Practice records are due Monday for 7th and 8th grade orchestras only. Click below to save, view and print a copy of the practice records
posted on: September 08, 2007
Dear Friends and Parents,
Would you like an opportunity to hear the ASO and world-renowned conductor Pinchas Zukerman? Well read on...
_______________________________________________________________________
Enjoy $12 tickets to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra!
Join us for a concert October 11/12/13 at 8pm
Contact Angela White at 404.733.4848 or angela.white@woodruffcenter.org to get the discount.
GREAT SEATS STILL AVAILABLE!
HAYDN: Symphony No. 83, La Poule
CHAUSSON: Poeme for violin
RAVEL: Tzigane, for violin
SAINT-SAENS: Symphony No. 3, “Organ”
Pinchas Zukerman, conductor
*Offer not valid at box office, subject to availability.
posted on: August 29, 2007
The Doemel's are in Germany for a few weeks. We landed today and have already done so much!. Click on the pictures for a larger view of some castles and scenes. What a fastidiously beautiful country. We will visit Bonn to see Beethoven's house and Vienna, home of so many wonderful musicians. Stay tuned.
posted on: June 17, 2007
...is a traditional English round, the oldest example of counterpoint, a music composition technique, in existence. The title might be translated as "Summer has come in" or "Summer has arrived", The language is Middle English, more exactly Wessex dialect. It is the oldest piece of six-part polyphonic music in existence. Its composer is anonymous, possibly W. de Wycombe, and it is estimated to date from around 1260.
Thank you to the departing 8th grade students. Many of you I hope to see regularly at Lassiter. You helped make this a great three years for me and I have enjoyed working with you. I’m proud of what we accomplished and hope you are also.
I hope you have a wonderful high school experience. Please keep in touch.
posted on: June 17, 2007
Here's a copy of the last practice record
posted on: May 22, 2007
I apologize for not posting lately. I have experienced technical difficulties that are now fixed.
Our last concert of the year is tonight! Hopefully you received the letter I sent home with details.
The 8th graders were to bring in their concert clothes today and stay after school for a final rehearsal
and to combine the two classes. They will have a pizza dinner at school at about 5:45.
6th and 7th graders are to arrive at 6:15, dressed and ready to play. 6th graders will meet in the band room, 7th graders in the chorus room. There will be a reception in the cafeteria following the performance. See you there.
posted on: May 15, 2007
The Mabry Symphony will rehearse tomorrow morning at 8 am in the Orchestra room. DON'T BE LATE!!
posted on: April 18, 2007
Congratulations to (from L to R) Ian M., Jessica I., and Katherine J. for being chosen to be part of the 2007 Cobb County Middle School Honor Orchestra. After auditioning, they were chosen from hundreds of middle school string players to participate. The performance, at McEachern HS on Saturday, April 14th, was a wonderful example of the wealth of talented musicians being developed in Cobb County. Jessica and Katherine are 8th graders who will be part of the Lassiter HS Orchestra next year. Ian is a 7th grader! Congratulations for this honor that your hard work has brought you!
posted on: April 18, 2007
Practice Records are due next Monday, April 23rd. Here's a copy.
posted on: April 16, 2007
On the Concert and Activity Calendar you received in the Fall the date for our Spring Concert was listed as May 3rd.
For several reasons the date for this concert has been moved to Tuesday, May 15th at 7 p.m.. Please contact me at
Chris.Doemel@Cobbk12.org with any conflicts.
Thursday, May 3rd is the Lassiter Orchestra's "Night At The Movies". The 8th Grade Orchestra will perform at that event.
You received a form recently to purchase tickets. On that form the date was incorrect. The correct date and time are Thursday,
May 3rd at 7:30 p.m.
posted on: April 16, 2007
Enjoy $12 tickets to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra!
GREAT TICKETS AVAILABLE!
