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00 6th Grade Curriculum Overview and Long Range Plan

String OrchestraYear One

Curriculum Overview and Long Range Plan
Course Description:
This is an orchestra class for students taking strings for the first time. Students will learn to
properly care for their instruments, to correctly hold and produce a characteristic tone with good
hand position and posture. Students will learn basic note reading skills and terminology. They
will learn scales in the keys of C, G, and D in first position, and perform at least two concerts of
level I-II music.

South Carolina Instrumental Music Content Standards

Grades 68 Beginning
I.

SINGING. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

Students will
A. Sing on pitch using neutral syllables, note names, or solfge while maintaining a steady tempo and meter.
B. Sing expressively with appropriate dynamics, phrasing, and interpretation.
C. Sing in groups and respond to a conductor.

II.

PERFORMING ON INSTRUMENTS. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied

repertoire of music.
Students will
A. Perform on pitch and in rhythm with appropriate dynamics and good tone quality while maintaining a
steady tempo and meter.
B. Perform in groups, blending instrumental timbres and responding to a conductor, a repertoire of
instrumental literature with a level of difficulty of 1 to 2 on a scale of 1 to 6.
C. Perform expressively a varied repertoire of music representing diverse genres and styles.
D. Perform independent instrumental parts while others play contrasting parts.

III.

IMPROVISING. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.

Students will
A. Echo simple rhythmic and melodic patterns.
B. Improvise simple rhythmic and melodic phrases.
C. Play and embellish simple melodies by ear.

IV. COMPOSING AND ARRANGING. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.
Students will
A. Compose short pieces in large group settings.
B. Arrange simple melodies for their own instrument.

______________________________________________1.00 6th Grade Curriculum Overview and Long Range Plan

V.

READING AND NOTATING. Reading and notating music.

Students will
A. Read whole, half, dotted half, quarter, and eighth notes and corresponding rests in 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 meter
signatures.
B. Use a system (i.e., syllables, numbers, or note names) to read simple pitch notation in the clef appropriate
for their instrument.
C. Identify symbols and traditional terms referring to dynamics, tempo, and articulation.
D. Use standard symbols to notate meter, rhythm, pitch, and dynamics in simple patterns presented by the
teacher.

VI. ANALYZING. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.

Students will
A. Identify simple music forms that are presented aurally.
C. Use appropriate terminology in explaining music, music notation, music instruments, and music
performances.
VII. EVALUATING. Evaluating music and music performances.
Students will
A. Develop criteria for evaluating music performances.
B. Use appropriate music terminology to explain their personal preferences for specific music works and
styles.
VIII.

MAKING CONNECTIONS. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside
the arts.
Students will
A. Identify similarities and differences in the meanings of common terms used in the various arts disciplines
(e.g., texture, color, form, movement).
B. Identify ways in which the principles and subject matter of other disciplines interrelate with those of music.

IX. RELATING TO HISTORY AND CULTURE. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
Students will
A. Perform a repertoire of music from various cultures.
B. Perform music from various historical periods.

TEXTS AND MATERIALS

String Warm Ups I (Selby)
Essential Elements 2000 for Strings, Book I (Allen, Gillespie and Hayes)
Concert Music of Difficulty level Ito II (To Be Determined)
Worksheets provided in the Curriculum Guide and created by teacher
Other texts and resources as determined by the teacher

______________________________________________1.00 6th Grade Curriculum Overview and Long Range Plan

Sixth Grade Long Range Plan

Units and Activities
FIRST QUARTER
1.01

Instrument History, Parts and Care (Student pages 1-5)

Naming the String Instruments and Their Parts
Unpacking and Caring for a String Instrument
Standing and Sitting Well: Getting Ready for the Instruments
Reading and Performing Music
Writing Music

1.02

Instrument Position and Open String Pizzicato (Pages 3-5)

Holding the Instrument
Performing Pizzicato
Warming Up with Jack

1.03

Left Hand Position on D Tetrachord (Ex. 10-22)

Left Hand Position
Singing and Performing the D Tetrachord Notes
Reading D Tetrachord Notes
Performing D Tetrachord Music

1.04

Right Hand Position

The Pencil Hold Routine and Games
Holding the Bow

1.05

D Major Scale Pizzicato (Ex. 23-36; 40-46)

Singing the Notes of the D Major Scale
Echo Games on the A String
Reading the D Scale Notes
Performing D Scale Music

SECOND QUARTER
1.06

Beginning Arco Motion (Ex. 37-39; 47-53)

Developing the Arco Motion
Basic Bowing Concepts
Performing Open Strings Arco

1.07

D Major Scale Arco (Ex. 54-65)

Major Scale Worksheet: D Major
D Major Arco: Singing and Echo Games
Performing D Major Music with the Bow

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1.08

Rhythm Unit (Ex. 66-86; 103-107)

Eighth Notes and Elbow Stroke
Canon Variations, Line 1 and 2
2/4 Time Signature
Half Notes
Beginning EtudeMajor (Open String Tetrachord Etude)
3/4 Time Signature
Fourth Fingers and Cello Positions

1.09

Concert Performance Unit I (Ex. 88-92)

THIRD QUARTER
1.10

G String and G Major Scale (Ex. 93-102; 119-121)

Beginning EtudeG Major
Major Scale WorksheetG Major
Performing on the G String
Introducing 4th Finger and Cello 2nd Position

1.11

Slurs and Bow Management (Ex. 108-118; 122-125)

Introduction to Slurs
Principles of Bow Management
Applying Bow Management to Music

1.12

Dorian Finger Pattern and Tetrachord (Ex. 126-143)

Beginning EtudeDorian
Key Signatures and Leading Tones
Performing Dorian Finger Pattern Exercises: 126-143
Major Scale Worksheet: C Major

1.13

New Strings and Notes (Ex. 144-166)

Beginning Etude on the C and E Strings
New String Worksheet
Whole Notes and Rhythm Review
Reading the New Notes and Rhythms (Exercises 144-166)

FOURTH QUARTER
1.14

Staccato and Dynamic Bowing (Ex. 167-187)

Staccato and Slurred Staccato
String Warm-Ups I: Canon Variations Line 3, C and D
Dynamics and Tempo Markings

1.15

Concert Performance Unit II

______________________________________________1.00 6th Grade Curriculum Overview and Long Range Plan

Scale Review: D, G, C Major on String Warm-Ups I

Ex. 188-192 or other concert music
1.16

Cultural Connections
Composers/Overview of Musical Time Periods (Brief)
Comparing Disciplines and Styles