Orchestra SURVIVOR - Outwit, Outlast, Outplay

I just finished with recruiting season.  It feels good to have all of that done!   Now I feel like there is extra time in rehearsals to revisit and reinforce some essential skills.  Today we started reviewing rhythm using my RHYTHM BELLWORK pages and students are doing so well.  Something I learned today ....have students clap and count rhythms and move clasps hands upward while holding out longer notes.  That is how I have them write the counting, and it is a great visual and kinesthetic way to 'feel' the length of longer notes.



We also reinforces position and bow hold today by playing SURVIVOR.  I showed students part of this Survivor challenge: 

We talked about how good position must stay...not too high, not too low...and it takes constant concentration to make sure everything stays in the proper place.  Then we played our own version of a survivor challenge:

Violin/Viola Challenges:

1.  Pass out large marshmallows to every student.  Have them balance the marshmallow between the left thumb and base of index finger.  Students hold their arms out in front of them, keeping wrists straight and arms in playing position.  That freeze in that position.

2.  Demonstration proper left hand technique on instrument while tapping fingers on tapes.  Good position only or the 'water' drops and a student is 'out.'

3.  Hold instrument on shoulder with only your head - no hands.  Balance for a few minutes.  

4.  Balance the marshmallow in their instruments - no hands.

5.  Pass off perfect bow hold with bow placed on the D string.

6.  Pull a perfectly straight bow - staying in the correct lane between the bridge and fingerboard.

7.  Watch and make sure all bow hair flat in contact with the string

8.  Play what I call 'F# and F natural turns' with perfect bowing, intonation, finger placement.

Cello/Bass Challenges:

1.  Students practice setting left on on cello without lifting the shoulder - keeping left hand in C shape.

2.  Students practice knocking up and down the fingerboard while keeping left elbow in the right place.

3.  Tap fingers on tapes while keeping small marshmallow behind left thumb - trying not to squish the marshmallow.

4.  Balance marshmallow on left elbow while maintaining perfect posture/position.

5.  Pass off perfect bow hold with bow placed on the D string.

6.  Pull a perfectly straight bow - staying in the correct lane between the bridge and fingerboard.

7.  Watch and make sure all bow hair flat in contact with the string

8.  Play what I call 'F# and F natural turns' with perfect bowing, intonation, finger placement.

My student teacher marked students who were 'out' on my seating chart and I gave the top 10 students chocolate coins who didn't get out.  The entire class focused so well and really worked to improve and maintain great position.  The best part is THEIR PLAYING WAS TRANSFORMED!!!!  We played a couple of our concert pieces and the students could all tell how much better we sounded after focusing on position.  It was amazing.  :)