Orchestra 1
For ages 8 and up
Level 1 Beginning Orchestra is for students (age 8 and up) with little or no musical training on their instrument, or those trained in Suzuki Pre-Twinkle, but not yet reading music fluently. This class is specifically designed for students to learn mastering correct posture, how to follow a conductor, learning to play with other instruments, and beginning note reading. Students will learn at a comfortable and fun pace that is geared to their age and/or attention level.
Orchestra 2
Orchestra Level 2 is available for those students who have played at least one year on their instrument and demonstrate a basic playing proficiency . This class will work on physical and reading skills necessary to play their instruments while continuing to polish techniques such as intonation, posture, bow control, sound, and theory. production and ensemble.
Orchestra 3
By Audition Only
To audition, register for the class. Materials will be sent closer to audition dates. Please keep in mind and in your scheduling that it is possible for students to be recommended to play in Level 2 another year based on audition results.
The Joyful Noise Level 3 Orchestra is our most capable String Orchestra, dedicated to providing opportunities for the more advanced-level performers who have generally played at LEAST 3+ years to increase performance skills and precision on orchestral stringed instruments. Students should be proficient at reading music, and scales.
(Starting 2023 an additional pre requisite for this class will be Music Theory, this does not apply to students already in this level)
Intermediate Orchestra
The Intermediate Orchestra is available for those students who have played at least one year on their instrument and demonstrate a basic playing proficiency as determined by the Director. This class will work on physical and reading skills necessary to play their instruments, while continuing to polish techniques such as intonation, posture, bow control, sound
production and ensemble. This class will seek to play intermediate levels of string orchestra repertoire; GMEA level 2-3. Auditions are required and are held in August for all students seeking to be enrolled in this class. Also, a commitment to attend Stringsational is required of all 2nd yr+ Intermediate Orchestra members.
Required Materials: Instrument, music stand, pencil, Strictly Strings–Book 2 (for your instrument) published by Highland/Etling, black notebook for music, metronome/tuner, concert dress. Suggested resource: SmartMusic subscription –SightReading Factory subscription
Required Knowledge: It is assumed that the students playing in Intermediate Orchestra are acquainted with all the notes in first position on their instrument. It is assumed that the students are “unafraid” of the upper half of the bow--an area easily avoided by most students, yet vital to developing sound production.
Advancing from Intermediate to Advanced Orchestra
By the end of the school year (including summer) students from this class are expected to have done or be able to do the following for advancement auditions into Advanced Orchestra for the 2019-20 school year:
1. Violins:
a. “Pass-Off” all offered pass offs during the past school year*
b. Scales (provided on Yahoo Groups)
i. G major 3 octave (see 3 Octave scales)
ii. A major 3 octave (see 3 Octave Scales)
iii. D minor 2 oct (see Intermediate Minor Scales-JN)
iv. A minor 2 oct (see Intermediate Minor Scales-JN)
c. Sight Reading
i. lyrical excerpt at level 2-3
ii. technical excerpt at level 2-3
2. Violas:
a. “Pass Off all offered pass offs during the past school year*
b. Scales (provided on Yahoo Groups)
i. C major 3 octave
ii. D major 3 octave
iii. D minor 2 octave
iv. A minor 2 octave
c. Sight Reading
i. lyrical excerpt at level 2-3
ii. technical excerpt at level 2-3
3. Cellos:
a. “Pass-Off” all offered pass offs during the past school year*
b. Scales (provided on Yahoo Groups)
i. C major 3 octave
ii. D major 3 octave
iii. D minor 2 octave
iv. A mino4 2 octave
c. Sight Reading
i. lyrical excerpt at level 2-3
ii. technical excerpt at level 2-3
4. Basses:
a. “Pass-Off” all offered pass offs during the past school year*
b. Scales (provided on Yahoo Groups)
i. F major 2 octave
ii. G major 2 octave
iii. F minor 1 octave
iv. g minor 1 octave
c. Sight Reading
i. lyrical excerpt at level 2-3
ii. technical excerpt at level 2-3
*-if you played in a JoyfulNoise orchestra last year
About Advanced Orchestras at Joyful Noise
Joyful Noise “Advanced Abilities” Orchestras provide for two ensembles in the first semester. Each of these are the HIGHEST offerings in string music. These classes offered are ADVANCED Orchestra and CHAMBER Orchestra. At each level, students are exposed to a wide variety of musical types & styles with a focus on training to produce ensemble music which produces an improvement of instrumental technique and improved reading of music. Unlike public school orchestral students who generally rehearse for at least an hour daily, Joyful Noise Orchestra students gather together one hour per week being highly motivated, with a commitment to practice adequately at home, fulfilling their obligations not only to themselves, but to the group as a whole – the Orchestra! All students shall commit to punctuality AND regular attendance. Students enrolled must keep their commitments with no other functions allowed to conflict with this class time; it is unfair to the other students in the class, and the entire class performance suffers.
