How to Teach Beginning Orchestra: The First Three Weeks (Tips and Pointers)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 18 жов 2024
- www.joelpowellc...
As a veteran string educator, I hope to share with you the strategies I’ve found successful in teaching beginning strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass). This video is a comprehensive explanation of the strategies and string pedagogy I use to help get students started in their orchestra journey. Specifically, it is a video explaining how I teach the first three (or so) weeks of a beginning string orchestra with cornerstone string orchestra fundamentals.
In no way does this video purport to be the only way to teach these concepts. Rather, it is simply my personal approach. My hope is that my fellow string educators and those learning the craft (as each of us always are) find this video helpful.
Thank you for teaching kids and making a difference! What a gift it is to get to teach students how to play music!
Musically,
Joel Powell, Orchestra Teacher and Conductor
Time-Code Guide
0:18 Example of my Middle School Orchestra that has played for seven months
2:26 A few days before starting beginners - what to consider
3:05 Importance of correctly sized instruments
5:27 Organizing for the first day you see your beginners
6:23 Using finger tapes
8:28 DAY 1 OF BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
8:43 Grid Seating Chart
10:15 Getting started with the instrument/unpacking
14:30 Parts of the instrument
17:18 Pre-teaching posture
19:58 The first song! Daily Drill #1
23:13 Ding Dong Bell (second song)
26:00 Ding Dong Bell in different variations
26:45 Starting with the Cello (unpacking)
28:39 Starting with the Double Bass (unpacking)
29:49 DAY 2 OF BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
32:03 Violin/Viola shoulder rests
35:34 Violin/Viola playing position setup
39:15 Daily Drill #1 in playing position
41:09 Ding Dong Bell in playing position
42:34 Cello playing position setup and first songs
51:18 Double Bass playing position setup and first songs
53:59 DAYS 3-4 OF BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
54:20 Violin/Viola: Adding left hand notes
56:08 Using fingerboard maps/charts
1:01:34 Daily Drill #2 (left hand notes drill)
1:05:18 Daily Drill #2 on Cello (cello left hand placement and notes)
1:08:30 Cello/Bass: Building left hand strength
1:10:17 Hot Cross Buns introduction
1:13:58 Mary Had a Little Lamb introduction
1:15:50 Tracking and reading music
1:16:27 DAYS 4-5 OF BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
1:17:00 Sequence of teaching D Major Scale
1:19:23 D Major Scale Introduction
1:21:23 Stretching and eliminating tension
1:25:02 Cello: Teaching left hand notes through songs
1:26:17 Double Bass: Teaching left hand notes through songs
1:28:16 Double Bass: Shifting to Third Position!
1:31:00 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
1:33:07 Importance of chunking music
1:34:20 Learning the Bow!
1:35:16 Starting the bow hold on the pencil
1:40:20 Parts of the bow, tightening bow, and caring for the bow
1:42:33 How to hold the bow (starting at the balance point)
1:44:30 Rosining the bow
1:47:20 Bowing on the strings!
1:49:55 Daily Drill #1 with the bow
1:51:32 Cello: How to hold the bow at the balance point
1:53:49 Cello: Bowing on the string!
1:55:13 Double Bass: French vs. German Bow
1:56:01 Double Bass: French bow hold at the balance point
1:56:33 Double Bass: French bow hold at the frog
1:56:45 Double Bass: Bowing on the strings! (French Bow)
1:57:11 Double Bass: German bow hold
1:58:43 Double Bass: Bowing on the strings! (German Bow)
1:59:09 DAYS 6-7 OF BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
1:59:47 Using call and response as a teaching tool and modeling
2:00:48 Daily Drill #2 with the bow!
