WMS & WHS Orchestra Nov Newsletter
November 2023
WMS & WHS Orchestra November Newsletter
As Fine, Applied, and Performing Arts Educators, it is our mission to inspire and guide every student to be active participants in the Arts through the use of a sequential, academic, and creative curriculum that nurtures the human spirit and promotes cultural relevance.
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Binders Needed
In the past, students have been given binders to keep their music organized. Many of our students have lost these binders. I ask that students obtain a 1/2" - 1.5" binder specifically for their orchestra materials so that they have an easier time keeping things organized and flat (there are lots of crinkled, folded music sheets being pulled out of cases, making it really hard to read the music). Please let me know if you need assistance in obtaining a binder for your orchestra student.
WMS Practice Concern
WMS Specific: I am noticing that many students are not practicing outside of class, which is causing us to have to relearn the same things every class period. With having class only twice a week, students should be bringing instruments home throughout the week or at least over the weekend to practice.
Practice Expectations:
- Recommended 3 - 4, 20 minute practice sessions/week
- Minimum of two sessions
- A practice mute to help decrease volume
- Time solutions are noted below
Beginning the week of Nov 6th, students will be asked to complete one homework log per week:
- Written explanation of what they worked on during their practice sessions
- Occasionally will include a video practice log (once a month) on FlipGrid
If students are struggling to find time to practice at home, there are a few options that I've been encouraging them to take advantage of:
- Open practice club: Tuesdays and Thursdays until 3PM, completely free
- FLEX Friday: Sign up in Google Classroom to come down and work on your music
I am often at school on Mondays until 3pm or so so students are generally welcome to stay after on Mondays, as well, but please check ahead of time to make sure I have not planned to leave the building earlier than 3.
Practice reinforces the skills needed to progress on the instrument.
6th Graders and interested 7/8th students may benefit from our new elementary method book if looking for reinforcement on some of the basic foundations of reading music and playing their instrument.
Phones In Class
Moving forward, students will be asked to put their phone in the phone tree after tuning. If the phone is not put in the tree, and the student uses it inappropriately during class, they will get one warning to put it into the tree. If there is an argument about whether or not the phone should go in the tree, it will be sent to the main office for pick up after school.
Other Things To Know
Students should have the following materials for class...
- Instrument
- Pencil
- Binder
- Music (all music has been uploaded into Google Classroom as well)
WMS Orchestras: Click the link to copy to your calendar
- 6th Grade Orchestra meets on WIN A days
- Week of October 30 - Monday/Wednesday
- Week of November 6 - Thursday
- Week of November 13 - Monday/Wednesday
- Week of November 20 - Tuesday
- Week of November 27 - Monday/Wednesday
- 7/8th Grade Orchestra meets on WIN B days
- Week of October 30 - Tuesday/Thursday
- Week of November 6 - Monday/Wednesday
- Week of November 13 - Tuesday/Thursday
- Week of November 20 - Monday/Wednesday
- Week of November 27 - Tuesday/Thursday
As you can see, 6th grade is missing two class periods in the month of November, which accounts for 20% of our total class time this month. Students should be bringing instruments home to practice their music and reinforce what they're learning in class.
WHS Orchestra
- Meets every day except day 7
Practice Club: Click to copy to your calendar
Open practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:15 - 3:00. This club is free to be a part of. Players can attend as often as they like.
FLEX Fridays
I do not have a scheduled WMS class on Friday afternoons. Each week, students will be able to sign up in Google Classroom to come to orchestra for extra practice or help during the FLEX block on Friday afternoons.
This website has lots of helpful videos, such as links to various metronomes and tuning apps, and videos showing you how to tune your instrument. I recommend checking it out!
I will add links to specific events and lessons to the newsletters; however, in order to add these to your personal calendar, you must subscribe to the FAPA calendar (linked above). You can hide the FAPA calendar so your personal cal is not clogged by superfluous events, while only adding the orchestra events to your cal when the links are shared in the newsletters. Let me know if you have any questions about this!
