The String Thing
www.cdaschools.org/fernan/doverby

5^th Grade Strings Parent Information October 2005

7:15 AM?  What is going on in there?
7:00-7:15 arrival time.  Tuning of the instruments, setting up the stands, warming up, getting music in order, turning in practice records, asking questions.

Progress Reports:   
Students are evaluated on the following items 3 times during the year. Attendance, Preparation of materials, Remembering Equipment, and Practice Records. 

The students will receive a 3, 2, or 1 for each category.  
3 = Excellent = the student exceeds expectations. The student has mastered the concept.

2 = Satisfactory = the students is at or near expectations. The student demonstrates the concept but more work is still needed before it is considered   mastered.

1 = Needs improvement = the student is not meeting expectations. The student is having a hard time performing the concept or does not understand it at all.

Attendance
3 = If the student misses 1 excused class or less for that grading period.
2 = If the student misses 2-3 excused classes for that grading period.
1 = If the student misses more than 3 excused classes for that grading period or any unexcused absences.

Preparation
3 = The student performs the assigned music with a steady tempo, proper pitches and rhythms and with few or no mistakes.
2 = The student performs the music with minor errors in tempo, pitches and rhythm with little mistakes.
1 = The student is not performing the assigned music at all.

Remembering Equipment
3 = The student always remembers their equipment
                - book
                - 3 ringed binder
                - instrument
                - music
                - music stand
                - pencil
2 = Equipment has been forgotten up to 3 times
1 = Equipment has been forgotten more than 3 times

Those who do not have 3 ringed binders, please get them now!  I hand out papers that need to be added to that binder at every class.

Practice Records
3 = 100 minutes or more per week
2 = 60 minutes to 99 minutes per week
1 = 59 minutes or less per week, or no practice records turned in

Practicing Expectations:
How much should my child be practicing?  How many days a week?
Each week I give out a practice record that tells the students the objectives that we will be working on for that week. Students are asked to practice at least 100 minutes per week.  I recommend that they practice at least 20 minutes a day 5 times a week.  Cramming is not effective practice.  The students are asked to keep track of their minutes and turn them in with a parent signature each week. 
If a student does not practice at home then they will not be able to play the material being taught and it is virtually impossible to keep up in class.

Software for you
Those of you who have purchased the latest addition of Essential Elements for Strings may have 2000 noticed that a DVD was included.  Here are some of the cool extra things that you can do at home while practicing.

-          Start up Video:

o        Includes information on how to open the case and take the instrument out.

o        How to hold the instrument in guitar position for beginning pizzicato and in shoulder position when playing with the bow.

o        How to make a proper bow hold using a pencil.

o        The bow:  How it should look when it is tightened, proper bow hold, how to rosin the bow.  Remember do not touch the bow hair.

o        Cleaning and storage information

-          Play Along Tracks:  All music included in the book

-          Tempo Adjustment Software called the Slow Downer.  This can be done with all the tracks in the book.  It allows you to slow down a piece at a playable speed with out altering the pitch.

-          Smart Music Software: You can practice exercise 1-86 along with the music playing into a microphone.  It will show you how well or accurate your performance was. You can record your performance and email it to your family and friends.

-          Finale NotePad Software:  This lets you write your own music.  After you are finished composing your piece you can listen to it.  If it is something you want to keep you can print out a copy of what you composed take it to class and have the class play it. 

-          Duets and Trios: There are 10 different duets and trios that are extra from the book in PDF files that you can print off.  For those of you who are musicians yourself you can play a duet or trio with your child. This is also fun for them if they have a friend who plays as well.

-          Listening Library: Included is a listening library where you can listen to a variety of music selections and critique them.  A guide allows you to make comments about the music like what instruments did you hear? What did you like about the music? What did you not like about the music?  Did the melody sound familiar?  Was there a solo instrument? If so what was it?  Any surprise sounds in the music.

Heat and Cold can be harmful to your instrument.
Instruments should not be subjected to rapid changes in temperature.  If you must take the instrument outside in cold weather, allow it to warm up in its case when you get back indoors before playing the instrument.  Also, do not expose the instrument to the hot sun, especially by leaving it in the car. Care should be taken to store the instrument in a place away from all heat sources which include heating vents, baseboard heaters and fireplaces.  In extreme cold or hot conditions leaving your instrument in the car is one of the worst things.
Treat your instrument like it is a baby.

Broken Instruments
If your instrument string breaks, like a string snaps, the bridge or sound post falls over, or whatever the case, bring the instrument to us and in most cases we can repair it for you.  If it is a broken string buy a replacement string and bring it to the next class.  If the bridge falls over, leave it in the case and we will set it for you.  If it is something that we are unable to fix we will send you to the right place.

Community Opportunities:
In Coeur d’Alene we are fortunate to have Youth Orchestras that occur outside of the school setting.  These groups allow your child to experience more music in a community orchestra.  There is a Junior Youth Symphony for students up to the 8^th Grade and Youth Symphony open to Students in the 9^th grade through the 12^th grade.  Some High School students even play in the Coeur d’Alene Symphony.

Some 5^th grade students are ready to play in the Junior Youth Orchestra beginning in January.  To participate in this you are required to audition.  If your child is ready this is a great opportunity to take part of.  If you are interested check out the Coeur d’Alene Youth Symphony website at www.cdayo.org

Private Lessons
Private lessons are a great way to enhance your child’s musical experiences.  When being taught in a group situation as they are in the public school there is only so much that we the can do.  Taking private lessons can reinforce things being taught in the classroom thus giving the student a much more enhanced musical experience.  In a private lesson setting your child is the center of attention, the main focus of the lesson, where in a group situation all of the students are important.  Whether your child is excelling or struggling taking private lessons is a great way to enhance your child’s musical experience.  Private lessons can help those who are having a hard time mastering the difficult concepts of playing a musical instrument or challenge those who are doing extremely well to a higher level of difficulty.

Concerts:
We have 2 scheduled concerts a year, one in December and one in May.
Concert dress is all black, black tops, black pants or skirts, black socks, black shoes.  You may wear the Strings t-shirt if you purchased one.
Learning to play a stringed instrument is a long process and when I have my students perform I want it to be a fun positive experience for them.  I want them to sound good and play with confidence.  When pieces are performance ready I highly encourage at home performances for family and friends. 

December Concert Dates:
TBA

Leaving Instruments at School:
Please do not allow your child to leave their instrument at school.  It could get damaged, broken or even stolen.  What good is an instrument if it isn’t being practiced?

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