Mid-year Assessment for Beginning Orchestra

This is a little assessment that I gave to my beginning classes for bellwork around mid-term to make sure they are on track with notes, fingerings, and rhythms.  I have been really trying to target students who need help and not let students fall behind and these assessments help a lot.

Jumping on the Meme Bandwagon

Memes seem to be all over facebook and pinterest and I finally decided to try to make a few for my class.  Students get a kick out of these and it's fun that you can create your own at http://memegenerator.net/.   This is a really easy way to add a little something to your bulliton boards and see if your students notice.  :)

Simple New Arrangements for String Orchestra

When I was little, I lived in Terrington St. Clement in England and I have fond memories of gathering with all of the students at my little school and singing songs together.  My favorite song was 'Lord of the Dance' - which is the same tune as 'Simple Gifts.'  That is why I picked that tune for some easy beginning orchestra arrangements.  I just completed 2 versions - one is easy, and the other is even easier.

Last week, I had my advanced orchestra sightread this little piece, and it sounded pretty good - it worked really well for a sight-reading activity.  You can find the score and parts for these arrangements totally FREE at my website:  www.orchestraclassroom.com.

Here is a sample of the 'harder' version:

And this is the really simplified version:

Yet another fingering chart

I thought I would quickly share this fingering chart I made.  I have been loving my dry erase packets and have been using them a lot in my class.  (You can read about them HERE)  I have a paper with a large staff inside my pockets right now, and I am going to use this fingering chart on the opposite side to help me teach new notes and to check for understanding.  I realize that I did not leave a spot for all possible naturals and accidentals.  That is because my beginners have tapes on their instruments and I want students to see how to find notes in relation to their tapes.  If I ask them to label a C natural on the A string, I want them to see that the note is NOT on a tape and it requires an adjustment.  Students will draw their own circles for those notes.

NEW Note-Reading Matching Game for the Orchestra Classroom!

 Let's face it.  Students don't usually love practicing flashcards.  I was thinking about how I can get students to practice flashcards for new notes that we have been learning in class, and the idea for this game popped into my head.  It's really simple and I think more beneficial than practicing  flashcards the old fashioned way.

This is a game that includes a game-board and flashcards for each instrument.  The game-boards are set up just like the fingerboard of the instrument.  Students play the game by placing the flashcard (note) on the correct note name on the fingerboard.  I love it because it allows students to memorize note names while also memorizing where the notes are found on their instruments.

I recommend printing the game-boards and flashcards on cardstock.  I had my TA cut out all of the flashcards and then put one gameboard and one set of flashcards in a manilla envelope to make individual packets.    Now it is very easy to me to pass out  the game and collect them without losing any pieces.

Here is a sample of of what the game looks like.  The set comes with gameboards and flashcard pieces for violin, viola, cello, and bass.  You can purchase the game at my STORE!

Advanced Bow Games

I love bow games because they are fast, easy, and students develop excellent bow holds and bowing skills through the simple games.  About halfway through the year, I tell students that they are ready for the 'Advanced' bow games.  I just made these up, but I feel they are beneficial for developing tone, straight bows, and pre-spicatto technique.  Plus, it's nice to introduce new bow games, since students begin to tire of the same old bow games.

I don't like being on video, but I thought it would be easier to demonstrate these bow games than to describe them.  It was a bit tricky to keep my 5 kids quiet during this video, but they made it.  Unfortunately, our pet bird wouldn't be quiet, so you'll hear an annoying bird in the video.  :)  Also, the sound is pretty quiet and I don't own a decent microphone, but hopefully you will get the idea.  Here is a link to my video explaining my 'Advanced' bow games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6ACrpg-pOs

Orchestra Poster - Orchestra is HOT

This is my latest poster that I created for my class for a bulliton board and for bumper stickers that I will distribute when I go recruiting.  This will be my theme for the next school year and I will try to motivate students to 'ignite' their talent by practicing and reaching their potential.

copyright Angela Harman www.orchestraclassroom.com

An inexpensive alternative to lapboards

I was recently wishing that my students had lapboards with a staff printed on them so that I could create some quick formative assessments for my students.  If all students had a lapboard, I could easily check for understanding as I teach new notes, fingerings, scales, etc.  We have been learning the notes of the G string, and I wished I could have students draw the note really quick and show me so I could make sure they were really able to know the note names and fingerings.  I priced lapboards and found them to be quite expensive.  Then I started looking for other options and I found these:

I just got these in the mail from Amazon.com, and I LOVE them!  I have already placed a paper inside of each pocket with a staff.  Students can use the staff side to draw notes, key signatures, music symbols, etc, and they can use the back if we need a blank surface.  Also, I love that I can replace the paper inside to be anything I need it to be for my class...these are way more versatile than lapboards (and way cheaper).  I could place a blank fingering chart inside, or rhythm worksheets...so many possibilities.  Also, the expo marker can be stored inside the pocket, so it will not get lost.