April 26th, 27th, 28th at 8:00 pm
Atlanta Symphony Hall
PROGRAM:
MAXWELL DAVIES: An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise
TURNAGE: Three Screaming Popes
MACMILLAN: Britannia
BRITTEN: Sinfonia da Requiem
ELGAR: Pomp and Circumstance Marches Nos. 1 and 4
Donald Runnicles, conductor
Scott Long, Highland bagpipes
Mr. Runnicles takes us to his British homeland: the source of Elgar’s popular success, Britten’s deeply felt and universal anti-war ode, and “a trajectory of exuberant fun” from Turnage. From Scotland comes a loving evocation of a wedding, which ends with a bagpiper greeting the dawn of a new day.
CONTACT RUSSELL WHEELER AT (404) 733-4807 OR russell.wheeler@woodruffcenter.org to purchase. Offer not valid at box office.
posted on: April 11, 2007
THE MABRY SYMPHONY will rehearse tomorrow morning at 8am in the orchestra room.
posted on: April 11, 2007
If you're interested contact Carol Doemel at Carol.Doemel@Cobbk12.org
posted on: March 30, 2007
Science Daily - A newly published study by Northwestern University researchers suggests that Mom was right when she insisted that you continue music lessons -- even after it was clear that a professional music career was not in your future.
The study, which will appear in the April issue of Nature Neuroscience, is the first to provide concrete evidence that playing a musical instrument significantly enhances the brainstem's sensitivity to speech sounds. This finding has broad implications because it applies to sound encoding skills involved not only in music but also in language.
The findings indicate that experience with music at a young age in effect can "fine-tune" the brain's auditory system. "Increasing music experience appears to benefit all children -- whether musically exceptional or not -- in a wide range of learning activities," says Nina Kraus, director of Northwestern's Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory and senior author of the study.
"Our findings underscore the pervasive impact of musical training on neurological development. Yet music classes are often among the first to be cut when school budgets get tight. That's a mistake," says Kraus, Hugh Knowles Professor of Neurobiology and Physiology and professor of communication sciences and disorders.
"Our study is the first to ask whether enhancing the sound environment -- in this case with musical training -- will positively affect the way an individual encodes sound even at a level as basic as the brainstem," says Patrick Wong, primary author of "Musical Experience Shapes Human Brainstem Encoding of Linguistic Pitch Patterns." An old structure from an evolutionary standpoint, the brainstem once was thought to only play a passive role in auditory processing.
Using a novel experimental design, the researchers presented the Mandarin word "mi" to 20 adults as they watched a movie. Half had at least six years of musical instrument training starting before the age of 12. The other half had minimal (less than 2 years) or no musical training. All were native English speakers with no knowledge of Mandarin, a tone language.
In tone languages, a single word can differ in meaning depending on pitch patterns called "tones." For example, the Mandarin word "mi" delivered in a level tone means "to squint," in a rising tone means "to bewilder," and in a dipping (falling then rising) tone means "rice." English, on the other hand, only uses pitch to reflect intonation (as when rising pitch is used in questions).
As the subjects watched the movie, the researchers used electrophysiological methods to measure and graph the accuracy of their brainstem ability to track the three differently pitched "mi" sounds.
"Even with their attention focused on the movie and though the sounds had no linguistic or musical meaning for them, we found our musically trained subjects were far better at tracking the three different tones than the non-musicians," says Wong, director of Northwestern's Speech Research Laboratory and assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders.
The research by co-authors Wong, Kraus, Erika Skoe, Nicole Russo and Tasha Dees represents a new way of defining the relationship between the brainstem -- a lower order brain structure thought to be unchangeable and uninvolved in complex processing -- and the neocortex, a higher order brain structure associated with music, language and other complex processing.
These findings are in line with previous studies by Wong and his group suggesting that musical experience can improve one's ability to learn tone languages in adulthood and level of musical experience plays a role in the degree of activation in the auditory cortex. Wong also is a faculty member in Northwestern's Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program.
