Orchestra
Orchestra/Strings
High School Orchestra (Grades 9-12)
This course is for those students who have had previous experiences and lessons in violin, viola, cello and bass violin. No beginners are eligible. Wind and percussion players are to be admitted only after taking and passing an audition. Attendance at rehearsal programs, concerts, and musical activities after school hours is required. All Orchestra students must attend one weekly nighttime rehearsal. Standard – 4 Credits – 4 Periods per Cycle – Full Year
Objectives of the High School Orchestra
- To give each student an education in music that will challenge and enrich their lives.
- To develop the personal character traits of leadership and self-discipline.
- To develop cooperation and teamwork.
- To develop confidence and poise.
- To develop the skill and technical ability that leads to proficiency on an instrument.
- To acquaint the student with a wide and varied repertoire of orchestral literature.
- To provide the foundational study which may lead to a career in music.
- To serve and represent the school in public concerts and other functions.
Orchestra involves the study of literature and the rehearsal and performance techniques of the string/orchestral ensemble on moderate levels of achievement. It is a performance organization for the student who might wish to elect membership in such a group. This performance organization will include outside-of-school time rehearsals and performances required of all members during certain times of the school year in addition to the rehearsals and performances, which take place during the school day. This class is involved primarily with the continued development and reinforcement of previously acquired musical skills. The orchestra presents various concerts throughout the year. Students are provided an opportunity to experience various styles of music, including classics and contemporary music.
Benefits to the Student
The orchestra promotes:
- Teamwork – The ensemble coordinates individual abilities into one central effort. The ensemble gives the child the feeling of group loyalty and motivation.
- Discipline – the ensemble teaches responsibility. Emphasis is placed on following instructions and teaches the child respect for music and the group effort.
- Concentration – Attention to detail is vital in all education-related projects. Concentration built in a musical ensemble often carries over to other areas, improving study habits and increasing intellectual understanding and curiosity.
- Appreciation – orchestra participation encourages respect and appreciation for aesthetic values and the beauty of various cultures.
- Leadership
- Poise
- Personal achievement
Middle School Strings/Orchestra
Middle School Strings (Orchestra) meets two periods per week at both the Andrews and McGlynn Middle Schools. Students in both schools perform concerts together and independently throughout the school year.
Overview
This class is set for students who are in 6th, 7th or 8th grade. It will develop musicianship and instrumental skills.
The class will focus on rehearsal skills, performance skills, and will have a heavy emphasis on technique.
Elementary Strings
Overview
This important instrumental program allows students to begin lessons as well as prepare for middle school music study. It is open to all students in grade 4 & 5.
Students Will Be Able To:
- Read basic standard notation.
- Play major scales up to 2 sharps.
- Play notes throughout the reasonable range of the instrument.
- Play and understand simple and complex time signatures.
- Gauge dynamics to different situations and styles.
- Understand articulation differences and sound qualities.
- Play more complex arrangements under a conductor.
- Use of various bowing techniques.
McGlynn String Ensemble (Middle and Elementary)
About the Ensemble
The McGlynn String Ensemble (grades 5-8), founded in 2009 by music director Sophia Chang, was formed to encourage the development of high performance standards. The ensemble meets once per week after school.
String Ensemble Wins Gold Medal at MICCA Concert Festival
On Sunday April 1, the McGlynn String Ensemble, under the direction of Sophia Chang, received the highest score to win a Gold Medal rating from the MICCA (Massachusetts Instrumental and Chorus Conductor’s Association) Band and Orchestra Concert Festival.
The Festival is a three-day event held in six locations across the state. This year over one hundred and sixty ensembles participated. The musical groups performed in front of a panel of adjudicators and were evaluated on a medal system.
According to the MICCA website, it is their purpose to “encourage and support high performance standards by high school, middle school, and elementary school musical organizations.”
The McGlynn String Ensemble was founded in 2009 by music director Sophia Chang to encourage the development of high musical standard. The ensemble meets only once per week after school, while many other festival participants rehearse daily during the school week.
Currently, the McGlynn String Ensemble involves twenty students. They are 1st violin Ann Le, Serena Do, Danielle Le, Rachel Nere, Leighton Helleberg; 2nd violin Joanna Zhou, Emily Pham, Zoe Pancic, Nicholas Keniston; viola Laura Schmidt, Louis Chin, Stella Eliopoulos; 3rd violin Andrew Nguy, Sebastian Tringale; cello Iverson Eliopoulos, Mateos Sahakian, Joseph Farah, Justin Tseng, Leonidas Pancic and bass Charles Todhunter.
