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Advanced Orchestra Assignments for School Closure
1. Warm up with some scales we know such as D major and D with low 2.
2. Practice the A scale on the G string which has stretch 3. The notes are as follows: A B C# D E F# G# A
Also try the Bb scale which has low1 and low 2. The notes are as follows: Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
3. Review our Strictly Strings Book 2 (Blue book) to our current page. Be able to play each song well with a straight bow. Be sure to do all the correct bowings, staccatos, slurs, etc. that the song indicates. Practice slowly or pizz. if needed until you are confident, then play the songs arco. Keep a steady tempo.
4. Check to see that you are holding the bow correctly with a bent pointed thumb and see that your left thumb is up (no bugs).
5. If you are a Green Book player, review to our current page. Be sure you know the “homebase” or first finger note in third position for each string. Check to see if you are in tune by matching the first finger with an open string. Play each song slowly but with a steady tempo then gradually increase the speed.
6. Practice our concert songs. Play each section from number to number. Be sure to count and don’t play on the rests. Watch for correct bowing, slurs, accents or other special style indicators. Play with dynamics (f and p). Make sure you can play with a steady tempo without stopping. Try for a good singing tone by petting the string, keeping the bow straight and putting extra “petting pressure” in the middle of the bow.
7. Try linking the numbered sections together until you can play the whole song. Give some extra practice time to sections that are harder than others then see if you can “play through” the hard section in the song. If you can, Congratulations for good work, if not, keep working on the section until you can do it. Always practice slowly or pizz. first. If the bowing is difficult, do the bowing in the air, then play it for real. Be patient with yourself but do some honest work.
8. Walk away from the practice for a while. When you return, if you have done good work, you will find that you can now play the hard part as if by “magic!”
9. Practice at least 20 minutes daily and record your minutes on a practice sheet or any paper.
10. Start and end your practice session with something fun that you know well.
11. Enjoy playing your instrument and making progress!
If you have questions, please call me at 635-5302.
Mrs. Hawkins

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Beginning Orchestra Assignments for School Closure
1. Warm up with an open string song such as Spanish Galleon or Hoedown. Pet the string and keep the bow straight.
2. Play a fingered song such as Twinkle, Spine Chiller, or others we have learned. Keep the thumb up, no bugs.
3. Practice all variations of Cabbage and Deck the Halls
4. In our book, Strictly Strings, play all pages up to page 20.
Focus on the notes in the blue boxes. Learn to know them well at sight. Be able to play the songs well. Practice the pages pizz. first until you feel confident then do it arco. Give extra practice to songs that seem harder than the others.
5. Use your flash card paper. Get someone to flash the notes at you or do it yourself. Get to know the open strings, the notes on the D string and the A string.
6. Practice our concert songs. Do each section from number to number pizz. then arco. Try to put the sections together. Be sure to count and don’t play on the rests. Do this very slowly then gradually do it faster. Don’t go so fast that you get lost but keep a steady tempo even if it is very slow.
7. Start and end your practice with something fun that you know well.
8. Practice at least 20 minutes a day and record your minutes on a practice sheet or any paper.
9. Enjoy playing your instrument and making progress!