Finishing up 3rd Quarter assessments

Concert Orchestra members are finishing two assessments as we conclude 3rd quarter on Thursday, March 22.

During lessons this week, each student is performing a two-octave C Major scale. I'm listening for Intonation (is it in tune), Tone Quality (how beautiful is your sound) and Fluency (does it look/sound easy). The Intonation category is worth 40%, Tone Quality is worth 30%, and Fluency is worth 30%. This scale counts as 10% of the total grade for the 3rd quarter.

We will be doing our Fingerboard Quiz, also for the two-octave C Major scale, during orchestra rehearsals this week. This morning students filled it out as a pre-test; anyone who "exceeds expectations" (as noted on the rubric) will not need to do it again later this week.

C Major is a fairly common key for orchestra music, but it is not as familar to students as D Major or G Major. One of our Organizational Contest pieces was in the key of C Major (Wagner's "Entrance and March" to Tannhauser). Our Grand Finale piece for our May 8 concert is also partially in C Major: Plink Plank Plunk by 20th century American composer Leroy Anderson.

Please check your student's orchestra progress online on our PowerGrade program!

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Martha Henrikson