The McGlynn String Ensemble performed three pieces: Brandenburg Concerto No.5 by Bach; “Jupiter” from The Planet, Op. 32 by Holst, arr. by Monday, and Die Meistersinger, Prelude to Act I by Wagner, arr. by Sophia Chang.
Chang, now in her ninth year of teaching at McGlynn and Brooks schools, speaks about the string program at Medford:
“The children at Medford are fortunate to have instrumental programs. I think Mrs. Caron (Marsha Caron, the former director of Fine Arts at Medford) has set up a strong foundation for the string program over the years.”
Mrs. Chang also speaks about the ensemble’s achievement:
“It is the result of the effort and enthusiasm of every student that we can pursue music-making together. I am so glad that their MICCA experience is inspiring and rewarding.”
Despite of the diversity of grade levels and technical levels, the McGlynn String ensemble received the highest score to earn a Gold Medal rating at the MICCA Concert Festival.
“Since the ensemble only meet once per week after school, rehearsals need to be efficient.”
According to Chang, Moodle online teaching system at Medford allows her to teach beyond the limit of time and space in a traditional classroom setting.
Congratulations to McGlynn String Ensemble and Mrs. Chang.
“I hope that the children will keep up the good work, for there is no end to the perfecting in music. I also want to extend my heart-felt appreciations to the parents, teachers and administrators. Special thanks also go to those who provided us valuable musical suggestions: Mary Alyce Groman, concert mistress of Wellesley Symphony Orchestra and Marsha Caron, former director of Fine Arts at Medford. The Gold Medal wouldn’t be made possible without their generous support for music education,” said Chang.
The String Ensemble will join the Gold Medal recipients to perform at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on Sunday, April 22 at 2 pm. Admission is free to the public.
McGlynn String Ensemble MICCA Festival Team:
First Violin
Ann Le, McGlynn, Gr.8
Serena Do, McGlynn, Gr.8
Danielle Le, Roberts Elementary, Gr.5
Rachel Nere, McGlynn, Gr.8
Leighton Helleberg, McGlynn, Gr.8
Second Violin
Joanna Zhou, McGlynn, Gr.5
Emily Pham, McGlynn, Gr.7
Zoe Pancic, McGlynn, Gr.8
Nicholas Keniston, McGlynn, Gr.7
Viola/Third Violin
Louis Chin, McGlynn, Gr.8
Laura Schmidt, Andrews, Gr.7
Stella Eliopoulos, McGlynn, Gr.6
Andrew Nguy, McGlynn, Gr.6
Sebastian Tringale, McGlynn, Gr.6
Cello
Iverson Eliopoulos, McGlynn, Gr.7
Justin Tseng, McGlynn, Gr.6
Mateos Sahakian, McGlynn, Gr.7
Leonidas Pancic, McGlynn, Gr.6
Joseph Farah, McGlynn, Gr.7
Bass
Charles Todhunter, Andrews, Gr.6
Photos courtesy Steve Eliopoulos, McGlynn Middle School parent
2012 McGlynn String Fling Concert a Success
On Thursday, March 22 over 150 students participated in the McGlynn String Fling concert.
“The children delivered a beautiful program and brought much joy to the McGlynn community!” Said music teacher and concert director Sophia Chang.
Photos courtesy of Steve J. Eliopoulos, parent of McGlynn students. Slide show by Sophia Chang.
2011 MICCA Concert Festival
In 2011, the McGlynn String Ensemble received the highest score to earn a Silver Medal rating for MICCA (Massachusetts Instrumental and Chorus Conductor’s Association) Band and Orchestra Concert Festival. Besides performance in the school community, the ensemble was invited to perform at Chevalier Theater and Medford City Hall.
The McGlynn String Ensemble with school officials after performing at City Hall. Photo courtesy of Steven Eliopoulos.
Iverson Eliopoulos and Mateos Sahakian at the Winter Concert. Photo courtesy of Steven Eliopoulos.
Advanced students
These students can go as far as their talents and commitment takes them. Students in this situation are involved in our supplementary after school private lesson program. Please contact us for information.
Beginning students
Students who are having difficulty or want to begin at this level are never turned away. These students may also take advantage of our supplementary after school private lesson program.
