NAME: ______
KENNEDY ELEMENTARY STRINGS
FEBRUARY CLASS OUTLINE
FEBRUARY PRACTICE LOG
February Week 1 = Class 34
Day: / Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / SaturdayAmount of
Practice:
Review Songs:D Major Scale – Rockin’ Strings
Current Songs:Ode to Joy, Banuwa
New Songs:French Folk Song, Can Can
Strings Festival:French Folk Song, Ode to Joy, Sansa Kroma, Twinkle, Fiddlestix, Jolly Sailor
Beginning Orchestra / Sight-Reading:Open String Samba – Half-Minute Waltz
p. 14-17 (A-E) and (D-A), p. 18-19 (G-D) #’s 1-14
Optional Book: #’s 47-64 = D/A string notes // #’s 93-99 = G string notes // #’s 108-115 = slurs
p. 32, #’s 126-128 = D string with F naturals // p. 33, #’s 130-132 = A string with C naturals
p. 36, #’s 144-149 = C string notes
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February Week 2 = Class 35 / 36
Day: / Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / SaturdayAmount of
Practice:
Review Songs:D Major Scale – Banuwa
Current Songs:French Folk Song, Can Can
New Songs:Frere Jacques, Allegro
Strings Festival:French Folk Song, Ode to Joy, Sansa Kroma, Twinkle, Fiddlestix, Jolly Sailor
Beginning Orchestra / Sight-Reading:Open String Samba – Half-Minute Waltz
p. 14-17 (A-E) and (D-A), p. 18-19 (G-D) #’s 1-14
Optional Book: #’s 47-64 = D/A string notes // #’s 93-99 = G string notes // #’s 108-115 = slurs
#’s 126-128 = F naturals // 130-132 = C naturals //p. 36, #’s 144-149 = C string notes
p. 38, #’s 156-160 = E string notes
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- PLEASE WRITE PRACTICE TIMES FOR ALL WEEKS (BOTH SIDES) AND TURN IN AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH.
- CHECK THE WEBSITE: lafolletteorchestras.weebly.com/5th-grade-strings.html FOR UPDATES AND PLAY ALONG RECORDINGS.
PARENT SIGNATURE:______
February Week 3 = Class 37 / 38
Day: / Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / SaturdayAmount of
Practice:
Review Songs:D Major Scale – Banuwa
Current Songs:French Folk Song, Can Can – TEST FOR BROWN RANK
New Songs:Frere Jacques, Allegro
Strings Festival:French Folk Song, Ode to Joy, Sansa Kroma, Twinkle, Fiddlestix, Jolly Sailor
Beginning Orchestra / Sight-Reading:Open String Samba – Half-Minute Waltz
p. 14-17 (A-E) and (D-A), p. 18-19 (G-D) #’s 1-14
Optional Book: #’s 47-64 = D/A string notes // #’s 93-99 = G string notes // #’s 108-115 = slurs
#’s 126-128 = F naturals // 130-132 = C naturals //p. 36, #’s 144-149 = C string notes
p. 38, #’s 156-160 = E string notes
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February Week 4 = Class 39 / 40
Day: / Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / SaturdayAmount of
Practice:
Review Songs:D Major Scale – Banuwa
Current Songs:French Folk Song, Can Can
New Songs:Frere Jacques, Allegro
Strings Festival:French Folk Song, Ode to Joy, Sansa Kroma, Twinkle, Fiddlestix, Jolly Sailor, Upper Levels
Beginning Orchestra / Sight-Reading:Open String Samba – Half-Minute Waltz
p. 14-17 (A-E) and (D-A), p. 18-19 (G-D) #’s 1-14
Optional Book: #’s 47-64 = D/A string // #’s 93-99 = G string // #’s 108-115 = slurs
#’s 126-128 = F naturals // 130-132 = C naturals //144-149 = C string notes
p. 38, #’s 156-160 = E string notes // p. 42, #’s 183-187 = Scales
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Bow/Right Hand Reminders and Exercises:
Bowhold: Make animal with right hand (circle mouth) and put bow in "mouth." Put ears down on bow. Check for curved pinky, bent thumb and circle shaped hand.
Bow tips for great sound: Fast bow, bow weight from heavy elbow, bow parallel to bridge over f hole circles.
Exercises: Log rolls, Pinky pushups, Horizontal windshield wipers, Spider crawls with bent thumb – vertical and horizontal, Full bow pushups (stand to shoulder and then vertical bow) bow horizontal and vertical – C shape to straight.
Instrument/Left Hand Reminders and Exercises:
Violins/Violas: Wave "hi" towards bridge with sliding side of 1st finger, Mouse hole beneath neck, Base knuckle line even with top of fingerboard, Instrument pointing out to 10:00 and parallel to floor, Space between back of left arm and body.
Cello: C shape left hand, C Peg behind left ear, Cello leaning into body, Cello at 45 degree angle to floor with cello strap.
Perfect posture exercises: Point to parts of instrument with free left hand, Finger taps without squeezing, String polishing/sliding/jumping without squeezing.
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How to Practice:
- Set aside time for DAILY practice – 5th Grade Strings students should be practicing 15-20 minutes DAILY.
- Make sure you are practicing, not just playing. Practicing means you are focused on correct skill development.
3 Steps (3 C’s) to Developing a Skill:
Comprehension – understanding exactly the task you are trying to do.
Cooperation – getting your body to cooperate with what your mind understands.
- Go slowly with small sections.
Constructive repetition – repeating the task after you have achieved cooperation.
- Don’t practice UNTIL you get it right – Practice WHEN you get it right. Practice until you do it correctly, even the score of correct repetitions with the incorrect repetitions, and then do 10 times more correctly.
- Once you have done constructive repetition, it is very important that you review this skill in daily practice.