We got a lot done on Monday!
As a reminder, the tuition payment for the Orchestra Academy was due on Monday, January 23rd. If you haven’t yet paid, please send payment via PayPal (lisa@orchestraacademy.co) or Venmo (@Lisa-Parker-Music). You can also bring cash or a check made payable to Lisa Parker to next week’s rehearsal.
Also, as Beginning Orchestra students are learning to tune their instruments, many have asked about where they can get their own tuner. The Snark tuners I use are currently about $15 on Amazon: https://a.co/d/bYyAXea You are not required to buy a tuner — some students like to have one so that they can tune at home and not have to share. I always bring 10-15 Snark tuners to our rehearsals for students to borrow.
Here is a review of what we did on Monday:
Beginning Orchestra
- The Salamander Samba — We took some time (a LOT of time) writing in the names of the notes in Salamander Samba and William Tell. Both of these pieces only use open strings — I have included a picture of what the open strings are for each instrument below. Please make sure your student writes in these notes if they need them!
- Royal Promenade — We started learning the main pattern of this song — basses and cellos have it from measures 5-8, violas from 9-12, and violins from 13-17. This pattern continues for everyone through measure 21. Please practice the pattern for your instrument this week so that we can put it together
- We didn’t get to William Tell or Mythos this week
Intermediate Orchestra
- Dragonhunter — We learned the main theme, which is found for everyone in measures 28 through 35. We then went to the beginning and tried from measure 4 to measure 12, which uses this main theme but changes a bit for the lower strings. Please practice up until measure 18 if you can!
- Funky Fiddles — We learned through measure 25, and then I started teaching the violins the music from 25-33. Violins, in this section you need to do what’s called a “low 2”, which is placing your 2nd finger NOT on your tape, but right beside your 1st finger. Try it at home, and we will practice it more together next week. Everyone should try to practice through measure 41.
- Raindrop Serenade — We learned the music from measure 13 to measure 21, which is easy for everyone except the violins. Violins, please practice this section! I know it’s confusing with so many songs on the E string this week. This song does NOT need low 2s — you can just put your 2nd finger on your tape on the E string. We then tried to play it from the beginning until 21.
- We did not play William Tell this week.
Advanced Orchestra
- Storm — We went through each of the parts through 25. It’s sounding great! Try to practice at least through to measure 51 this week.
- Dramatic Essay — We went through each of the parts through measure 15. This song has low 2’s for the violins and violas, although they will have high 2 on the G string. We then briefly went over the music in measures 15 through 27. Please practice through measure 27 this week.
- William Tell — We worked on the beginning through letter C. I think that the different parts are throwing people off a bit, so I apologize about that! I wanted it to be easier, not more difficult! I may end up having all of the 2nd violins play the regular 2nd violin part, but I need to do more research on that. Stay tuned!
- We did not play Eat My Rosin Dust this week.
See you all next week — stay warm!