Tips for Beginning Students
Beginning string students need lots of encouragement. Playing an instrument is a skill.
- Practice each and every day.
- Find a comfortable place in which to practice (your bed is not a good place).
- Musical instruments are not toys. They are very fragile – precision instruments.
- Do not allow others to handle them. Play the instrument each day and maintain your instrument in good working order. A damaged instrument may not play at all.
- Set up a consistent time each day (free from distractions) that will allow you to practice and not disturb the family. (15-20 minutes a day, to start).
- Play for parents and relatives once you learn some songs.
- Parents should sit with their students at least once a week while they practice. °Have them show you what they are doing. Help them count.
- Write down the school lesson time and be sure to take the instrument to school.
- Be consistent with good practice habits (nobody wants o break a GOOD habit).
- Every instrument has periods in the learning process that will be difficult. Learn the definition of the word “persevere”. Call the music teacher if you need help.
- Parents should consider taking a few lessons on the instrument. It gives you better insight into what your student is going through, and it may be fun for your child as well as yourself.
Their teachers want them to succeed. Let them know if you have concerns.
Developing Good Practice Habits
When is your “prime time”? If you feel freshest in the morning, early morning practice may be for you. If you feel your energy peak in the afternoon or at night, practice then. Do you tire easily when you practice? Divide your practice time into two segments instead of having one long practice session. Whatever time you do choose, be consistent and try to practice at the same time five or six days a week.
When you practice, find a quiet room where you won’t be disturbed. Turn off the TV, put away your CD player, and turn on the answering machine.
Playing a musical instrument is not a passive experience. You need physical strength and energy to practice with proper playing position. If you practice while you’re tired, you may run the risk of slipping into poor playing habits.
There is much information to learn and much to master physically as there are many things going on beneath the surface. We hear beautiful music but the string player is actually performing many actions and thought processes at once, including:
- Playing the correct notes including correct string and finger
- Playing the notes in tune (how high up on the instrument to place the hand & whether fingers are placed touching or apart)
- Playing the notes for the correct duration in rhythm
- Playing the correct style; each composer is interpreted differently depending on what period of music history they lived in
- Volume of the music
- Direction of the bow
- Pressure of the bow
- Bow speed
- Playing the note in context of the melody (the level of importance of that note in the musical phrase)
- Interacting with other musicians
Care of Your Instrument
General Handling Tips
Handle a violin by its neck and chinrest areas only. This will prevent top cracks from too much finger pressure, especially in the f-hole wings. Try not to touch the varnish. The more it is handled the more it will need to be cleaned. Some varnishes are very soft and fingers will leave prints on them. Never place an instrument on a chair or lean it on anything. Place the instrument on a table or in its case when not in use.
Always loosen the bow when finished playing. A lot of instrument outfits have had their bows stored under tension. Leaving the hair tight will warp or break the stick, especially if a drop in humidity occurs.
Temperature, humidity, etc.
A stringed instrument is comfortable where you are. Ideally they should be treated as dearly as an infant. If temperature or humidity conditions are too extreme for you, most likely they will be more so for your instrument. It is better to err on the side of too much humidity than too little. During low humidity conditions, cracking may occur. Using a humidifier or Dampit in your instrument when the humidity is below 35% is recommended. A good emergency humidifier can be made by placing a wet paper towel into a perforated zip lock plastic bag. This can then be placed into the case’s accessory compartment.
Do not leave a stringed instrument in an automobile. The inside temperature of an automobile can easily reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit. This would be hot enough to melt or bubble most varnishes. If the instrument is frozen do not take it out of its case right away. Allow the temperature to stabilize for a few hours before removing it. This will allow it to thaw slowly, reducing the chance of seams opening and condensation formation.
Maintenance
Always wipe the rosin and perspiration from the instrument and bow before putting them away after playing. A soft clean cotton flannel cloth is ideal for this purpose. Cleaning cloths are available at most violin shops. The rosin will build up along with dirt to form a gray-black encrustation as seen on a lot of older instruments. Perspiration is acidic and will degrade varnish, it will also corrode strings. A light polish can be applied to the instrument just about everywhere except on the bridge and where the horsehair contacts the strings. Use only a dedicated violin polish, but even these can be risky. Keep alcohol and other solvents away from your instrument; they must be used carefully. It is best to have a professional luthier clean and polish your instrument.
Repair Shops
K & C Music Co., Inc., 273 Lenox St., Norwood, MA 02062, 781-769-6520