Orchestra
The Middle School Orchestra program contains a 6th, 7th, and 8th grade class where students learn about music through hands on activities, performance, music theory, and music history on a weekly basis. 7th and 8th grade students regularly attend MSBOA Solo and Ensemble Festival, and MSBOA Orchestra Festival, where the best teachers in the state critique them. The 6th grade students build a foundation to assist them in finding their personal successes in class and life alike. 7th and 8th graders have a fiddle club they may attend after school, and look forward to joining others in the HS program. Many students create lifelong friendships and continue to enjoy music throughout their lives.
Fiddle Club
This after school event is a blast!!! Students will learn fiddle music, watch professionals perform, learn ways to make music more interesting, and much, much more. Students will build upon their skills in earlier fiddle clubs, and learn how to transpose music to allow them the opportunity to play any piece they run across. Just ask someone who has done it in the past, and they will agree that this is the coolest and most exciting after school event an orchestra can provide!! This year’s group will be meeting THURSDAY’S AFTER SCHOOL. We start at the beginning of the year, so if you would like to join, please plan on attending next week, it will be a blast. To create a positive atmosphere during these meetings, snacks would be great. I will take down everyone’s name at the first meeting and devise a list of who will bring snacks when. Please let me know if this is an issue. We should not have more than a dozen or so students at each meeting. If there are more I will let everyone know. I am asking all students who are going to attend fiddle club to bring $2 for each week they attend. I will keep a record book of all the students and their payments. If parents wish to send more on any given week, it will be rolled over for future weeks. (Ex. Bob brings in $10 the first week, and then comes for 4 more weeks free) Next, I will be purchasing books and handing them out on the second meeting. We will use earlier books purchased as well as this new one. Books are $8 and checks should be made out to Kenowa Hills Instrumental Music Boosters. Please let me know if this is not feasible. Students should bring their music, instrument, snacks if it is their turn to do so, and a folder (which I will supply) to each meeting. If they are not prepared, they may not be able to play with the group. This group is something I am very passionate about, and I hope you feel the same way soon. If anyone would like to come in and listen to the group, or help plan future events, please let me know. I am always looking for more support.
Solo and Ensemble
Solo and ensemble is an event which middle school and high school members can participate. This event is after school, and often on a Saturday. Students who wish to compete in this event must sign up with their teacher in advance. Students at Kenowa Hills have the fees covered by the individual class budgets, which gives many students the opportunity to attend this event when others may not have that financial ability. Students who attend choose a piece to perform on their own, as a solo, or with a group of two or more members, an ensemble. Students practice both during class and on their own, and perform for the class prior to the event. This is a great opportunity for students to play music in small groups and on their own, and also builds leadership skills in many young players. Please take advantage of the checklist below describing the event and what is expected of students, as well as the pianist list if students are playing a solo and need an accompaniment.