The findings also are consistent with studies by Kraus and her research team that have revealed anomalies in brainstem sound encoding in some children with learning disabilities which can be improved by auditory training.
"We've found that by playing music -- an action thought of as a function of the neocortex -- a person may actually be tuning the brainstem," says Kraus. "This suggests that the relationship between the brainstem and neocortex is a dynamic and reciprocal one and tells us that our basic sensory circuitry is more malleable than we previously thought."
Overall, the findings assist in unfolding new lines of inquiry. The researchers now are looking to find ways to "train" the brain to better encode sound -- work that potentially has far-reaching educational and clinical implications. The study was supported by Northwestern University, grants from the National Institutes of Health and a grant from the National Science Foundation.
posted on: March 20, 2007
Right now I'm listening to the Mabry 8th Grade Orchestra performance with Barrage the other night. And I'm incredibly proud of them. I hope they realize the skills they have and that they will continue to grow and keep music-making a part of their lives.
I also listened to Crooked Still and the Wild Band of Snee tonight, because Rushad will be here next Thursday. He'll be playing 2 'shows'. The first @1:35, the 2nd @ 2:45.
The shows are
open to the public. Check in at the front office and come to the theater at the times above.
posted on: March 13, 2007
As of 3/13 at 8:56pm, all practice records I have received have been entered into I-Cue (and will show up in I-Parent).
posted on: March 13, 2007
To see the 8th grade orchestra performance at the Barrage concert and to see the 11Alive news story click the link below.
posted on: March 13, 2007
were due today.
posted on: March 12, 2007
The 2002 federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation names arts education as part of the “core curriculum” for schools, on par with reading, math and science. This legislation underscores research that supports music education as a critical component to the overall educational experience of our youth. By listing the arts among the core academic subjects, NCLB established a goal that all students have the opportunity to achieve in the arts, and reap the benefits of a comprehensive, creative, innovative education.
Even with this policy directive outlining the role of arts and music education in schools, the federal legislation has not made its way to state and local schools. As a result, more than 22 percent of schools surveyed nationally have reduced instructional time for music and art. Parents, employers and community leaders expect schools to prepare children to be creative and successful in the information age, and still, there is a discrepancy in many schools between the curriculum and desired outcomes for student learning, particularly in the areas of arts and music education.
Legislators need to know that their constituents support and believe that music education in schools is vital to ensuring a quality education for all children. As Congress begins to consider reauthorization of No Child Left Behind legislation, we must demonstrate our commitment at the federal, state and local levels to making sure students have the opportunity to learn music and arts in school, and to expand their minds through more creative and innovative education.
By communicating your views to your Member of Congress, you are taking a critical first step to ensuring a commitment to arts education. By demonstrating community support across the country, we can encourage legislators to not only reauthorize NCLB legislation with language that strengthens access to music and arts education, but to also strengthen the federal commitment to ensure that a quality arts curriculum is implemented nationwide.
Please take a moment today to tell your Member of Congress that reauthorization of No Child Left Behind must continue to support and strengthen our national commitment to the arts, both in theory and in practice, in schools across the country.
posted on: March 12, 2007
Is our trip to the Woodruff Arts Center on Wednesday, March 14th to attend a performance by the Atlanta Symphony. We need to leave by 9AM to get to Woodruff in time. Chaperones please be here no later than 8:40. Check in at the front office and come back to the orchestra room. Students need to bring $6 or so for lunch at Colony Square. Casual but nice dress is appropriate. No shorts, t-shirts or torn clothing. We'll be back before 2PM.
posted on: March 07, 2007
posted on: March 02, 2007
This went home in a letter dated 2/15 but here it is again.
Mabry Seventh and Eighth Grade Orchestra Students will participate in the Cobb Orchestra Directors Association (C.O.D.A.) Middle School Orchestra Festival at Dodgen Middle School. The Seventh Grade Orchestra will perform on Monday, March 5th at 6:25 p.m. and the Eighth Grade Orchestra will perform on Tuesday, March 6th at 7:15 p.m.
