YOUR CHILD AND THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM or How to have fun in Band and/or Orchestra!
Hello, Parents!
Today we visited with the 5th grade students at Wickham Elementary and introduced them to the Instrumental Music Program by demonstrating the different instruments they can play as a part of it. Soon, we’ll be helping these students try the instruments themselves. Tryouts will help both students and teachers get a feel, not only for which instruments they like, but which offer them the best chance of success! Students, keep an open mind about instrument choice until after tryouts. “Your” instrument (the one that sounds and feels the best to you) might end up surprising you!
Instrumental Music? The elementary instrumental music program is divided into two main groups: BAND and ORCHESTRA. Both offer excellent opportunities for kids to learn, play, and perform music on a variety of instruments. Participation in ORCHESTRA and BAND has four main parts:
• Small group lessons take place during the regular school day and typically last 15-25 minutes. The focus is on learning to play the instrument and how to read music. • Large group rehearsals take place once a week after school – Wednesdays for Beginning Band from 3:40-4:40 at Northwest Junior High starting on October 12; Mondays for Beginning Orchestra from 3:30-4:20 at Northwest Junior High School starting on September 26. Here, students learn to play together as a group as they prepare music for their winter and spring concerts. • Individual practice refers to the time that students spend at home working on the things they’ve learned in lessons and rehearsals. Students who practice regularly tend to learn more quickly and get more out of playing in the Orchestra and/or Band. • Concerts are a celebration of the work we’ve done and the fun we’ve had together. At concerts, we share our music making with friends and family. They are an important part of the instrumental music experience, whether you’re in the Band, Orchestra, or both. We usually have two concerts per year.
So, what’s the difference between ORCHESTRA and BAND? Well, both are lots of fun and both involve learning music with friends. The main difference is that you play some instruments in one group and some in another. (We’ll go over which on the following pages.) Students can participate in both BAND and ORCHESTRA.
Remember that there are no “girl” or “boy” instruments! It’s important to play an instrument that you like and that suits you physically – we’re here to help with that – but whether you play the violin or the tuba has very little to do with whether you’re a boy or a girl. And, yes, ALL instruments require regular PRACTICE. J
Please don’t hesitate to email questions to: BAND ORCHESTRA Mrs. Curry Hoyland Ms. Langguth [email protected] [email protected]
You can also call Wickham Elementary at 319-688-1175 and ask for us. We’ll be happy to help!
Sincerely,
Christy Curry Hoyland, band Kathryn Langguth, orchestra BAND INSTRUMENTS with Mrs. Curry Hoyland [email protected]
FLUTE—we need several flutists in band • Arms must be long enough to hold the flute to the mouth and still cover the keys. • It is not desirable for flute students to have a “teardrop” (pronounced bump in the center of the top lip) when “gently blowing out a candle”. • It is not desirable for the student to have a short upper lip. • The lips should not be too large.
CLARINET—we need a lot of clarinets • Hands and fingertips should be large enough to cover tone holes easily. • It is not desirable for the student to have double-jointed thumbs. • If you have braces, or will have, think about choosing this instrument.
SAXOPHONE—we only need a few saxophones in band • It is not desirable for the student to have double-jointed thumbs.
TRUMPET—we need a lot of trumpets in band • A nearly perfect bite is best (upper and lower teeth meet evenly). • Thin to medium lips are more desirable than full.
FRENCH HORN—we need a few horn players in the beginning band • A nearly perfect bite is best (that is, upper and lower teeth meet fairly evenly). • Thin to medium lips are more desirable than full.
TROMBONE, EUPHONIUM, TUBA—we need many low brass players • Medium-full lips are desirable. • Students interested in the tuba should have a strong desire to play tuba. • If you have, or may need braces, you should consider playing a low brass instrument.
PERCUSSION—we only need a few percussionists in band • Keyboard/piano skills are recommended. • A good sense of tempo (time and speed) and rhythm are necessities. • Students should have a desire to become a complete percussionist. (Drums, bells, cymbals, etc.)
ORCHESTRA INSTRUMENTS with Ms. Langguth [email protected]
The instruments of the school orchestra all have one thing in common: Strings! Because of that, we call them “stringed instruments” and we sometimes call our group a “string orchestra”. The violin, viola, cello, and bass all make sound when you move one or more of the strings and make them vibrate. You do this by plucking the strings with your fingers or by moving the bow across the strings. Plucking and bowing make very different sounds! Even though stringed instruments make sounds in similar ways, each has its own special sound, personality and playing technique.
The VIOLIN (or fiddle, if you play it a certain way J) is probably the most widely recognized orchestral instrument. When you play it, you hold it under your chin and parallel to the floor. It’s the smallest orchestra instrument, with the highest (soprano) voice. It is often used as the lead or solo instrument because of its high pitch and beautiful tone. There can never be too many violins in an orchestra! Violins read music in treble clef (like a recorder or the right hand of a piano).
The VIOLA is played much in the same way as the violin, but is slightly larger in size and deeper in tone. It produces a more mellow sound and is considered the alto voice of the string family. The viola adds an important depth and richness to an orchestra. Violas read music in their own special (alto) clef.
The CELLO (full name: violoncello) is the tenor voice of the string orchestra. The cello is best known for its deep tone, but can also produce higher notes, like a violin or viola. You sit in a chair to play the cello – the cello is held up by a rod called an “endpin” and you keep it steady by holding it with your knees. Cellos read music in bass clef (like the left hand of a piano). Cellos are kind of big, but not super-big.
The BASS (also called the doublebass or “string bass”) is the largest of the string instruments. It’s as big as a really big kid. You usually play it standing up, but sometimes people play it while sitting on a tall stool. Can you spot the violin, viola, cello and bass? The bass is the deepest (bass!) voice of the string family. It can accompany other instruments in the background, or stand out as a solo instrument. It provides a solid foundation of sound for the orchestra. The bass, like the cello, reads music in bass clef.