Rules for the orchestra classroom

This year I decided to re-write my classroom rules.  I looked on pinterest and found an idea I liked where a teacher used the letters from the word RESPECT to make the rules.  I used the same idea, but changed the rules to apply to orchestra.  The last few years, I only had 3 simple rules.  That was working for me alright, but I think broad rules can be a  little too open for interpretation and I recently read a book where the author recommended more specific rules.  This is what I can up with and you can purchase a download HERE.

Must have FREE PRINTABLE for your school string orchestra!

I have students coming into my beginning orchestra class with different skills levels.  Some students are brand new beginners and some students have had about 1/2 year of training already.  One way I like to keep every student engaged at the start of the year is to use music with an easy part for the true beginners and a harder part to challenge the more advanced players.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is a tune that works great for this.  Beginners play the basic melody or a harmony part that I teach them.  The more advanced beginners play a version that I call "Twinkle Extreme."  It all sounds great together and students love it!

Here is the harmony part for Twinkle in the key of D:

D    D    F#   F#       G    G     F#---

E    E     D    D         A (on g string)   A    D----

F#   F#    E    E      D    D   A-----

F#    F#    E    E     D    D   A-----

D    D    F#   F#       G    G     F#---

E    E     D    D         A (on g string)   A    D----

Find a FREE download of Twinkle Extreme HERE!

Orchestra classroom: Introducing......My theme for the 2014-15 school year

Every year in orchestra, I like to have a theme to help me design t-shirts and also to help motivate my students to be their best.  Last year, I used the musical tree (see poster) on my t-shirts and I frequently talked to my students about the effort required to nurture their talents in order for them to improve and grow.  We even had an orchestra plant in our classroom that I watered when enough students practiced so students could watch our plant thrive with our diligence.

This year, I decided to use this as my slogan:  Orchestra Gives You Wings

I like to design my t-shirts on www.CustomInk.com.   It is probably cheaper to use a local shop, but I like the design feature on customink.com and they have been great to work with.  Plus, it's nice to not have to create everything from scratch in Adobe Photoshop.  CustomInk has a lot of clip art available when designing a shirt, so I was able to piece all of this together using their graphics.  Here's what I came up with:

Here's what I'm most excited about:  My plan is to have students earn their own wings to pin on their shirts.  I found little plastic aviator-type wings that I can customize for music.  Students will earn their wings after earning a pre-determined percentage on all of their playing tests.  This is manageable for every student because I allow students to re-take playing tests as many time as they need.  I am also going to try a new policy where I require students to re-take a playing test if they don't reach a certain score.

The most successful practicing motivation for students

I have mentioned in previous posts that I am constantly trying to motivate my students to practice because I do not like to force students to fill out practice sheets.  I do many things to motivate students, including having a 'video-of-the-week' every Monday right when class starts.  I always have a positive message or moral to share about the video and they usually focus on developing skills the students need at the time.

My most successful big event I have done for practicing is having students earn music money for each minute they spend practicing.  (I did a 10 minute minimum to earn the money because I didn't want to mess with one dollar bills)  I was able to immediately hear a difference in my orchestra when I started this event and my students are already requesting that we do it again!

Here is where I downloaded the temple for my money:

http://www.ticoandtina.com/free-printable-play-money/

I then used Publisher to make my money look a little more musical:

This was then printed on green paper and I had my TA cut them all out.  (It was a lot, but she had time.)

 I gave students 3 weeks to earn their practice money.  As students came to class each day, they picked up the correct amount of money depending on their practice.  They wrote their names on the back and put them in a special manilla envelope.

At the end of the 3 weeks, I had my TA sort all of the money into piles and paper clip together the money that was turned in by each student.  I then held an orchestra auction and allowed students to bid on items and spend their money.  We did this right after our last concert and it made for a great celebration.  I auctioned off things like candy, dollar store items, bumper stickers, pencils, certificate for extra credit, certificate for a free pass on one playing test.......

How to use GradeCam for your Playing Tests:

I've noticed a great deal of response on my last post about GradeCam.  I decided to share with you some screen shots so that you can set up a playing test (rubric style) using GradeCam.  You can use my playing test form if you like by purchasing the download HERE, or you can just make your own.

First, set up a free GradeCam account (refer to my last GradeCam post).    This account is always free if you are ok with just 10 questions or less on your tests.  This works out just fine for me because my playing tests only have 7 questions.