2:01:27 Coordinating right and left hands (refining tone quality)
2:02:29 Modeling in mirror image
2:03:21 Cello: Playing songs that use the left hand
2:05:00 Double Bass: Playing songs that use the left hand
2:06:09 DAYS 8-10 OF BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
2:06:30 Hot Cross Buns with the bow
2:08:46 Mary's Medley (Mary Had, Mary Lost, Mary Found)
2:13:28 D Major Scale with the bow
2:14:06 Bow stick rotation
2:15:03 Mary's Medley with the bow
2:18:22 Violin/Viola: Holding the bow at the frog
2:20:15 Cello: Holding the bow at the frog
2:23:44 DAY 11 AND BEYOND OF BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
2:23:46 Bowing with different rhythms (using rhythm variations)
2:24:23 Fun bow games and tricks!
2:27:34 Common bowing/bow hold problems (solutions)
2:30:23 Developing Intonation and Maintaining Standard of Excellence
2:33:47 Final Thoughts
Time-Code Guide:
0:18 Example of my Middle School Orchestra that has played for seven months
2:26 A few days before starting beginners - what to consider
3:05 Importance of correctly sized instruments
5:27 Organizing for the first day you see your beginners
6:23 Using finger tapes
8:28 DAY 1 OF BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
8:43 Grid Seating Chart
10:15 Getting started with the instrument/unpacking
14:30 Parts of the instrument
17:18 Pre-teaching posture
19:58 The first song! Daily Drill #1
23:13 Ding Dong Bell (second song)
26:00 Ding Dong Bell in different variations
26:45 Starting with the Cello (unpacking)
28:39 Starting with the Double Bass (unpacking)
29:49 DAY 2 OF BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
32:03 Violin/Viola shoulder rests
35:34 Violin/Viola playing position setup
39:15 Daily Drill #1 in playing position
41:09 Ding Dong Bell in playing position
42:34 Cello playing position setup and first songs
51:18 Double Bass playing position setup and first songs
53:59 DAYS 3-4 OF BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
54:20 Violin/Viola: Adding left hand notes
56:08 Using fingerboard maps/charts
1:01:34 Daily Drill #2 (left hand notes drill)
1:05:18 Daily Drill #2 on Cello (cello left hand placement and notes)
1:08:30 Cello/Bass: Building left hand strength
1:10:17 Hot Cross Buns introduction
1:13:58 Mary Had a Little Lamb introduction
1:15:50 Tracking and reading music
1:16:27 DAYS 4-5 OF BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
1:17:00 Sequence of teaching D Major Scale
1:19:23 D Major Scale Introduction
1:21:23 Stretching and eliminating tension
1:25:02 Cello: Teaching left hand notes through songs
1:26:17 Double Bass: Teaching left hand notes through songs
1:28:16 Double Bass: Shifting to Third Position!
1:31:00 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
1:33:07 Importance of chunking music
1:34:20 Learning the Bow!
1:35:16 Starting the bow hold on the pencil
1:40:20 Parts of the bow, tightening bow, and caring for the bow
1:42:33 How to hold the bow (starting at the balance point)
1:44:30 Rosining the bow
1:47:20 Bowing on the strings!
1:49:55 Daily Drill #1 with the bow
1:51:32 Cello: How to hold the bow at the balance point
1:53:49 Cello: Bowing on the string!
1:55:13 Double Bass: French vs. German Bow
1:56:01 Double Bass: French bow hold at the balance point
1:56:33 Double Bass: French bow hold at the frog
1:56:45 Double Bass: Bowing on the strings! (French Bow)
1:57:11 Double Bass: German bow hold
1:58:43 Double Bass: Bowing on the strings! (German Bow)
1:59:09 DAYS 6-7 OF BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
1:59:47 Using call and response as a teaching tool and modeling
2:00:48 Daily Drill #2 with the bow!
