Elementary
Beginners should know Grasshopper Ball and Cabbage Countdown in their concert music by now. Also, they should know their D, A, and G strings along with reading quarter notes, eighth notes, and half notes in the music.
Intermeidate/Advanced students should know Grasshopper Ball, Cabbage Countdown and the first half of Do-Re-Mi in their concert music. All students are working on harder rhythms in their books. They should understand the differences in dynamics, slurs, and ties for all students; the advanced students should be working on extended fingerings, flats, and advanced rhythms/shifting.
Middle School
The middle school orchestra should have Fantasia on Amazing Grace and Gypsy Tale learned by now. The orchestra will begin learning Ash Grove next. Ask your child to play their songs for you, if they have difficulties, they should do some problem work practicing or practicing in general to make sure they are up to level with the class. With their songs, the students should be working on a steady beat throughout the music, a constant flow of sound for the music, incorporating dynamic changes, and reading the bowings in the music.
These students will also be working to complete lessons in Odyssey on Keeping the Beat and Note Reading, skills they should already know at this level.
High School
The Orchestra should have Legend, Postcards from Russia, Blue Fire Fiddler, and most of Gaelic Overture learned in their concert music. We are working on Phantom of the Opera, Halo, and Mama Mia in class. Remember to work on shifts, problem spots, and basic markings to have the songs polished.