Once you are logged in, click on 'CREATE' under the Assignments tab.

 Under the "Create Assignment" screen, you can name your assignment, put "7" for the number of questions (if you are using my playing test form) and you can change the date for the assigment.  Next click DONE.

You will now need to configure your answer sheet. Be sure that every questions is check-marked and then click on the button that says "Type."

Click on "MORE..."

Click on "Rubric" and customize the values as noted in the picture below:

Now you can print the form to use on your own playing test form or to make the settings compatible with my playing test form.  Click on "Forms"

 Click on the little gear button and change the student ID to use 4 digits.

Now you can print the form to your printer, or save it as a picture to embed on your own grading sheet.

You are now ready to scan!  Select your class and simply hold up a filled-out answer sheet to the camera on your ipad or computer.  It's pretty awesome!

Now available for download - Fiddle Tune for Beginners

Fiddle Tune for Beginners is an arrangement of a simple fiddle tune for string orchestra.  The arrangement includes parts for 3 different skill levels so that this can be used in a classroom with true beginners and more advanced beginning players.  Each part is only 8 measure long, but it can be repeated over and over as students try to play a different part each time.  I would use this for the first week of my beginning orchestra class.  Parts are included for violin, viola, cello, and bass.  There is also a score included.

In my orchestra class, I have some experienced players in my beginning class.  I teach the bass line to all students and I sometimes write out just the fingering or note names for the bass line if students are not yet reading notes.  The true beginners can then focus on a more simple part while others in the orchestra work on the harmony and melody.  I have found that my beginners enjoy this piece because they like the sound of all of the different parts happening at once.  It's a bit more satisfying for them to hear themselves on this piece than the typical 'Mary Had A Little Lamb.'

I have found that beginning students thrive when they are able to hear more advanced parts to the music they are learning.  Students always desire to learn the more difficult part because they like how it sounds.  That makes students practice more and figure out the harder parts.  It keep the orchestra class moving quickly!

Fiddle Tune for Beginners is available for download HERE or HERE!

A lesson about practicing correctly - and eating junk-food

Can you spot what is terribly wrong with this picture?  :)

I am always working very carefully with my beginning classes to ensure that they develop good habits.  It is so hard to fix bad bow holds and pancake hands later on!  I have a private student one time that always played with a pancake hand.  Every week I coached her and did everything I could to keep her wrist straight using every game and gimic I could think of.  By the end of each lesson, my student would start keeping her wrist straight.  However, that practice was never reinforced once she got home and I was never able to completely fix her position.

I firmly believe that students must learn position correctly right from the beginning and I am very strict with my student's position.  I am constantly checkin and fixing through every class period.

This video is my latest asset to help students understand the importance of learning things right the first time.  I love showing them this video because it's funny and  because they really remember the message behind it.  The video is of a guy who is working out at the gym while eating junk food.  I tell students that practicing while holding their instrument or bow incorrectly is like working out and eating junk food....it does no good at all!

How to Care for Instruments and Bows - A presentation for beginning orchestra

I made this presentation last year to teach my beginners about how to care for their instrument and bow.  My students enjoyed the videos that are part of the presentation, but you don't have to use the videos.  One of them is a little irreverent.  At the end of the presentation, I have included a way for you to give an instrument parts test to your students.  You could project the last 2 slides for students and have them write the answers on simple answer sheets.

Here is the link to this free presentation:

BEGINNING ORCHESTRA INSTRUMENT CARE PRESENTATION

The awesomeness of GradeCam

I went to a workshop earlier in the summer and overheard some teachers talking about a great new online program called GradeCam.  It is a grading system where you can print out bubble style answer sheets and then when it is time to grade the assignment, you simply hold up the answer sheet to your document camera, laptop camera or iPad and it instantly puts the grade in the computer and gives you any data you could possibly want.

I have never once given a multiple choice test in my class, so I wasn't sure if this program would work for me, but then I found out that you can use a rubric for the answer sheet.  That works perfectly for how I do my playing tests!  Every 2 weeks, I have students perform for me alone in front of the class.  I grade students using a rubric.  Using a rubric style grading sheet from GradeCam, I added the bubble form to my grading rubric and now can scan those super quick into the computer after each test.  What I like about it is the data analysis feature.  Our school district is requiring a lot of data comparison as we implement SLO's (Student Learning Objectives) this year.  When I use this program, I can easily get all the data I need and track student progress.