Concert Dates and Other Events
Whoville Jubilee - Saturday, December 2 (Optional)
- Click to add to calendar
- Time TBA
- Perform holiday carols at the Whoville Jubilee
WHS Winter Concert - Thursday, December 7 (required)
- Click to add to calendar
- Time: 7 - 9 pm
- Location: WMS Gymnasium
- All performance ensembles at WHS
WMS Winter Concert - Thursday, December 14 (required)
- Click to add to calendar
- Time: 7 - 9 pm
- Location: WMS Gymnasium
- All performance ensembles at WMS
- Date changed from Tuesday, Dec 12 due to a conflict
Jr District Auditions - Saturday, January 27, 2024 (optional)
- Click to add to calendar
- Time: Watertown typically auditions around 1PM, but we can request an earlier time if needed
- Anticipate being there for at least 2 hours
- Bedford High School
Jr Districts - Friday, March 8 & Saturday, March 9, 2024 (if accepted)
- Click to add to calendar
- All Day Friday rehearsal (9 - 5)
- AM rehearsal Saturday with concert in the afternoon
- Lincoln-Sudbury HS
String Spectacular - Wednesday, March 27, 2024 (required)
- Click to add to calendar
- Dress rehearsal 5:30 PM
- Concert 7:00 - 8:00 PM
- Click to add to calendar
- All day
- Open to all students in 7/8 Performing Arts Ensembles (+Jazz band members)
WMS & WHS Combined Spring Orchestra Concert (required) - Wednesday, May 22, 2024
- Click to add to calendar
- Dress rehearsal 5:30 PM
- Concert 7 - 8 PM
Graduation (8 - 11th grade): Usually first Friday in June?
- Arrive 5:30
- Graduation 6 - 7pm
Junior Districts
Students interested in the MMEA junior district program should reach out to Ms. Byham individually. Thanks! For reference, here is the eastern district resource page to find the scales, sight reading, and audition piece.
Boston Symphony High School Card
Materials & Resources
MATERIALS FOR STRING LESSONS:
Most music shops will carry these items, or you can order online.
Here's an Amazon list with the items listed
You can also check out Shar Music for these items
- Instrument
- Cellos: Button stop or strap (button/rock stop is more versatile)
- Violin/Viola: Shoulder rest (3/4 - 4/4 violin or 15 - 16" viola only)
- Music stand (for home practice)
- Extra rosin
- Extra strings (Prelude is a great quality brand at a reasonable cost)
- Pencil
- Binder (we have ordered binders to hand out)
Check out our new website!
- Class schedules
- Lesson make-up days
- Videos and photos from concerts
- Sign up for the program
- Rental information
- Lessons, camps, and more
- Information for band and orchestra students
Mostly loaded with elementary information right now, but will be adding more resources for 6 - 12 students soon!
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 & Private Lessons
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 field.
- Firebird Pops (all pops, all the time!): Keep an eye out for upcoming events
- Kendall Square Orchestra: Fri. Dec 15 @ 7:30 PM/Kresge Auditorium, Cambridge, MA
- Lexington Symphony: Dec. 8 & 10, Holiday Pops!/Cary Hall, Lexington, MA
- Brookline Symphony: Sat, Dec 16 @ 8PM/All Saints Parish, Brookline, MA
- Longwood Symphony: Sat, Dec 2 @ 8PM/Jordan Hall, Boston, MA
- Waltham Philharmonic: Sun, Nov 5 @ 3PM/Waltham Gov't Center, Waltham, MA
- Rivers Symphony Orchestra: Sun, Nov 12 @ 3PM/Needham Town Hall
- Boston Civic Symphony: Sun, Mar 3, 2024 @ 3PM/Jordan Hall, Boston, MA
Private Lessons/Outside Opportunities
If your child is really enjoying playing their instrument and wants some additional play and instruction time outside of the school day, we recommend looking to private or small group lessons.
Here is a link to private teachers in the area
You can also check out Attacca School of Music in Belmont (at the Trapelo/Bartlett intersection near CVS) or Powers Music School in Belmont (on Concord Street near Belmont Center).
Other Stuff
Friends of Watertown Music
The Friends of Watertown Music is a parent organization that has been a major supporter of the fine arts program in Watertown for over ten years. FoWM is beginning to plan for our first MusicFest since 2019 and invites all parents who would like to help in any way. Email HelloWatertownMusic@gmail.com or call Chris Lowry at 617-923-0502 to learn more.
Practicing
We recommend students play their instrument 3+ times a week for at least 10 - 15 minutes each time to build muscle memory and reinforce habits taught in lessons. You can see what we worked on in lessons and what students should be practicing by clicking the button below.
Note Reading Game
- Staff Wars is an interactive app-based game to help students learn how to read the notes on their staff. It is $0.99. Absolutely not required, but a fun learning tool if interested.
- Apple devices
- Android devices
Helpful Links and Resources
- Tuning your instrument at home: follow this YouTube tutorial
- Here is a tutorial on how to hold the bow
- Here is a list of private teachers in the area
- Rhythm Packet #1
- Rhythm Packet #2
- Sight Singing Packet #1
- Sight Singing Packet #2
- Ms. Byham's favorite metronome app for iPhone
- Ms. Byham's favorite metronome app for Android
Meet the Teacher!
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.
About the Watertown Strings and Orchestra Program
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