6th period 8th grade orchestra

February 18, 2009
This week we mostly focused on our concert music. In most of our songs we practiced our dynamics and tried focusing on spots that were out of tune. In our small groups we picked out songs and practiced playing them for our recital. In some small groups Mrs. Stone came in and practiced with groups that needed the piano. In our large groups different concert groups played for us and we had to find something that we liked about it and find something that we thought could have gone differently.
We had a worksheet were we had to fill out some vocabulary and tell which other words had something in common with that word. Some of the songs that we worked really hard for the recital were Galena Milwaukee Break Down and Waltz of the Wicked. For Galena we focused on getting the right notes and trying to stay up to speed. We also worked hard on second position and harmonics. For Waltz of the Wicked we focused hard on dynamics. We had to get PP and go up F in just a limited amount of measures. In the same song we had problems with plucking strings to the right beat.
Right now we are practicing for our concert at the Capitol in Madison. The songs that we are playing are Hero’s Journey, Japanese Lullaby, Waltz of the Wicked, Scottish Journey and Telemann Sinfonia. We have already played Hero’s Journey, Japanese Lullaby, Waltz of the Wicked and Scottish Journey. We are practicing Telemann Sinfonia in our large groups
After our concert was done in our small groups we had a switch day. In our next small groups we think that we will be focusing on our music that we are playing for the Capitol.

Your favorite students
Annie, Lizzy, Katie, Jessica, Danielle (not Andrew)