Often, opportunities may occur throughout the year which allow the ensembles to perform in various concert venues, home-school events, around the community, and have in the past appeared at the Georgia state capitol.
Furthermore, each student within the Advanced & Chamber curriculum shall be required to commit to attend "Stringsational", a truly exceptional clinic experience for strings, held on a Saturday in February. This event is conducted by an invited Orchestra Director/String Teacher who is extremely skilled in the field of stringed instruments and brings their experience to us in producing a fantastic orchestra experience, followed by an afternoon concert, AND lunch is provided!!!
Advanced Orchestra
The Joyful Noise Advanced Orchestra is our second-most capable String Orchestra, dedicated to providing opportunities for the more advanced-level performers who have generally played 3+ years to increase performance skills and precision on orchestral stringed instruments. However, invitation to this class is based solely on Musical skill and merit. It covers performance, sound production, analysis and theoretical studies including historical and cultural contributions and influences contributing
to the most creative aspects of music. The Advanced Orchestra will perform String Orchestra literature of the late middle grade levels, GMEA level III and IV. Students in this orchestra are expected to have advanced level technique on their instrument including shifting 1st and 3rd positions AND beginning approach to vibrato. Proficiency in all two octave major scales
and arpeggios is expected as well as some 3 octave for all but bassists.
Through the GMEA Member instructor students also can perform at GMEA Solo and Ensemble Performance Evaluation, audition for GMEA All-State and Cobb County Honor Orchestra. For all students seeking to be enrolled in this class, the required auditions are held in August, several weeks prior to the start of the first semester. Music will be made available for download shortly after the audition results are tabulated to better prepare invited members of the class.
Required Knowledge: Students advancing to the Advanced Orchestra are assumed to know the audition material. In addition, they are familiar with 1 st and 3 rd positions (at least on the upper two strings) with a developing vibrato. They are happy to play in any part of the bow and/or string to achieve difference in color and dynamic. They perform and rehearse sitting alert with both heels on the floor. They understand the importance of joint flexibility and breathing (esp. exhaling) to maintain relaxation, as this was “stressed” in Intermediate. (no pun intended)
By the end of the school year (including summer) students, upon completion of this class, may be eligible to enroll in the Chamber Orchestra (1 st semester) and Symphony Orchestra (2 nd semester). Enrollment in Chamber and Symphony is at the discretion of the Music Director.
Advancing from Advanced to Chamber Orchestra
If you or your student have not been approached by the Orchestra Director to enroll in Chamber and Symphony below are the requirements for audition:
1. Violins:
a. Scales/Arpeggios (provided on Yahoo Groups)
i. G major 3 Octave
ii. A major 3 Octave
iii. g melodic minor
iv. a melodic minor
b. Sight Reading
i. a lyrical excerpt at level 3-4
ii. a technical excerpt at level 3-4
2. Violas:
a. Scales/Arpeggios
i. C major 3 octave
ii. D major 3 octave
iii. c melodic minor 3 octave
iv. d melodic minor 3 octave
b. Sight Reading
i. a lyrical excerpt at level 3-4
ii. a technical excerpt at level 3-4
3. Cellos:
a. Scales/Arpeggos
i. C major 3 octave
ii. D major 3 octave
iii. c melodic minor 3 octave
iv. d melodic minor 3 octave
b. Sight Reading
i. lyrical excerpt at level 3-4
ii. technical level excerpt at level 3-4
4. Basses:
a. Scales/Arpeggios
i. F major 2 octave
ii. G major 2 octave
iii. f melodic minor 2 octave
iv. g melodic minor 2 octave
b. Sight Reading
i. a lyrical excerpt at level 3-4
ii. a technical excerpt at level 3 -4
Chamber Orchestra
The Joyful Noise Chamber Orchestra is the highest-level String Orchestra offering with a weighted focus on the process of discovering one’s “voice” through his instrument. Opportunities are provided for mastery-level performers to increase performance skills and precision on orchestral stringed instruments. Opportunities to solo with the Orchestra will also be available. Students are not invited based on years of playing or grade level but solely on their musical playing ability. It covers performance, sound production, analysis and theoretical studies including historical and cultural contributions and influences contributing to the most creative aspects of music.
