WPS Elementary Orchestra Newsletter
November & December Updates
Hey everyone! We are headed into our eighth week of elementary instrumental lessons and our elementary string students are chugging right along!
Upcoming Lesson Changes:
n/a
Concerts are coming up!
Families are able to attend these concerts, which take place first thing in the morning. Students should wear their black Watertown Performing Arts t-shirt (new shirts will be delivered before the concert). Students only attend the performance for their school : )
If students do not have the Tshirt, no worries! They can wear a black shirt/sweater or a school-themed shirt.
- Hosmer: Wednesday, December 11th/9 - 10AM Hosmer Cafeteria
- Cunniff: Thursday, December 12th/9 - 10AM Cunniff Cafeteria
- Lowell: Friday, December 13th/8:45 - 9:30AM Lowell Gym
We will still have lessons the week before winter break! Please bring instruments to school on scheduled lesson day December 16 - 20.
Lessons occur on a weekly basis, and are separated out by classroom teacher:
- Mondays (Lowell): Bond, Sudbay/Walker, Burton
- Tuesdays (Hosmer): Doherty, Stone, Bellis, Psychoghios
- Wednesdays (Hosmer): Casazza, Spillane, Gill, Twomey
- Thursdays (Cunniff) all Cunniff classrooms
- Fridays (Lowell): Corcoran/Cachimuel, Antonellis, Brodeur, Mathisen
Please help students remember to bring the following items to lessons each week:
- Instrument : )
- Folder/binder with their Watertown Strings Book 1
- Pencil
In this newsletter, you'll find...
- Objectives our 4th and 5th grade students are working toward in lessons this month
- The Fine and Performing Arts Calendar, which you can subscribe to to add lessons to your own calendar for reminders
- A spreadsheet breaking down what each lesson group worked on and what they should practice for lessons next week
- A supply list
- Links to the course book we'll be using in lessons (we printed the books for the students, but in case they lose it or you want to check it out)
- Information about winter concerts
- Tshirt information!
4th Grade
- Continue to form and practice a quality bow hold and stroke
- Bowing open strings and bowing fingered notes on the D and A strings
- Playing with the fourth finger/pinky (violin/viola)
- Shifting for cello and bass
- Learning to read notes on the staff and know their pitch names
5th Grade
- Learn how to put Carol of the Bells together as an an ensemble piece
- Learn how to play F-natural and use first and second endings in the Snake Charmer song
- Reinforcing strong, straight bow strokes
- Reinforcing 4th finger for violins and violas
- Cello reinforcing new position (third)
Practice
Students should aim to practice a minimum of three times between lessons, for at least 10 minutes. This could even be giving a little performance of what they learned in their lessons! Even though it is a short amount of time, it will still help to reinforce the concepts we're learning in lessons.
We've noticed over the last month or so that students are not retaining as much from lesson to lesson as we'd like, resulting in us having to re-teach the same lessons from week to week. This makes it very difficult to progress, especially given that we only meet once a week for about 35 minutes. Adding in a few short chunks of time throughout the week for students to practice will help them to build muscle memory and arrive to lessons prepared to build on concepts we learned in previous weeks. Thank you!
Watertown Strings Books 1 & 2
We have a method book system catered directly to our students in the Watertown string program! 4th Grade is receiving their book this week and 5th grade is finishing up Book 1 over the course of this month. 5th graders should be bringing their binder and book from last year to lessons with them, and should let me know if they need a new copy. We will finish up Book 1 and move on to Book 2.
In recent years, the orchestra program in Watertown has seen an immense amount of growth. In the 2018 - 2019 school year, we had approximately 70 students in the program from grades 4 - 12, and this year we are sitting at 235 students! Each year we consistently have strong beginning groups and retention sits between 80 - 85% from grade to grade. This is truly incredible and is due in large part to accessibility thanks to:
- Support to hold instrument lessons during the school day so that all students can attend (not just those who have access to before or after school transportation)
- Financial support from the district and our parent organization, Friends of Watertown Music, for instrument purchase and repair so that we can provide school instruments for students who otherwise could not afford to rent or purchase one
It is not common for all students to be so welcome in an instrumental program, and I am always grateful that we have such a supported and appreciated program here in Watertown.
Recently, through district funding, a grant awarded to the Friends of Watertown Music, and funding from the Friends directly, we were able to obtain 18 brand new full size violins. Over the course of the last few years, they've also helped to bolster our supply of cellos, 1/8th size basses for our elementary students, and are working on helping us get a few new violas for our older students as well! We have distributed these new instruments to our older students who are ready to step into the full size, while leaving their smaller sizes open for more of our beginning students.
