8 to 12), likely playing some to or all of these at the January assembly.

7th & 8th Grade

Our guitarists will back up the 4th grade and 5th & 6th at the January assembly, as well as one of the Spanish classes.

We will do a number of exercises to refresh our memory of chords.

I encourage students/parents to look through Rise Up Singing to recommend songs for us to work on (other recommendations are fine as well).