Teaching Elementary Orchestra

My elementary orchestra students have their small group learning ("small groups") once a week for 30 minutes on a rotating ba...

We go on a lot of "field trips" during small groups in orchestra throughout the school year.  It's gotten to the point wh...

This was the first year that I was able to carve out enough time to include this fifth composition for my beginners.  There's always ...

  Here's a colorful display for the basic dynamic markings.  I matched each dynamic marking up with a color going in rain...

For my SLO (Student Learning Objective) for the last few years, I have been using note-reading quizzes with my first-year orchestra stud...

Since I have such limited time with my students, I want to make the most of any opportunity to create a musical experience for them....

On the last day of small groups, students receive their summer packets.  The first page gives some ideas of how to stay involved with ...

   During our last full orchestra of the year, students share their thoughts about their experience in orchestra with an end-of-the-yea...

As we get into our unit on the key of C Major, I present my students with a packet of pieces that use the C Major key signature (there...