If you're interested in learning more about or being a part of this amazing group of parent supporters, reach out to them at hellowatertownmusic@gmail.com.
Most music shops will carry these items, or you can order online.
- Instrument
- Cellos: Button stop or strap (button/rock stop is more versatile)
- Violin/Viola: Shoulder rest or shoulder sponge
- A thicker dish sponge will work for smaller instruments, but students should get a proper shoulder rest once they are on a 3/4 violin or 14" viola
- Rosin
- Pencil
- 1/2" - 1" binder (preferred) or folder to hold materials
Extras:
- Music stand (for home practice)
- Extra strings
- We typically get medium tension "Prelude" strings, and Dominants strings are the next step up
- Practice Mute
- Helpful for apartments or when you need practicing to be softer in sound. Search "<your child's instrument> practice mute" on Amazon or other online retailer and you'll get many options. Pictured above for reference.
Shoulder Rests
As our upper string (viola/violin) players start to move up into the full-size instruments, they should be looking into getting a shoulder rest. These are items that hook onto the lower bout of the instrument to help players support the instrument in their shoulder vs. with their arm and hand, allowing for more flexible motion in the wrist and fingers. You can get them for any size instrument, but they typically make adjustable sizes for 3/4 - 4/4 violins and 15 - 16" violas. All upper-string players should be using a shoulder rest by the time they get to the full-size violin (4/4) or 15" viola to help with posture and avoid back/neck pain.
I recommend Everest (pictured) or Kun (both under or very close to $30), but there are many options. Let me know if you have any questions!
Local Symphony Performances
Being near the city we have lots of amazing orchestras performing all of the time! These groups are made up of community members; all musicians, but not all musicians in a professional sense. It's always amazing to see the Boston Symphony, but our local groups showcase how we can continue being musicians as a hobby throughout our lives, while still working in our chosen fields.
- Firebird Pops (all pops, all the time!): Keep an eye out for upcoming events
- Kendall Square Orchestra: Sat, Oct 12 @ 7:30/Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, MA
- Brookline Symphony: Sat, Oct 19 @ 8PM/Driscoll School, Brookline, MA
- Longwood Symphony: Sat, Oct 19 @ 8PM/Jordan Hall, Boston, MA
- Waltham Philharmonic: Sun, Oct 27 @ 3PM/Waltham Gov't Center, Waltham, MA
- Boston Civic Symphony: Sun, Nov 10 @ 3PM/Jordan Hall, Boston, MA
- Rivers Symphony Orchestra: Sun, Nov 10 @ 3PM/Needham Town Hall
- Lexington Symphony: Sat, Nov 23 @ 7:30 PM/Cary Hall, Lexington, MA
Ms. Culley Byham
Culley Byham (rhymes with Sulley) is our string and orchestra teacher from grades 4 - 12 in Watertown. She grew up in Pennsylvania and began playing the viola in the third grade. She played in school and youth orchestras through elementary, middle, and high school before attending Penn State to study Music Education. Ms. Byham taught middle school music and orchestra in South Carolina for five years before moving to Watertown, where she is now in her eleventh year of teaching music.
In addition to teaching, Ms. Byham has continued playing viola in community orchestras. She is currently a member of the Brookline Symphony here in the Boston area. She also enjoys taking long bike rides, walking her dog, hiking, and practicing photography.
Her absolute favorite thing about teaching string and orchestra classes is watching her students go from having no idea about the instrument, to being able to play with ease and confidence. She loves that she gets to work with the students for so long, seeing them grow and learn over the course of many years, making friends, and building community along the way.
Ms. Rachel Burtman
Hi Everybody! My name is Rachel Burtman and I'm the new orchestra teacher. I've been working with your students since the end of September and it has been a delight! I'm from Wisconsin and just moved out to Boston to be closer to family. My primary instruments are double bass and piano but I love playing all of the string instruments. I have an undergraduate degree in Music Education and a Masters of Music as well. I'm so excited to be working in Watertown and look forward to seeing you all at concerts!
Our string program in Watertown is open to all students in grades 4 - 12. Though we begin our program in the fourth grade, students can join in at any level - it's never too late! It is not necessary for students to know anything about music or playing an instrument in order to sign up, we'll teach them everything they need to know.
Check us out on Instagram: @watertownorchestras