| Marianne Michael Systemwide Strings Instructor michaelma@watertownctschools.org 
Welcome to the Watertown Strings Program Webpage  This is the homepage of the Strings Program, Grades 3-12. Please scroll down to find your school. WHS STRING ENSEMBLE Upcoming Concerts!! 
Congratulations on a wonderful Spring Concert performance!!! Have a great summer!! As you know, it is mandatory that you perform in the concerts, in order to receive credit in the course. You and your parents will sign a contract indicating your understanding of this requirement. Your grade will be based on your daily participation in class, on your playing test scores, and on your written assignments. Participation will count for 50% of your grade, playing tests for 25%, and written assignments for 25%. You must practice a minimum of 100 minutes per week. Your practice charts should be kept in your folders, and I will check them periodically. WHS STRING TECHNIQUE and CHAMBER MUSIC CLASS Congratulations to Chris Sforza for being accepted into the CMEA Northern Regional Orchestra!!! Recommended Reading Jascha Heifetz Through My Eyes, by Sherry Kloss The Inextinguishable Symphony, by Martin Goldsmith Quintet, by David Blum Recommended Websites (clicking on any of these links will take you out of the Watertown Public Schools website) Here's a great website for Strings students: www.violinstudent.com And, another Strings website www.violinist.com. Careers in Strings Teaching: www.careersinstringteaching.com American String Teachers Association: www.astaweb.com Hilary Hahn's website: http://www.hilaryhahn.com/index.html An interview with Sarah Chang: http://www.pbs.org/lflc/backstage/march3/chang.htm Video of interview with Joshua Bell: http://www.fineartsportaljb.com/ Article about Leila Josefowicz: http://www.allthingsstrings.com/issues/strings86/CoverStory.shtml Games, info, and downloads: www.sheilascorner.com The website of a Chicago Symphony violinist(great anecdotes about his studies at Curtis and elsewhere): www.natesviolin.com Streaming video of the Indianapolis Violin Competition: watch and listen to the top young violinists in the world!! http://www.violin.org/2006comp/listen_watch.html The website of the Jean Sibelius Violin Competition: http://yle.fi/teema/sibelius/index_eng.php The Barrage website: http://www.barrage.ca/index.html From The Top website (features virtuoso kids!) http://www.fromthetop.org/ Preparing for a Career in Music What should I be doing, if I think I might want to be a Music Major in college? 1. Take private lessons. Whether you plan to major in Performance, Music Education, Music History, Music Theory/Composition, or Music Technology, you will have to do a competitive audition and you won't be accepted into a music program if you don't excel at the audition. Everyone else who is auditioning will have taken private lessons for years-count on this!! Private lessons are not a luxury for the serious music student-they are a necessity. 2. Take Music Theory in high school. Most music schools require a theory entrance exam in addition to the performance audition. The theory exam is not weighted as heavily in the acceptance/rejection decision as the performance audition (unless you are applying as a theory major), but it will factor into the decision. 3. Take Piano Class in high school. Most music degree programs require a level of piano proficiency for graduation. If you don't take piano now, you'll have to take it in college, and you'll have to spend time practicing piano when you'd probably rather be practicing for your lessons! 4. Take Orchestra!! if you are a string player; take Band!! if you are a woodwind, brass or percussion player; take Chorus!! if you are a singer. Music schools do take notice of whether or not you participated in your school ensemble. No matter how competitive or performance oriented the music program is, music schools want team players, and you will not look like a team player if you are not in your school ensemble. 5. Take as many heavy-duty academic classes as you can, including French or Latin. Don't take a million study halls so that you have more time to practice. Music schools want well-rounded, interesting, astute students. College level music classes are challenging, and the more background you have in history, literature, and a foreign language, the better equipped you will be to do well. 6. Take private lessons-did I say that already? Well, it's worth repeating!! SWIFT STRING ORCHESTRA Congratulations on a wonderful Spring Concert performance!! Thank you for a wonderful performance at Fantastic Festivals!! Have a great summer!! Here is a fun game which will test your knowledge of composers: www.dsokids.com/games/baseball/
Heminway Park String Ensemble
Congratulations on a wonderful Spring Concert!! ELEMENTARY STRINGS PROGRAM June 9: Due to today's early dismissal, the field trip to John Trumbull Primary School is cancelled. If possible, it will be rescheduled. Field trip for 4th and 5th Grade Strings students: we will be performing with the Watertown High School Strings students for the students at John Trumbull Primary School on Monday, June 9. We will be playing Classic Bits and Pieces, Main Street March, and Theme from Canon in D. Permission slips will be distributed at your lessons the week of May 26. Students should wear their black and white outfits, and bring their instruments, and the music for Classic Bits and Pieces, Theme from Canon in D, and Main Street March. If you own a folding music stand, please bring it with you. Upcoming Concerts!! 
