MIDDLE SCHOOL ORCHESTRAL STRING PROGRAMME
Syllabus
All middle school students at Berkeley learn about music through our orchestral string programme. The skills and knowledge developed in this programme will help students to become lifelong musicians as well as being highly transferrable to other areas of life. We currently have four groups to cater for students at all ability levels from beginner to advance. Membership of each group is determined by experience/ability rather than school grade/age.
Practical work will is supported by contextual studies and independent learning tasks that exploring music history and theory in greater depth. There will be at least one public performance each semester and all students are required to take part as it forms part of the course assessment. The remainder of the assessment is formed of on-going teacher assessment of class work and written self and peer evaluations.
Level 1 (Andante)
Andante Strings offers Berkeley students the opportunity to learn the basic musical and technical skills required to play violin, viola, cello or double bass. Students learn how to read standard music notation, produce a good tone, perform expressively and how to balance their part within an ensemble. Students are loaned their instruments from Berkeley and are expected to practice for at least 15 minutes every other day in order to make expected progress. Students are expected to own personal copies of the Essential Elements 2000 for Strings Book 1 that can be purchased through the school.
Level 2 (Allegro)
Allegro strings is for students who already have some experience of string playing and the course follows Essential Elements 2000 for Strings Book 2. Students will further develop their knowledge of performance, improvisation, music theory and context, building on the foundations from earlier grades. As will all string groups students are expected to have their own copy of the course text. Students will also be loaned instruments from the school if required.
Level 3 (Vivace)
This is our most advanced string group. The course broadly follows Essential Technique 2000 as well as exploring appropriate string orchestra repertoire. As will all string groups students are expected to have their own copy of the course text. Students will also be loaned instruments from the school if required.
Syllabus
All middle school students at Berkeley learn about music through our orchestral string programme. The skills and knowledge developed in this programme will help students to become lifelong musicians as well as being highly transferrable to other areas of life. We currently have four groups to cater for students at all ability levels from beginner to advance. Membership of each group is determined by experience/ability rather than school grade/age.
Practical work will is supported by contextual studies and independent learning tasks that exploring music history and theory in greater depth. There will be at least one public performance each semester and all students are required to take part as it forms part of the course assessment. The remainder of the assessment is formed of on-going teacher assessment of class work and written self and peer evaluations.
Level 1 (Andante)
Andante Strings offers Berkeley students the opportunity to learn the basic musical and technical skills required to play violin, viola, cello or double bass. Students learn how to read standard music notation, produce a good tone, perform expressively and how to balance their part within an ensemble. Students are loaned their instruments from Berkeley and are expected to practice for at least 15 minutes every other day in order to make expected progress. Students are expected to own personal copies of the Essential Elements 2000 for Strings Book 1 that can be purchased through the school.
Level 2 (Allegro)
Allegro strings is for students who already have some experience of string playing and the course follows Essential Elements 2000 for Strings Book 2. Students will further develop their knowledge of performance, improvisation, music theory and context, building on the foundations from earlier grades. As will all string groups students are expected to have their own copy of the course text. Students will also be loaned instruments from the school if required.
Level 3 (Vivace)
This is our most advanced string group. The course broadly follows Essential Technique 2000 as well as exploring appropriate string orchestra repertoire. As will all string groups students are expected to have their own copy of the course text. Students will also be loaned instruments from the school if required.