We just used these in class yesterday and my students really enjoyed the activity.  I had them work in groups of two to quiz each other on the new notes we have learned and to take turned drawing them on the staff.  As I circulated around the room, I saw great things happening.  My students were on task, and they were helping each other learn the notes. 

After students worked in their groups, we played a game where I call out a note and students race to be the first person to draw the note and hold it up for me to see.  After a few rounds of this note-race, I began to say words and students had to draw the notes for the word I called out (for example:  faced, baggage, bead, dad, bag).

Learning the G string notes: Pre-test

Just thought I would share this little pre-test I created for my students.  We just learned the notes on the G string and this will help me see who gets it and who needs more practice.

Tangled tapes - problem of the past

So, I have posted before about the car pinstripe tape that I use for fingerboard tapes.  The only problem with the pinstripe tape is that it is impossible to keep it in a nice orderly roll and my tapes end up tangled and twisted all together in what I call my 'tape basket.'  Check out what I found at the kitchen store outlet...

I love these little magnetized mini-bins that I just filled and stuck on my filing cabinet in my office!  They were only $1.50 each and they have a little hole in the lid so I can thread my tapes through the side of the lid and easily just grab what I need.  I just re-rolled up my tapes and put them in my new bins.  I also used them to store my little mini-teaching aids that I use in class for bow games and position.  It feels good to finally have my office a bit more organized.

Teaching the dotted quarter note using cookies

In years past, some of my students have struggled with counting a dotted quarter note, even though I felt I taught the concept well and we practiced the rhythm many times.  This year, I decided to try teaching the dotted quarter note differently and I feel students were able to understand how to count a note worth 1.5  beats much more easily.

I happened to have a bag of cookies on hand, so I used cookies  in my lesson, but you could use anything else to represent the beat as long as you can break it in half.

First, I drew 4 quarter notes on my white board and I selected 4 students to come up and stand under each of the notes I drew.  I gave each student 1 cookie which they were to hold out in front of them to represent 1 beat.  We counted the 4 quarter notes together as a class by saying "Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum" - (Yum = 1 beat).  Next, we counted the quarter notes by saying "1, 2, 3, 4".

Next, I added a dot to the first quarter note and told students that now, the first quarter note is called a dotted quarter note and it gets more cookie!  It gets to steal half of beat 2's cookie.  The student under beat 2 had to break their cookie in half and give it to the beat 1 student.  I then showed students how we have to change the 2nd note to an eighth note...because now that student only has 1/2 of a cookie left.

We then practiced counting the dotted rhythm...holding the dotted note through beat 2 since they had more cookie.  At the end, I let students eat the cookies.  Today, when I asked students how many beats were in a dotted quarter note, they said, "One and a half cookies!"

Sometimes, you just gotta have fun - The Orchestra Flamin Hot Cheeto Challenge

Last week I worked all of my orchestras really hard so that we could get back into shape for the new year.  Students worked on a New Year's practicing assignment, plus they had a playing test on Friday.  Normally, students do not love playing test days because they each play alone for me in front of the class and some get really nervous.  Since we had a pretty serious week, I decided to make playing test day a little crazy and fun.

We watched this video on YouTube about an orchestra that stops in the middle of a piece of music and each orchestra member eats a hot pepper.  The orchestra then continues the music and it is very entertaining to watch.  The idea is to put some passion and 'spice' into your performance:

I then pulled out a bag of Flamin Hot Cheetos and gave students the option to place one hot cheeto in their mouth before playing their playing test for me.  This was totally optional, and about half of the students in each class decided to try the 'Cheeto Challenge.'  It was hilarious to watch and students really got into it.  My students had fun, they bonded, and it was a great way to end a week of hard work.