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The following instruments are taught in Orchestra:
violin, viola, cello and string bass
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Dr. Mindy Rubin 281.465.5900
Schedule & What We're Working On
8:15-8:45 5th Grade violins- Applying Success Steps to concert music pieces "Morning Lights," "Apache" and *"Hey Fiddle, Fiddle!" 8:45-9:15 5th Grade violas, cellos and bass-same as above.
9:20-9:50 6th Grade violins & violas- Applying success steps to concert music: *"Mama Don't 'Low No Fiddle Playin' Around Here," *"Red Pepper;" and "Tangerine Blue." 9:50-10:20 6th Grade cello & bass-same as above
*To listen to these pieces, go to JW Pepper.Com and insert the title of the piece in the search box
10:25-11:25 4th Grade Music- Reading and identifying Treble and Bass clef notes; Time Signatures; Counting rhythms using numbers
11:25-11:55 Lunch 12:00-1:00 Conference
1:00-1:55 1st Grade Music- Reading Do, Mi, So and La from the staff. Identifying ta, ti-ti, and tika-tika rhythms. 2:00-2:50 Kindergarten Music |
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IMPORTANT DATES
CONCERT REHEARSALS
Please attend ALL rehearsals for yourself, your section, and your orchestra to have the BEST concerts ever! Rehearsals are from 7:30-8:05, in the orchestra room.
Fri., April 27- 6th Grade Coulson Tough Celtic Fiddlers
Mon., April 30- 5th violins and violas
Tues., May 1- 5th grade cellos and bass
Wed., May 2- 5th violins and violas
Thurs., May 3- 6th grade 1st and 2nd violins
Fri., May 4- 6th Grade Coulson Tough Celtic Fiddlers
Mon., May 7-5th cellos and bass
Tues., May 8-5th violins and violas
Wed., May 9- 6th Grade violas, cellos and basses
Thurs., May 10- 6th grade 1st and 2nd violins
Fri., May 11- 6th Grade Coulson Tough Celtic Fiddlers
Mon., May 14- 5th cellos and bass
Tues., May 15- 5th violins and violas
Wed., May 16- ALL 6th Grade Orchestra
Thurs., May 17- ALL 5th Grade Orchestra
Fri., May 18- 6th Grade Coulson Tough Celtic Fiddlers
Tues., May 22- 6th grade 1st and 2nd violins
Wed., May 23- 5th violins and violas
*Monday, May 21st-
6th Grade performs during school for the 4th Grade.
5th and 6th Grade performs with other feeder system schools at our feeder system “String Fling” concert at The Woodlands HS. Students need to be at TWHS by 5:00. Concert begins at 7:00.
*Thursday, May 24th-
6th Grade performs for 2nd, 3rd and 5th Grades at 9:00 a.m.
5th and 6th Grade Spring Concert at Coulson Tough at 7:30 pm. All Orchestra students need to be at school by 7:00 pm.
Friday, May 25th-
6th Grade Orchestra trip to Incredible Pizza
*An orchestra is a performing musical group. It is through performance and preparation for performances that a great deal of learning occurs. Students are expected to attend all performances. The whole team is affected when any one musician is missing! Students MUST attend concerts on time, dressed in the correct attire and with all of the correct equipment.
Please note the following: Concert dates will go out several months in advance and they need to take precedence over lessons, sports activities, and other extra-curricular activities. We realize that there may emergency circumstances beyond our control that come up in the course of the year. These emergencies will certainly be excused; however, I am asking that you communicate with me about the situation. A test grade is given for each performance as follows: Attendance on time, with correct attire and equipment, and participation = 100; Absence for any reason = 50
May 28th-June 1st-
Students who have been using CISD instruments need to return them to Coulson Tough.
ORCHESTRA FOR 2012-13 5th GRADE STUDENTS
What is Orchestra class like? Students who participate in orchestra receive many benefits. Musical benefits include learning to read notes and rhythms in addition to learning musical expression, musical styles, musical terminology, music history, and a developing a proficiency of instrumental performance. Playing a stringed instrument requires good fine motor coordination. Orchestra requires practice time outside the class day to hone new musical skills. Remember, “the more you put in, the more you'll get out!” At times during the school year, Dr. Rubin will hold before school section rehearsals, and attendance is strongly recommended. Private lessons are also encouraged as students become more
proficient on their instruments.