The Chamber Orchestra will perform String Orchestra literature of the highest grade levels, GMEA level 4.5 , 5 and even some 6. Students in this orchestra are expected to have advanced level technique on their instrument including shifting 1st through 5th positions, a developing vibrato and some knowledge of “color” change in sound. They are proficient in all areas of the bow for both equal and naturally occuring sound production. Proficiency in all two and three-octave major scales and arpeggios is expected. Students who study privately are naturally more adept to this performing group, although private study is not required. The orchestra will perform at the Fall Concert as well as selected community events during the year. Through the GMEA member teacher students can also perform at GMEA Solo and Ensemble Performance Evaluation, audition for GMEA All-State and Cobb County Honor Orchestra.
For all students seeking to be enrolled in this class, the required auditions are held in August, several weeks prior to the start of the first semester. The Orchestra Director reserves the right to appoint certain members without an audition. Music will be made available for download shortly after the results are tabulated to better prepare invited members of the class.
Symphony Orchestra (second semester)
For the Joyful Noise Orchestra’s second semester highly qualified wind, brass and percussion students are invited to join the Chamber Orchestra to provide for the creation of the SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA! The creation of this unique ensemble depends on a serious commitment of everyone involved. The process of producing a successful Symphony is one of learning all about oneself, his/her instrument AND fellow musicians, turning a large group involving ALL the instrumentalists into ONE united voice, THE SYMPHONY!
The Joyful Noise Symphony Orchestra is the school’s highest-level orchestra offering and provides opportunities for mastery-level performers to increase performance skills and precision on stringed, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. This class covers performance and production, analysis and theoretical studies, historical and cultural contributions and influences, creative aspects of music and appreciation of music. It provides assistance as it organizes objectives for self-paced progress through all four levels. It also stresses individual progress and group experiences. The Joyful Noise Symphony Orchestra is a Full Symphony Orchestra and requires the highest of skill and ability on your instrument.
Wind, Brass and Percussion students who desire to play in the SYMPHONY may register for the class and will also complete a placement audition. This process allows the director to properly assign students to the appropriate music part & chair, based on experience and musical ability. [1] It is the objective that no student from the woodwind, brass or percussion families be turned away from the symphonic experience, but properly placed, with the director acquainted with the skillset of each, providing a knowledge of how to best train and utilize them. In a RARE case a student may not be ready for the level of difficulty the literature that the Symphony will be playing and will be asked to wait for another year and encouraged to try again to be invited to play.
Symphony music shall be selected well in advance of the auditions for woodwinds, brass & percussion and handed out to the strings; if time permits Chamber Orchestra will read this music before the end of first semester. This shall allow ample time for them to prepare for their auditions, to be held during the final week of the first semester. Furthermore, all students will then have the Christmas vacation time to practice their parts before the first meeting in January, everyone knowing where they sit!
Requirements for All Classes
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A personal Instrument in good playing condition
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A substantial, strong music stand
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An electronic tuner/metronome
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A sharp pencil. (or two)
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A commitment to punctuality
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A commitment to practice a minimum of 225 minutes per week
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A Black Orchestra Folio
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Concert attire as outlined by Joyful Noise
Details of the Requirements:
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This personal stringed instrument must have adequate strings, no older than one year old (at most) and expected to be tuned by the student because the director will not have the time to be responsible for the tuning of the student’s instrument. Since tuning one’s instrument is required at home to practice, so it is at class! The hair of the bow should be ample, able to take rosin and produce a good tone.
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Please, no rickety, wobbly stands. Students cannot afford to be distracted by music that is not stable.
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A small electronic tuner will be to allow the student to tune their own instrument prior to the beginning of the class. If a student has access to a smart-phone, there are numerous apps available that can be used for initial tuning, but not allowed into the classroom environment. One such smartphone app is “TE Tuner”.
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A pencil will be needed as music is always marked as offered by the director, or section leader, to enhance the learning experience - fingerings to help the student play a passage, bowings to provide a unity in the playing of the music.
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Punctuality is essential for a class that meets only one hour per week. Both the tardy student AND the rest of the orchestra suffer at this behavior.
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Because weekly meetings are “rehearsals”, practice is an activity that must be exercised by the individual student on personal time for when the class is gather each student is to contribute their playing excellence to the group.
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A Black Band/Orchestra Music Folio shall be required. Because the rehearsal process requires numerous markings made to the music, adding fingerings, bowings, technical markings, etc., a Black Band/Orchestra Music Folio will be required. This is a change from the 3-ring binder with slip-sleeves, which has proven to be impossible to mark parts in a timely manner! It is a recommendation to acquire the same folio for concert uniformity. See https://www.musicfolder.com/music-folders/band-and-orchestra-folder Available as Factory Seconds (B-Folder ) for less than $10 and available through Joyful Noise
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Concert Attire: Add black bow tie, and please, no visible suspenders. Those reserved for under a jacket.
Orchestra