This is an important performance and all students are expected to participate. The performances are open to the public and you are encouraged to attend.
We will have a pizza dinner at Mabry before we leave for Dodgen. Dinner will be provided with funds from our fall fundraiser. We will leave Mabry after dinner and travel by school bus to Dodgen. The Cobb County Board of Education provides school buses free of charge for transportation to festival.
IMPORTANT There is no return transportation provided. Please arrange pick-up from Dodgen at 8:30 P.M. Most of you will be at the performance and will provide transportation home for your child.
IMPORTANT Students using school-owned instruments must return the instrument to Mabry by 9:00 a.m. the next morning.
IMPORTANT Students will bring their concert uniform with them to school on festival morning. Concert dress for boys is solid black slacks, long sleeve white dress shirt with long tie, black socks and black or dark dress shoes. Concert dress for the girls is a long (ankle length or longer) solid black skirt or black slacks, long sleeve white dress shirt and black or dark dress shoes. Please adhere to these guidelines closely. This is an important performance for these young musicians and they should dress appropriately.
As always, we need parent chaperones for this field trip. If you can ride the bus to Dodgen with us, or provide transportation for string basses and cellos please contact me at Chris.Doemel@Cobbk12.org
Your children and the Cobb County Orchestra Directors put tremendous effort into producing this festival. Students should be practicing diligently on their festival music. We hope you will come out and support them at this exciting event. We look forward to seeing you at our 11th Annual C.O.D.A. Festival.
posted on: March 02, 2007
The Mabry Symphony will perform at the District 12 GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation (Festival) tomorrow, February 26th at 4:30 at McEachern HS. Students will leave Mabry at 2:00 and return at 6:30.
What to Wear? Students should bring their concert uniform with them to school Concert dress for boys is solid black slacks, long sleeve white dress shirt with long tie, black socks and black or dark dress shoes. Concert dress for girls is a long (ankle length or longer) solid black skirt or black slacks, long sleeve white dress shirt (3/4 length is ok) and black or dark dress shoes. Please adhere to these guidelines closely. This is an important performance for these young musicians and they should dress accordingly.
Charperones: To date, no parent has indicated they will chaperone this trip. We must have 2 other adults accompany us on this trip. If you are able to chaperone, please arrive no later than 1:50, check in at the front and come back to the orchestra room.
posted on: February 25, 2007
Barrage tickets went home Friday (2/16) with the 6th and 8th grade students who purchased them. 7th graders will be bringing them home on Wednesday (2/21).
posted on: February 17, 2007
I sent home a letter today with incorrect dates (what a surprise). Our Festival dates are: Seventh Grade Orchestra, Monday, March 5th and 8th Grade Orchestra, Tuesday, March 6th. These are the same dates as on the calendar in the orchestra handbook you got at the beginning of the year. The Seventh Grade Orchestra will play at 6:25 p.m. on Monday and the Eighth Grade orchestra will play at 7:15 on Tuesday.
posted on: February 15, 2007
6th Grade: We'll be continuing to reinforce the new notes F natural and C natural as well as slurs and string crossings. You’ve been given 5 of the 9 pieces we will play at String Jamboree (March 22nd). Don’t wait for a specific assignment to begin working on these pieces.
Use the ‘left hand’ and ‘right hand’ warm-ups we do in class to warm up before you practice at home. At this stage you can’t over do these important repetitions.
7th Grade: We’ve made great strides in our festival music (March 5th). American Folk Trilogy, Iowa Spring and Castle Lore are coming along nicely.
I chose this music because it uses the new skills we’ve learned this year. Advanced rhythms and bowings, lots of high threes and low ones for the upper strings, open position for the cellos and shifting opportunities for the basses.