What is the Instrument Selection Night? On May 23rd, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, we will be hosting an instrument selection night. Please come directly to the orchestra room. Dr. Rubin will look at students' physical characteristics such as hand size, finger shape, and arm length, to try to find the best choice and size instrument for each student. For students who wish to play cello or bass, sign-up is first-come first-serve, based on the number of class instruments available and specific sizes.
On instrument selection night, each student will receive a letter including what size instrument needs to be rented along with which book and various supplies to buy. Since all orchestra instruments come in different sizes, it is strongly encouraged that students RENT an instrument from a local store. This makes it easier to trade in a small instrument for a larger one as the student grows. Please DO NOT purchase orchestra instruments over the internet----local music stores carry instruments that are properly set up for beginning students, and have reasonable RENTAL plans. Please wait to acquire any equipment
until after attending the May 23rd instrument night.
Check these out!
SUPER COOL, Interactive Websites for ALL Orkies to look at and learn from!!!
For EVERYONE:
VIOLINISTS:
VIOLISTS:
CELLISTS and BASSISTS
COULSON TOUGH ORCHESTRA Required Materials and supplies
We will be using pencils often during orchestra class time. Over the first week of school please have your child bring 5 sharpened pencils to put in a class collection for this use. Thank you!
5th Grade: Sound Innovations Bk. 1
6th Grade: Sound Innovations Bk. 2
BOTH 5th and 6th GRADE ORCHESTRA STUDENTS
Please read the Instrument Care notice in the "Orchestra Downloads" link on the left side bar.
____ Rosin (for the specific instrument---Bass rosin can only be used for a bass!)
____ Soft cloth for cleaning instrument
____ Folding music stand (to be kept at home for practicing with correct posture, and to have for our String Fling concert).
____ All students must have a three-ring binder (with plastic protector sleeves) for music and materials given in class. Students need to organize the materials given (such as Worksheets, Technique sheets, Written Homework assignments, Tests, Sheet Music, Scales) by section dividers, labeled clearly.
Students’ binders will be checked (for a grade) periodically for its content.
____ All students are expected to have pencils in a pencil bag in their binder for use during class.
VIOLINISTS AND VIOLINISTS
Bow (necessary) Accessory for violin and viola: “Bow Hold Buddies" order directly from Things4strings.com
All Violinists and Violists must have an instrument, bow, shoulder rest, etc. in good playing condition, and must bring their instrument and bow to class every day and take them home every night to practice. A shoulder rest properly supports the instrument up on the left shoulder so that the hand does not support its weight. Please purchase the "Comfort Curve Shoulder Rest."
Instrument cases must be labeled with name and an address. The director is not responsible for misplaced or misused instruments that are not in an assigned locker.
CELLISTS AND BASSISTS
Bow (necessary) Accessory for cello: “CelloPhant” order directly fromThings4strings.com
Cellists and Bassists must bring their home instrument to class at least once a week for tuning!! (Otherwise he/she won't be practicing the correct notes!)
Cellos and Basses: Endpin anchor strap for practicing at home
Basses: 24” barstool for practicing at home
enroll in Private LessonS!!!!!!!
Please open “Private Teacher List” file in the Orchestra Downloads section on sidebar.
The secret to success in music is practice. What and how to practice differs from student to student depending on their own abilities and limitations. While the school program has numerous musical benefits and positive aspects, individual attention is often limited due to the large number of students involved. Private lessons are highly recommended. Students who attend private lessons regularly are more likely to develop to their highest level of ability. This allows them to compete more successfully and to more fully benefit from orchestra experience.
By providing this list of instructors, the Conroe Independent School District is in no way endorsing any of the teachers listed. This list merely contains the names of instructors who have requested that they be included.
Orchestra Expectations |
Please sign up for the Parent Access Account for information for your child's assignments and grades. You can do this by going to www.conroeisd.net and clicking on the "Parent/Student" heading. In the drop down box you'll find the Parent Access Account registration option.
1. Practicing ORCHESTRA STUDENTS ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO PRACTICE! Recommended Practice Time: 20 to 30 minutes per daily. During their at-home practice time,
your child should use their folding music stand. To promote good playing posture violinists and violists should practice standing-up, cellists should practice in a seated, upright position, and bassists should practice in a seated, upright position using their 24” barstool. Music achievement requires effort over a period of time. The time in orchestra rehearsal is limited. New concepts learned at school need daily personal practice time by your child at home in order for these new skills to be developed. You can help your child by:
- Providing a quiet place in which to practice - Remaining nearby during practice times as often as possible - Scheduling a consistent daily time for practice - Praising your child's efforts and achievements
2. Performance Tests: Playing Tests/Written Tests/Concerts Performance tests and written tests will be given to assess skill level, technique, understanding of musical notation, and music theory.