2:01:27 Coordinating right and left hands (refining tone quality)
2:02:29 Modeling in mirror image
2:03:21 Cello: Playing songs that use the left hand
2:05:00 Double Bass: Playing songs that use the left hand
2:06:09 DAYS 8-10 OF BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
2:06:30 Hot Cross Buns with the bow
2:08:46 Mary's Medley (Mary Had, Mary Lost, Mary Found)
2:13:28 D Major Scale with the bow
2:14:06 Bow stick rotation
2:15:03 Mary's Medley with the bow
2:18:22 Violin/Viola: Holding the bow at the frog
2:20:15 Cello: Holding the bow at the frog
2:23:44 DAY 11 AND BEYOND OF BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
2:23:46 Bowing with different rhythms (using rhythm variations)
2:24:23 Fun bow games and tricks!
2:27:34 Common bowing/bow hold problems (solutions)
2:30:23 Developing Intonation and Maintaining Standard of Excellence
2:33:47 Final Thoughts
Thanks for these tips. I've conducted some older, more seasoned players. I am substitute teaching music at some local middle schools and high schools and found it challenging at times, mostly because I am expecting to hear a tighter sound like the adults. I definitely need to shift my expectations a bit so as not to get frustrated and realize that they are just kids who are learning.
Thank you Joel. We have a new compulsory program in Sydney, Australia, and your video has been a great overview of how to connect and combine the many facets of teaching a string ensemble.
I’m a singer and pianist, but may need to learn to Teach beginning Strings. This video is amazing! Thank you for your time.
Thank you so much for your kind words! You will do an amazing job. You’ve got this! All the best to you!
This came at exactly the right time for me as a band person in my first job teaching band and orchestra two years ago. I really needed as much help as I could get and this video (and follow-ups) DELIVERED! I'm just teaching band now since we've hired an orchestra director, but I'm still going to send this to everyone I know who is teaching strings for the first time.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m so glad it was helpful, and thanks so much for sharing it. Thank you so much for teaching kids!
I am a first year middle school teacher in the Indianapolis region and so excited that I found your channel!! Thank you so much for taking the time for making this video.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I am so glad the video helped. And welcome to Indy! Thank you so much for teaching kids. All the best to you! You are going to be amazing!
I'm a Band Director who is taking on the orchestra program this year. This refresher has been incredibly helpful, thanks for posting! Your beginning orchestra sounds great, as well.
You are very kind - thanks so much! Wishing you all the best this school year!
I'm a singer, piano player tasked with a new elementary orchestra. Thank you for taking the time to record the crash course in beginning strings. This was exactly what I needed to feel a bit more confident as I learn and teach :)
So glad it is helpful! Thanks so much for teaching kids.
How are things going for you? I have the opportunity to take on a beginning orchestra and came across this video. Piano and voice are also my main instruments!
incredibly helpful. ty so much
Thank you for your kind words. So glad this was helpful.
Such a thorough video wow! Do you have any piece recommendations? Or even excerpts? I’m teaching year 3-7 groups who can only play to a jingle bells/ lightly row level. (My current ideas are: Dvorak new world 2nd movement, drunken sailor, Deere Jacques)
Awesome video, thank you so much! Can you share something similar for 2nd year students? Best
I second Giovanni in saying this is a fantastic video! Can you share your expectations for the 2nd year students? I find, living rural, that I get a lot of new students during the 2nd year. I play catch up a lot each year with new ones. Warm ups, comfort using the whole bow is another obstacle that 1st to 2nd year. Thanks for your input. Cheers!
Thank you so much for creating this video!! I will be revisiting often 🙏🏻❤
Thank you for this video! As far as getting instruments ready to go before day 1 - how do you anticipate how many of each instrument to get/what’s your process for picking instruments? Does it all happen at setup night?
Hi, Tommy! Fantastic question. Sorry I am just now responding, but your question prompted me to actually make a video on this subject of getting kids started on the right instrument. It is what I call my “try-on” night. The video is called “Tech-Powered Beginning Orchestra Setup Event:Streamlining Instrument Fittings.” I heavily leverage technology, like Google Forms, to help me with the process. Check out the video, and hopefully it answers your questions. Feel free to reach out if you ever have any questions. Thank you for teaching kids!
Super 💕💕🙏🏽
How often and for how long does your middle school orchestra (at the beginning of the video) meet?