Orchestra at McCall
6th, 7th, and 8th Graders have the opportunity to join the McCall String Orchestras. These ensembles rehearse on even days, during the school day.
Dear Students and Parents,
Welcome to Orchestra for the 2020-2021 School Year!
Please save this email and refer back to it when questions arise.
I am so pleased to welcome you to the orchestras at McCall Middle School. We will have our first class this Wednesday, September 16, but will not need instruments until our next rehearsal together, either on Friday, or next Tuesday.
For those of you new to orchestra at McCall, we do not offer individualized instruction on how to play your instrument. It is assumed that you already know how to do that! All students should consider taking lessons outside of school in order to continue to progress on their chosen instrument. I am always happy to recommend some local teachers.
Students will need to login promptly to class each day with the following supplies:
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Instrument--(please have it tuned in advance)
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Music--please print your music! If no printer is available at home, please print it at school in the library. We must write fingerings, dynamics, and other markings into our parts each time we rehearse, so that we remember them the next time!
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Music Stand
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Tuner-- I am recommending the app “Tonal Energy Tuner” this year. It costs $3.99 in the app store and in the Google Play store. If you already have another tuner app, or a separate device, there is no need to buy this! We will be learning how to use this app in our classes over the next few weeks.
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Violin & Viola students will need either a shoulder rest or a sponge.
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Cello and Bass students should have a rock stop or a Xeros strap.
Zoom will send me an attendance report for each class period, so I will be able to see how long each participant was in attendance. Please make sure that the name I see in Zoom is the name you’d like recorded for attendance!
We will meet on one of your days at home, either on Tuesday or on Friday:
12:50-1:30 pm: Grade 8 Orchestra
1:40-2:20 pm: Grade 7 Orchestra
2:25-3:05 pm: Grade 6 Orchestra
Wednesday meeting time):
1:30-2:00 pm: Grade 8 Orchestra
2:00-2:26 pm: Grade 7 Orchestra
2:30-3:00 pm: Grade 6 Orchestra
Johnson Strings will be holding a rental event on Saturday, September 26 at Winchester High School from 10-12. Spencer Brook Strings will be delivering instruments to the schools. Please make arrangements with the rental shop of your choice to have an instrument as soon as possible, but no later than September 29.
I'd like to reiterate a few guidelines about learning an instrument.
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Please remember that consistent practice is the key to making progress on an instrument. Practice is for learning your parts, rehearsals are for putting them together with the rest of the ensemble!
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Home support is SO important! Do your best to encourage your child, no matter how you think it sounds! It does get better!
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Students should practice AT LEAST 3-4 times per week for 15-60 min.
Please get in the habit of washing your hands before playing your instrument.
***Nails must be trimmed short in order to play stringed instruments. All students must keep their nails clipped down to, or slightly below the tip of the finger. In order for correct (and pain-free) technique to be learned, students must have access to the tips of their fingers, free from long nails.
A quick note on concerts:
We will be preparing music for a large concert at a future date, as of yet still TBD. As soon as it is safe for us to hold such an event (read-- towards the end of the school year)-- we will, and your presence will be most welcomed!
I'm looking forward to an incredible year of music with each and every one of you!
Sincerely,
Michael Galvin
Strings Teacher
Winchester Public Schools