Beginning Strings Thank you to all beginning Strings students for your hard work this year, and for your wonderful performances on the Townwide Strings Concert and the Elementary Instrumental Concert!! I hope that everyone will continue to practice this summer!! If you are playing a school instrument, you may keep it free of charge over the summer as long as you plan to practice this summer, and plan to continue with Strings next year. Welcome to our newest Strings students and their parents!! Here are some questions asked frequently by new Strings students and their parents: 1. Question: Why don't we use the book right away? Answer: Learning to hold the instrument and bow correctly is difficult enough, without trying to read notes at the same time. The students learn the first song by ear and begin note reading when they are comfortable with their instrument. 2. Question: Why does my child need to bring a sponge to his/her lesson? Answer: Violinists and Violists balance the instrument on their shoulder. The back of the instrument is slippery and will slide off of the shoulder if something is not attached to the instrument to provide friction. There are many different types of "shoulder rests" available at music stores and in catalogs, but they are expensive, and a sponge works quite well in the beginning. It is absolutely necessary to use some sort of shoulder rest: otherwise the student will develop an incorrect instrument hold. 3. Question: When is our first concert? Answer: The beginning Strings students will perform on our Townwide Strings Concert in April. This is a very exciting event which features all of the Watertown Strings Program students. They will also perform on their School's Spring Concert. 4. Question: I've seen some very inexpensive instruments on ebay and at discount stores. I'd like to save money and buy one of these, rather than rent. Is this a good idea? Answer: If you see an instrument which costs less than $100, or even less than $200, you can be pretty sure that it will be barely playable. There are a lot of little parts on a stringed instrument which can pop off or break, and rest assured that that is exactly what will happen, over and over again, if you purchase one of these instruments. Click on this link to read more: http://www.sharmusic.com/vsolanding.asp If you are considering buying an instrument, please let me see and hear it before you pay for it. Reputable vendors will allow you to borrow instruments "on approval." If the store does not allow this, there is probably a good reason why. 5. Question: When is a good time to purchase an instrument? Answer: If your child remains interested in playing after the first several years, and if you can comfortably afford to invest in an instrument of higher quality than that which you are renting, a good instrument is a wonderful gift and a good investment. There are a number of stringed instrument shops within several hours' drive, and many carry "step-up" quality instruments, which are appropriate for the more serious elementary and middle school strings player. 6. Question: Why are the students encouraged to take private lessons, when they already take lessons at school? Answer: As the students continue in our Strings Program, musical opportunities often arise which require a competitive audition. These opportunities may include Regional and All State festivals, participation in a youth orchestra, or participation in a conservatory type music program in high school. Such auditions require a polished performance of scales, solos, and etudes. It is very difficult for a student to prepare an audition without the guidance of a private teacher, and the students who have studied privately over a long period of time have a distinct advantage. A private teacher can provide instruction which is tailored to your child's needs, and allow your child to progress at his/her own pace. Because the instruction is one on one, the private teacher will usually assign your child more difficult music than that which we work on in school. If you are interested in private lessons for your child, please contact me and I will recommend an instructor. For more ideas about finding a private teacher, visit this link: http://www.classicsforkids.com/parents/parenting/teacher.asp Questions about the Elementary Strings Program should be sent to michaelma@watertownctschools.org.  Practice Tips Make a "practice space" at home. Keep your instrument, music stand, music, and a pencil in this space, so that you are ready to go at practice time. Make a "practice time", and stick with it. Look at your schedule, and figure out when you can give at least 15 minutes to practicing. Make sure that practice is a daily routine. It is much better to practice for a small amount of time, every day, than to wait until the day before your lesson, and do it all at once. Keep a "practice log" of how much you have practiced, what you have practiced, and what you will practice tomorrow. Save the song you enjoy the most for the end of your practice, for "dessert." If there is a day when you REALLY don't feel like practicing (and every musician has these days), invite another strings student over to practice with you.
For more practice tips, go to www.violinstudent.com and www.classicsforkids.com/parents/parenting/practice.asp.
It is very, very important that the students bring their instruments to school on lesson day. When a student is not able to participate in the lesson he/she must catch up the next week, and this is frustrating for everyone. Please put your instrument in an obvious place-next to your backpack-the night before your lesson.
Here are some music websites : (clicking on any of these links will take you out of the Watertown Public Schools Website) www.NYphilkids.orgThis is the New York Philharmonic's website. It is fun for kids of all ages. www.sfskids.orgThis is the San Fransisco Symphony's website. Again, lots of fun. http://www.mso.com.au/edu/front.html This is the Melbourne, Australia Symphony's website. It has a great introduction to all of the orchestral instruments. www.musicfriends.orgA music education advocacy website. www.classicsforkids.com/games/ More games. www.sheilascorner.com Filled with stringed instrument info, plus recipes and gardening tips for mom. http://www.creatingmusic.com/ Have fun composing!! http://www.playmusic.org/ More games Stringed Instrument Stores www.sharmusic.com String instruments, music, and supplies www.johnsonstrings.com String instruments, music, and supplies www.southweststrings.com String instruments, music, and supplies  Keep Practicing!!! |