8th Grade: Our festival music is coming along also. But before festival (March 6th) we’ve got the exciting performance on the Barrage concert (February 23rd). MacPherson’s Lament needs all of our attention between now and then. The other 2 pieces we’ll do at festival, Brandenburg No. 3 and Postcards From Russia are both tough also. Please make certain you give them the time they need so you are prepared for this important performance.
Mabry Symphony: As stated earlier on this blog, the performance on February 13th has been cancelled. The music for our festival (February 26th) is sounding great. Rites of Tamburo and Finale from Symphony No. 2 are both exciting. Meeting only once a week is a challenge. Please make sure you’re preparing your music so when we get together we can work on ensemble issues.
All: Please practice regularly and efficiently. We’ve talked at length in class about how to practice.
Locate then isolate the problem, work it out SLOWLY, put it back in context (with the measure or few beats before and after) then gradually work it back up to tempo.
Some problems won’t be fixed in one practice session, that’s why regular practice is so important.
Remember, each one of you is important to the quality of both the Mabry and Lassiter Orchestra programs.
posted on: February 11, 2007
Congratulations to Andy, Rachel, Ruth and Emily for auditioning and being accepted into the 2007 Georgia Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra. Being accepted into the All-State Orchestra is the highest honor in the state for school musicians. Middle school musicians from all over the state auditioned in a rigorous two-audition process. The All-State event is in Savannah the first weekend in March. Congratulations again and thank you for representing Mabry so well.
posted on: February 07, 2007
This is a link to an NPR program where Mark O'Connor plays through various fiddle styles. It's very cool!
Mark O'Connor playing fiddle styles
posted on: February 06, 2007
Practice records are due. Please turn them in before the end of the day on Thursday
posted on: February 06, 2007
posted on: January 12, 2007
The Lassiter Orchestra's Winter Concert is this Friday at Kell High School at 7:30pm. There will be light hors d'oeuvres prior to the concert in the auditorium lobby at 7pm. A special guest is performing with the Lassiter Symphony. Milton Masciadri, Professor of Double Bass at The University of Georgia will be performing 2 fabulous pieces. If you have never seen Dr. Masciadri, it is a special treat. The rest of the program will include music of Mozart, Saint-Saens, Puccini, and Copland. The best part...IT'S FREE!!
Hope to see you there!
posted on: December 15, 2006
Click below to download and print practice records.
posted on: December 12, 2006
What a great concert the other night.; I am extremely proud of the hard work all three groups put into preparing for this performance. Most important are the new skills that were put into play.
The 6th graders play as well in-tune and with as nice a sound as any group I've ever started. I tell them all the time that I'm excited about what they will be able to accomplish over the next 2+ years.
The 7th graders continue to work hard and are making good progress. 7th grade is a big skill building year and they are doing well on all the skills that will take them to a higher level of playing.
The 8th grade orchestra is starting to play with a very mature sound and is working hard on advanced skills like vibrato and shifting. Mrs. Doemel said afterward that she is really looking forward to this group and what they will bring to the Lassiter Orchestra.
A special thank you to all the parents who volunteered to help with the evening. I absolutely could not have done it without your help.
posted on: December 12, 2006
Fall 2005 Concert Letter-3.doc
Click on the file name above to view and download the Winter Concert letter.
There is also a request for chaperones.
posted on: November 28, 2006
This is excerpted from the Orchestra Handbook that was handed out in August.
Uniform Information
IMPORTANT! Due to the design of most concert stages, Mabry's included, short skirts will not be allowed as concert attire. All students need to feel comfortable and relaxed during their performance and should dress in a way that will not inhibit the posture required to play their instrument.