3. Responsibility/Participation Each student is responsible for having an instrument, appropriate accessories, and music each day in class. Students should come to class prepared with assignments completed. At the beginning of each 9 weeks each student starts with a 100. Points can be earned and deducted at my discretion based on the student’s behavior, responsibility, and participation in class. The following are some examples:
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Playing an Orchestra instrument is a commitment to regular practice. Practicing is necessary to reinforce the skills learned in class; keep up with the other students; and be ready for playing tests and performances. A weekly Practice Record is due each Tuesday, with a parent's signature, confirming the student's practice time each week. (Practice time may also turned in on a regular piece of paper with the parent's signature or the weekly practice time may be emailed to me.) Students should establish daily practice habits that will make them successful. Since music performance is an athletic skill involving finger, wrist, shoulder, and back muscles as well as cognitive skills, it is necessary to build physical strength and dexterity. To accomplish this and to retain the fine motor skills and muscle memory, it is crucial that musicians practice their instrument daily. The Orchestra program requires regular home practice - either two 15-minute sessions or one 30-minute session daily (preferably at the same time of day). These practice sessions should not be spent passively; ideally, they are working and thinking exercise periods to perfect
the skills and material that we are covering in class. In the practice session, each musician privately confronts his or her own limitations, with the aim of conquering them. This requires great strength of purpose. Practice will be accomplished if the parental role is to give a simple reminder of the agreed time, rather than a daily attempt to "fit in" practice between other activities. Parents, please encourage your orchestra musician to perform for you, to show off what they've learned and to aid them in the art of performing!
PRACTICING SUCCESS STEPS 1. clap and count the rhythm 2. clap and say letter names/finger numbers 3. pluck and say letter names/finger numbers
- 4. shadow bow right arm rhythms 5. play with bow as written!!!
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Practice Strategies |
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Clap and Count |
Finger and Say |
Simplify the Rhythm |
Long-Short-Long |
Play Rhythm on one pitch |
Slow it Down |
Use a metronome |
5 Times Perfect |
Say bowing syllables |
Pattern Recognition |
Chunking |
Work back from end |
Isolate One Aspect |
Record your playing |
Build from middle |
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 Coulson Tough Orchestra's GOALS to be THE BEST are:
1. That every orchestra student will use correct instrument position which includes:
Sitting up straight
Correct left hand position
Straight left wrist
Curved left hand fingers
Playing on finger tips
Left hand fingers remain over fingerboard even not when in use
Left elbow in correct place
Instrument is at correct angle and in correct relationship to body
2. That every orchestra student will use correct bow position which includes:
Thumb on tip, curved out, and placed on correct part of bow
Pinky in correct place for instrument
violins and violas: curved and tip on top of stick
cellos and basses: middle of frog
3. That every orchestra student will produce a clear, characteristic tone quality.
4. That every orchestra student will play in tune.
5. That every orchestra student will be able to read note names on the clefs appropriate to their instrument.
6. That every orchestra student will play with a steady beat and with correct note values.
7. That every orchestra student will practice those sections assigned by the teacher.
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We welcome donations of orchestra uniforms and equipment. If you will no longer need your orchestra shirt, please consider donating it to Coulson Tough. Music books, shoulder rests, rock stops, and stands can also be donated if they will no longer be used. Thank you for considering us!!
Texas Summer String/Orchestra Camps!
Wondering how to continue your string player's abilibty and passion over the summer? Here is a list of some string/orchestra/fiddling camps local to Texas:
Institution, Month(s), Location, Ages/Grades, Contact Phone, Web site
Baylor June Waco Grades 7 - 12 254-710-4211
Hardin Simmons June Abilene Grades 6 - 12 325-671-2171
University of Houston June & July Houston College 713-743-3167
Sam Houston State June & July Huntsville Grades 7 - 12 936-294-1360
Texas State June & July San Marcos Grades 7 - 12 512-245-1870
Texas Tech July Lubbock Grades 6 - 12 806-742-2270 x.231
U T Arlington July Arlington Grades 6 - 12 817-469-1393
U T Austin June Austin Grades 6 - 12 512-232-2080
U T San Antonio July San Antonio Ages 13 - 18 210-458-4354
FIDDLING:
Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association Camp August All Ages
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