Orchestra

The Orchestra Program in District #153 serves all children from 4th Grade through 8th Grade. The program focuses on the development of children's holistic music education through the means of string instruments.

Students in 5th grade add more performances to their orchestra schedule. In addition to more concerts, the students will learn many more new string techniques. The students expand their knowledge in bowings, rhythmic patterns, and add new notes to their foundation from 4th grade.

Harp is also an added item this year. Students will be introduced to the harp in orchestra as an additional instrument in late fall/early winter. Mrs. White will discuss the instrument in the classroom and wait for interested parents to contact her. This is reserved for students who have 2 years of private piano instruction prior to 5th grade.

Students in 6th grade add many more performances to their orchestra schedule. In addition to concerts, the students can participate in additional opportunities such as: IGSMA solo/ensemble contest, and an additional ensemble after school, Take 2 (described below). We also get a wonderful opportunity to play at Willow School each spring.

This ensemble is a very different type of ensemble. This group is extracurricular and focuses on 7th and 8th graders learning a new string instrument for fun taught by 6th graders from Millennium. Overall, the students in 6th grade will play in the ensemble a repetiore of music that is more relaxed and for fun. Interested students need to contact Mrs. White in the Fall.