Unless otherwise stated, Mabry Orchestra concert attire is as follows: for the young ladies a long (ankle length or longer) solid black skirt or black slacks, long sleeve white shirt, and black or dark dress shoes, for the young men solid black slacks, long sleeve white shirt and long tie, black socks and black or dark dress shoes. T-shirts, jeans and sport shoes are NOT appropriate concert attire. Students not dressed appropriately will not be allowed to take the stage and will be considered unexcused. Please address problems regarding this to me early enough to be resolved. The school dress code is enforced at all orchestra functions.
posted on: November 28, 2006
The Mabry 6th, 7th and 8th grade orchestras will perform on Thursday, December 7th at 7pm in the theater at Mabry. The 7th and 8th grade orchestras should arrive at 6:15 to tune and warm-up. The 7th grade orchestra will meet in the Chorus room and the 8th grade orchestra will meet in the Orchestra room.
The 6th grade orchestra will stay after school that day for a final run-through and to combine classes. This is the only time we will be able to combine both classes so please make plans to stay after school. We will order pizza for dinner (or you may bring your own dinner from home).
We will need chaperones through out the evening. Chaperones are needed in the Orchestra, Chorus and Band rooms beginning at 6:15. We will also need help with the 6th grade dinner at about 5:30. Also, chaperones are needed during the concert to sit with each orchestra that is not playing. Please volunteer to help.
There will be a reception following the concert in the cafeteria.
posted on: November 20, 2006
This is the 'front page' of my blog. It'll only hold so many posts. If there's something you can't find (practice records, or our calendar for instance), click on General Information on the right. All posts will then appear. Scroll down until you find what you need. Practice records are the last three pages of the orchestra handbook, which is at a link in a post called Orchestra Handbook. The calendar is there also.
posted on: November 14, 2006
If you're a cello player it's required, If you're not a cello player, it's required.
posted on: October 27, 2006
These things are happening in October.
Monday October 2nd - Last day to turn in Six Flags form and money.
Tuesday, October 3rd - Fundraiser ends. Turn in order brouchure and money.
Saturday, October 7th - Solo and Ensemble Festival.
Monday, October 9th - 2nd practice record due.
Friday, October 13th - Trip to Six Flags (Teacher Workday).
October 16-20 - Conference Week.
Saturday, October 28th - All-State Audition, Pope HS.
posted on: September 28, 2006
Here's what's going on in class.
6th Grade: The 6th grade orchestra is awesome. We're working hard on our left hand 'set-up'. They know what it looks like. Have them show it to you and monitor their practice to make sure they stay in that position. I have asked them to spend some time in front of a mirror so they can monitor their left hand themselves. We'll soon be learning notes on the A string.
7th Grade: We're working on new notes, C# and G#. This requires a new hand position for cellos and a new finger pattern for violins and violas. We're also working on rhythms that include eighth notes in different arrangements.
8th Grade: These classes are working on shifting, vibrato and our 2nd 2-octave scale, G Major.
posted on: September 26, 2006
The Mabry Orchestra fundraiser will begin Tuesday, 9/19. This has been a great fundraiser in the past and we hope to repeat that success. Look for information on the products and procedures to come home on Tuesday.
All money raised will be used to enhance the students' orchestra experience.
Cobb County Schools policy prohibits door-to-door fundraising sales by students.
posted on: September 17, 2006
The orchestra handbook contains important information for students and families. Please mark all calendar dates that apply to you on your family calendar. Practice records are on the last 3 pages. Please review the list of class expectations. The supply list will outline what is needed for class every day. There are also sections on our uniform, “How To Practice” and a “Parent Guide” that will help you help your child get the most out of orchestra. In the 7th/8th grade handbook are forms for both Solo & Ensemble Festival and All-State Orchestra.
These handbooks were sent home with all students this week.
Click
here
here to view and download the 6th grade handbook.
Click here to view and download the 7th/8th grade handbook
posted on: August 31, 2006
Mabry Symphony in Concert
The Mabry Symphony will perform on Thursday, January 19th at 7pm in the Kell High School Theater. We will perform our entire GMEA program. Please plan on staying for the Lassiter Symphony's performance immediately following. Friends were 'blown away' by their performance in December. This will be the only opportunity for family and friends not going to Savannah to hear these two programs.
