Concert Strings Learning Plan 21-22
Welcome to Benjamin Franklin High School Concert Strings. This is the entry level orchestra class for our school. Each student should have prerequisite instruction and show proficiency of skills and equipment. This class is primarily made up of students that have completed basic instruction in elementary orchestra performance.
In Concert Strings the following skills will be taught as new material or as review material. To complete the class learning objectives, students will be able to demonstrate proficiency of these skills at the appropriate level.
The student will use an appropriate sized and well adjusted instrument.
*Student instrument is well adjusted - easy to tune, fitted with fine tuners, has the characteristic sound of that instrument, has an appropriate case and bow. The instrument can be a rental.
*Instrument is sized correctly
The student will learn the parts of their instrument.
*Student will identify the parts of their instrument
*Student will explain the function of each part of their instrument
The student will learn appropriate care procedures for the instrument and bow
*Student will list appropriate bow care procedures
*Student will list appropriate instrument care procedures
*Student will explain the importance of appropriate instrument and bow care procedures
*Student will consistently demonstrate appropriate instrument and bow care procedures
The student will show the appropriate instrument performance position.
*Student will exhibit appropriate left hand and arm performance positions both abstractly and in performance.
*Student will exhibit appropriate right hand and arm performance positions both abstractly and in performance.
*Student will explain the reason for correct performance positioning
The student will learn basic bowing techniques (staccato, detache, legato, slur, spiccato, marcato)
*Student will explain basic bowing techniques
*Student will demonstrate basic bowing techniques
The student will learn multiple instrument tuning procedures
*The student will demonstrate tuning open strings by pitch matching technique
*Student will demonstrate tuning open strings by interval matching of 5th or 4th (bass) technique
*Student will demonstrate tuning open strings by harmonic pitch matching technique
The student will demonstrate improved fluency of left hand finger placement in all neck positions
*Student will perform competently in 1st position (violin, viola, cello, bass)
*Student will perform competently in 2nd position (cello, bass)
*Student will perform competently in 3rd position (violin, viola, cello, bass)
*Student will perform competently in 4th position (cello, bass)
*Student will exhibit competence in left hand shifting within neck positions
The student will exhibit appropriate knowledge of music notation.
*Student will show note reading skills for each string of the their instrument for neck positions
*Student will be able to demonstrate accurate basic rhythm reading skills (sixteenth, eighth, quarter, half, whole notes and corresponding rests)
*Student will be able to correctly define basic terms of music dynamics, tempo, tonal character, and performance directions (piano, mezzo, forte, pianissimo, fortissimo, crescendo, decrescendo, diminuendo, accelerando, ritardando, rallentando, allegro, andante, adagio, largo, presto, dolce, maestoso, pizzicato, arco, da capo, del segno, fine - this is not an exhaustive list)
The student will learn basic music theory about scale and music key construction.
*Student will be able to define and construct a tetrachord
*Student will explain the relationship between the tetrachord and the major scale
*Student will be able to construct the circle of fifths
*Student will be able to construct the major scales from the circle of fifths
The student will continue to improve ensemble performance techniques
*Student will exhibit abilities to follow conducting motions
*Student will exhibit increased listening skills
*Student will demonstrate increasingly advancing musical interpretation skills
*Student will demonstrate developing leadership skills of music direction