Beginning Orchestra First Week Practice Plan

Our First Orchestra practice we will learn

1. How to hold our bows-I will tape in each of their books a paper that talks about the "Pirate Ship Bow Grip"  This walks the students through the correct way to hold their bow for maximum sound.

Use this paper to draw the dots on your students fingers and have them tell you the story as they demonstrate a perfect bow grip. 

 Repeat this 5 times everyday

 

2. Hold your instrument-Have your student take their violin and viola up to their left shoulder.  Take time  study the picture in their book  and copy it exactly. 

 Do this 5 times

 

3. Name the open strings-Students will learn to name each of the strings on their instrument have them demonstrate this to you.  

 

4. Open string playing-Students will learn 3 rhythms in class.  

Pepperoni Pizza

Peanut Butter Peanut Butter

Pineapple Pineapple

Play each of these rhythms 5 times on each string

 

Please feel free to take little breaks as you need them while your muscles are getting stronger.  

Each time you start and each time you finish check your position to make sure your bow grip is perfect with a bent thumb and a "lazy first mate"  and make sure your instrument position is just like the picture in the front of your String Basics book. 

Bonus-If you hand in your practice record with it signed by your parent(s) you get an extra treat.