Transportation IS NOT being provided. If this is an issue please plan ahead. Contact me asap for help resolving transportation problems.
Dress will be the same as for our Winter Concert and for Savannah, solid black on the bottom and solid white on top, black socks and shoe. Boys will wear ties, girls' skirts must be mid-calf or longer, NO EXCEPTIONS!
Please arrive at 6:15pm, dressed and ready to play. I will let you know where the staging area will be at Kell. Click here for directions to Kell.
posted on: January 10, 2006
The 7th graders have a playing test on Thursday, October 20th on #56 from the Essential Elements bk 2, "A Song For Anne." This will assess progress on skills in the key of A major; C# on the g string, G# on the d string, forward extensions for cellos, high 3 and 4th finger on the g string for violins and violas and half position for the bass.
posted on: October 18, 2005
7th graders have moved onto the keys of F and Bb. The pages in the book are 20-25. Upcoming Playing tests will be #56 and #98.
posted on: October 12, 2005
It's a difficult balance to give playing tests to assess student progress and still have adequate instructional time so that we continue to make good progress. Playing tests take a lot of class time. We are still finishing up the playing test on #36 - Jesse James in 7th grade. In the meantime we're continuing to forge ahead with the dotted quarter-8th note rhythm, hooked bowing, new notes in the key of A major (see below) and today we looked at the dotted eighth-16th note rhythm, hooked. Future playing tests will be #47 – Rondeau (assessing dotted quarter-eighth note rhythm, hooked bowing, crescendo) and #56 A Song For Anne (assessing A major notes c#, g#, forward extension for celli, high 3 and fourth finger for violins and violas and ½ pos. for bass).
posted on: October 03, 2005
The seventh grade will be working on these new skills over the next couple of weeks. DOTTED QUARTER - EIGHTH NOTE RHYTHM HOOKED BOWING Now we're learning it with the dotted quarter-eighth note rhythm (EE, Bk. 2, pg. 11). NEW NOTES
posted on: September 23, 2005
The Seventh Grade Orchestra is working on eighth notes and rests. In particular, the eighth note rest 'on the beat' and the eighth note played on the 'and' (second half) of the beat. This is a slippery concept for some, but both classes seem to be getting it. Practicing (playing, clapping, shadow bowing) with a metronome REALLY helps. Right-click this link, choose "Open Link in New Window" then shrink that window to hear and watch the rhythm.
posted on: September 21, 2005
7th graders completed a playing test today which finishes our Book 1 review. Tomorrow we will start in their new book, Essential Elements 2000, Book 2. The first 7 pages are a review of last year and we will move through it quickly. The book is set up well, with a summary at the top of each page of the items to be reviewed. Since it’s more review, we’ll try to do 2 pages a day. Here are this weeks assignments. Tuesday, pages 2-3, Wednesday, pages 4-5, Thursday, pages 6-7. Page 8 introduces new material so we’ll slow down for that.
posted on: September 12, 2005
The 7th grade orchestra will have a playing test on Thursday, September 8th. The material is from last years book, Essential Elements 2000 bk. 1, page 45, #192, Simple Gifts. This test serves as a wrap up of the review we've done. All 7th grade students should have E.E. 2000 book 2. We will begin working in it next week.
posted on: September 01, 2005
This performance is an IMPORTANT step toward our performance in Savannah.
Below it's compared to a quarter note tied to an eighth note. The two sound the same, but the tie is easier to understand because you can see each half beat involved (Essential Elements Bk. 2, pg. 10)
Listen and watch by right-clicking here. Choose "Open Link in New Window" then shrink that window to hear and see the rhythm.
We learned 'slurred staccato' bowing last year using quarter notes. 
These new notes will allow us to play in the key of A major (EE bk. 2, pg. 12-13).