Sign up for GradeCam for free right here: www.gradecam.com/signup?referrer=xxata4

Need help setting up GradeCam for your playing tests?  Read my step-by-step instructions HERE!!!

Here is how I adjusted my playing test form to be compatible with GradeCam:
Students will fill in their own GradeCam ID number - which is just their lunch number so they will already have it memorized.  You can find tutorials at GradeCam.com that explain how to import your classes and student ID numbers.  The bubble sheet below is aligned with my grading sheet.  I only have to fill in the number that corresponds to the score I give the student in each section.  I set up the grading so that points will be awarded based on the number I mark and then multiplyed by 2 (since I like to have my playing tests worth more points).

(This form is available for download HERE.)

It really only took me an hour or so to play around with GradeCam and figure it out.  Start by creating an assignment (you may choose multiple choice or a rubric style).  Mark the key on the computer and then print a blank answer sheet.  Look at the sample class provided on GradeCam and use that number for the student id while you are experimenting.  Then mark some answers and hold the sheet up to your camera on your computer or ipad (where-ever you are logged into GradeCam) and DING --- it grades just like that - super easy and fast!

Check out my next post about GradeCam:  http://orchestrateacher.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-to-use-gradecam-for-your-playing.html

Have you tried Kahoot?

I ran across a pretty neat little tool online that creates interactive quizzes for your classroom.  You can sign up and try it for free here:

https://getkahoot.com/

Most students have phones in class these days and this website is designed for that to be an advantage.  You project your quiz for the class with a projector and the class can all answer questions using their phones.  It gives you as a teacher some insight as to whether or not the students are learning the things you are teaching.

In orchestra, I don't do many multiple choice quizzes, but I do see some uses for Kahoot.  I created a quiz to teach the parts of the instrument using pictures that I took using my iPad.  I think students would enjoy learning the parts of their instruments with this tool.  You can check out the quiz I made here:

https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/f7eb5ed0-dfc9-44ad-83b2-902be09e0fc8

You can try the quiz yourself, but you need 2 devices.  You run the quiz on your computer and when it gives you the code you go to kahoot.it on your phone and you answer the questions from your phone.

It was super easy to make and it only took a few minutes.  I also like that the site offers a database of tons of quizzes that other teachers have created so that you can find things you can use without making something yourself.  It's worth checking out!

Introducing my new website!

Now that it is summer and school is out, I have much more time to update materials I use in my classroom and also create new materials for next year.  I have decided to offer downloads of my workbooks, worksheets, graphics, orchestra arrangements, and posters at my new website:  www.orchestraclassroom.com.

I hope you will check it out and find something useful to you as a teacher.  I know it can be very time-consuming to create your own materials and it is so nice to find an in-expensive way to print materials for your class.  I will be adding items all summer so keep checking!

Orchestra Olympics

The band teacher approached me with an idea to hold a music Olympics for the next couple of weeks.  We brainstormed some events and came up with this list:

MUSIC OLYMPICS

Individual Events:

Scale Trail Challenge - write out scales correctly/quickly given the starting note

Sight-reading Showdown - best sight-reader

The Long Note - longest held note

Rhythm Write-Ups - rhythmic dictation

Note Naming Race - use ipads for this...or a worksheet would be easier in the classroom setting.

Speed Playing - fastest performance

Perfect Playing Position - all can demo good playing position - this one can get kids involved who aren't that great at anything else.

Ear Tunes - best one at playing a song by ear using balloon as instrument - students blow up balloon and create the pitch by pulling the opening...this one will be pretty funny and will put band and orchestra students on the same 'instrument.'

Fierce Focus - best at performance amidst intense distractions

Team Events;:

Interpretive Performance - solo played by group

Syncronized Sound-off - 2 person unison playing

Intonation Freeze - group plays scale, freeze on note, check with tuner

Speedy Set-up - another one for kids who aren't as good at other stuff...see who can get their stuff ready the fastest

Rhythm Round-Up - best group at performing/reading rhythms (they can do it one at a time or as a group)

We are playing these games with each of our individual classes.  We are then planning on taking the winners from each event in each class and having them compete against each other.  For prizes, we are going to use a gold dollar coin for the gold medal, a quarter for the silver, and a penny for the bronze.  So far, students are excited about the Olympics and they are doing a great job on the various events.